Week+Eight

=Week Eight - the final countdown!=

media type="custom" key="6828331" toc 1. List 5-7 typical ways that schools benefit from community involvement:

Elementary

 * Parents know what their child is learning in school by sending home newsletters on what is going on in the classroom
 * Activities linked with the community which help the schools with reaching their goals
 * Reading scores can improve with parental help
 * Writing workshops with the community to help them be engaged with what is going on in the classroom
 * Interactive homework process to help the parents keep up with new processes.
 * Foundations purchase equipment for students to use, i.e. interactive whiteboards, student response systems, etc.
 * Community members act as aides for recess, lunch, and more (aka more support).
 * Community businesses sponsor certain events at the school (aka more resources).

Middle School

 * Field trips to area businesses.
 * Career exploration from parents/community members.
 * Support to curriculum, i.e. health curriculum via police, ambulance, and firemen presentations.
 * Foundations purchase equipment for students to use, i.e. interactive whiteboards, student response systems, etc.

High School

 * They bring their talents to the school in musical activities, sports, and more (knowledge).
 * They provide their expertise as graduation project mentors (knowledge/support).
 * They provide internships for job-placement students (resource).
 * Scholarships for students.
 * Service hours for students.
 * Foundations purchase equipment for students to use, i.e. interactive whiteboards, student response systems, etc.
 * Advanced learning opportunities via area universities, community colleges, etc.

Question 2
2. Expand your list with ways that would mutually benefit the school and the community
 * Building of citizens
 * Future work force
 * Beautification of school and community
 * Better educated population
 * Shared decision-making to develop new solutions

Question 3
3. List at least 5 steps that a school could take to initiate and sustain a community partnership References
 * 1) Assess the needs of the school via the school improvement team
 * 2) Select priorities that match with the interests, needs, and expertise of school and community members.
 * 3) Create an action team, i.e. Vision and Action Team in conjunction with existing school improvement team(s).
 * 4) Establish the norms and forms of communication.
 * 5) Goal-setting and time lines (determine what the partnership would look like, what it will do, how it will do it, when it will do it)
 * 6) Reporting results, recommendations
 * 7) Reassessing/evaluating and deciding next steps/future collaborations

Epstein, J. L., & Jansorn, N.R. (2004). Developing successful partnership programs. //Principal, 83(3),// 10-15.

Sanders, M. G. (2003). Community involvement in schools: From concept to practice. //Education and Urban Society, 35// //(2)//, 161-180. doi: 10.1177/0013124502239390

Prezi
Community Partnerships Prezi (direct link)