Week Eight - the final countdown!

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

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

References

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)