Creating Sustainable Systematic School Change

Wafa Hozien, Ph.D.Virginia State Universitywhozien@vsu.edu

Based on the Book: Why Failure Is Not An Option

Fifth Principle: Gaining Active Engagement From Family and Community

CHAPTER 9

Partnership

• Nothing motivates a child more than when

• learning is valued by schools and families/ community

• working together in partnership…

• These forms of involvement do not happen by accident or even by invitation.

• They happen by explicit strategic intervention. (Fullan, 1997)

• What is meant by “helicopter parents”?

Involvement

• Greater parental involvement leads to

• higher levels of student achievement and

• improved student behavior,

• irrespective of such factors as socioeconomic status or ethnic background.

Building Positive Family and Community Relationships

• Three Key Principles in Building Positive Family Relationships:

1. Mutual understanding based on empathy and recognition of shared interests

2. Meaningful involvement of family and community in a variety of school activities

3. Regular outreach and communication to family and community

Areas in which schools can extend Understanding and Support

• Creating afterschool homework centers so that children include who don’t have someone at home to help them are not penalized because they have not completed assignments;

• Creating schedules, policies, and programs that take into account students’ home-life challenges;

• Providing translators who can communicate with non-English-speaking families and produce versions of important school announcements and communications in the languages spoken by the families that are served;

School as Community

• Creating waiting areas at school for parents and other visitors so that they don’t have to stand at the counter while waiting to speak to a staff;

• Arranging for transportation of students to afterschool activities and for families to school events;

• Setting up alternatives to telephone communication for families who lack telephones; and

• Holding meetings for parents at public libraries and community centers when transportation to school is a problem.

Encouraging Meaningful Parental Involvement

• Establishing a parent-to-parent outreach

• Inviting parents and community members to provide lessons in the language/ culture represented in the community

• Inviting parents and community members to provide leadership for extracurricular activities

• Training teachers and the school receptionist in how to greet parents/ conduct productive parent to parent conferences

Teacher wisdom for maximizing parent-teacher collaboration includes asking parents to:

• Mentor and tutor students who need extra help

• Assist with classroom writing projects, science experiments and so forth

• Direct or assist with dramatic productions

• Present various performances, e.g. musicals, dramas, puppet shows, etc.

Strategies for Engaging Parents in Genuine Partnerships

• Change middle and high school handbooks so that they provide positive, identity-building opportunities awaiting students.

• Develop positive feedback systems

• Provide parents with multi-media formatted guidance

Partnerships

• Creating forums for dialogue about cultural and ethnic differences

• Create opportunities for community service and more meaningful student government

• Provide forums for parent discussions and mutual support

Questions

• How do you productively engage family and community in schools?

• Why is this important?

• What is your school doing that is providing for meaningful parental school relationships?

• How can this be improved?

References

• Blankstein, Alan M. (2004). Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles That Advance Student Achievement in Highly Effective Schools. Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Corwin.