ISSUES IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENt & SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

Overlapping Spheres of Influence The meaning of “shared accountability” toward children’s education: Overlapping goals, resources, and practices The meaning of “shared accountability” toward children’s education: Overlapping goals, resources, and practices Can schools, families and communities come to an agreement on such concept? Can schools, families and communities come to an agreement on such concept? When teachers teach “the whole child”, they increase their attention to children’s home life When they ask parents to parents to become partners in their children’s education, they direct parents attention to children’s school life Which practices of partnership fall in the area of overlap or shared responsibilities? Which practices of partnership fall in the area of overlap or shared responsibilities? How much of involvement can boost education? How much of involvement can boost education? Evidence from research indicates that participation of family/parent in advocacy/decision making is minimum, but this form of involvement is the most meaningful Evidence from research indicates that participation of family/parent in advocacy/decision making is minimum, but this form of involvement is the most meaningful

Boundaries between parent and family education and family therapy (educational approach vs. therapeutic approach?) Boundaries between parent and family education and family therapy (educational approach vs. therapeutic approach?) How much of inputs do parents contribute in school reform? How much of inputs do parents contribute in school reform?

Framework For Teacher Training In Family Involvement What is the scope of nature pre-service education in family involvement? What is the scope of nature pre-service education in family involvement? Do we have clear successful models of such service in family involvement for teacher preparation programs? Do we have clear successful models of such service in family involvement for teacher preparation programs? Ways that educators, policy makers, professional organizations can ensure that teachers are prepared to involve families and communities Ways that educators, policy makers, professional organizations can ensure that teachers are prepared to involve families and communities Do teacher training institutions/programs offer foundation courses in family involvement in education? Do teacher training institutions/programs offer foundation courses in family involvement in education?

Standards For Family/Parent/Community Involvement Why should we adopt Joyce Epstein model of family/community involvement as a guide? Why should we adopt Joyce Epstein model of family/community involvement as a guide? Meaningful engagement/involvement vs. school family/community relations Meaningful engagement/involvement vs. school family/community relations Can we just replicate exemplary/effective family/community involvement programs/initiatives in our own settings? If not why? Can we just replicate exemplary/effective family/community involvement programs/initiatives in our own settings? If not why? The current digital world asks for integration of technological practices in the family involvement programs and initiatives. How do we handle the equity issue? How about those disadvantaged families? The current digital world asks for integration of technological practices in the family involvement programs and initiatives. How do we handle the equity issue? How about those disadvantaged families? Different forms of involvement produce different gains: What are the implications for our administrators and educators? Different forms of involvement produce different gains: What are the implications for our administrators and educators?

Legal/Obligation Issues Involvement of parents/guardians in certain programs, such as special education, Title 1 … Involvement of parents/guardians in certain programs, such as special education, Title 1 … The involvement of legal parent/guardians: biological vs. adoptive parent/guardians The involvement of legal parent/guardians: biological vs. adoptive parent/guardians Accountability issue: Family/parent involvement and school policy/agreement, evaluation of involvement programs, the needs of stakeholders Accountability issue: Family/parent involvement and school policy/agreement, evaluation of involvement programs, the needs of stakeholders Funding issues! Funding issues! Freedom/choice of involvement: Not all parents want to get involved in the same way, different levels of involvement should be allowed Freedom/choice of involvement: Not all parents want to get involved in the same way, different levels of involvement should be allowed

Parents’ rights in the following areas: Parents’ rights in the following areas: Classroom observing Classroom observing Teacher conferencing (Parents right to request?) Teacher conferencing (Parents right to request?) Student attendance (notification) Student attendance (notification) School selection (Geographical factor and alternative schooling) School selection (Geographical factor and alternative schooling) Safe school environment Safe school environment Student academic record Student academic record Instructional materials Instructional materials School rules School rules Psychological testing (notification of results to parents) Psychological testing (notification of results to parents) Councils and committees Councils and committees

Challenges Enhancing & Sustaining Family Involvement In School Management Continue to provide conclusive evidence on the impact of family involvement on student achievement (Other aspects according to needs and trends) Continue to provide conclusive evidence on the impact of family involvement on student achievement (Other aspects according to needs and trends) Up date on the definition of family/community involvement from time to time (Be more accommodative and comprehensive) Up date on the definition of family/community involvement from time to time (Be more accommodative and comprehensive) We need to address the ambiguous boundaries (intrusion, power imbalance) that exist between home and school We need to address the ambiguous boundaries (intrusion, power imbalance) that exist between home and school Diversity of family-school environments which may create discontinuity of these two entities Diversity of family-school environments which may create discontinuity of these two entities Barriers to family involvement encompass school-based and family- based issues Barriers to family involvement encompass school-based and family- based issues Promoting research with great impact value Promoting research with great impact value

Re-look at the content of family involvement programs in teacher preparation institutions (Its status in the certification processes) Re-look at the content of family involvement programs in teacher preparation institutions (Its status in the certification processes)