School-Community Relations

Learning Outcomes (School-Community Relations) Students are able to: Students are able to: Explain the meaning of meaningful collaboration with the community Explain the meaning of meaningful collaboration with the community Utilizing different tools to understand the structure and evolvement of communities Utilizing different tools to understand the structure and evolvement of communities Describe the gains from collaborating with the community Describe the gains from collaborating with the community

Studies on Family/Community Involvement Impact of family/community involvement on student achievement Impact of family/community involvement on student achievement Effective strategies to connect schools, families, and community Effective strategies to connect schools, families, and community Parent/community organizing efforts to improve schools Parent/community organizing efforts to improve schools

Effective Strategies to Connect Schools and Community School and Community partnership School and Community partnership Factors contributed to successful community partnership: Factors contributed to successful community partnership: The school’s commitment to learning The school’s commitment to learning The principal’s support and vision for community involvement The principal’s support and vision for community involvement The school’s willingness to engage in two-way communication with potential partners about their level and kind of involvement The school’s willingness to engage in two-way communication with potential partners about their level and kind of involvement

Collaborating with Community Quality Indicators National PTA Distribute information regarding cultural, academic, health, social and other services that serve families within the community Distribute information regarding cultural, academic, health, social and other services that serve families within the community Develop partnerships with local business Develop partnerships with local business Encourage employers to adopt policies that promote and support adult participation in children’s education Encourage employers to adopt policies that promote and support adult participation in children’s education Foster student participation in community service Foster student participation in community service Involve community members in school volunteer programs Involve community members in school volunteer programs Disseminate information to the school community regarding school programs and performance Disseminate information to the school community regarding school programs and performance Collaborate with community agencies to provide family support services and adult learning opportunities Collaborate with community agencies to provide family support services and adult learning opportunities

The circle of adult relationships is now less likely to include parents of their children’s associates, thus reducing the availability of knowledge about what their child is doing, and the opportunity to influence the child’s actions through norms and sanctions. The circle of adult relationships is now less likely to include parents of their children’s associates, thus reducing the availability of knowledge about what their child is doing, and the opportunity to influence the child’s actions through norms and sanctions. Hoffer and Coleman

Issues Related to Community Involvement in Schools Public schools must hold themselves to high and measurable standards if they are to survive Public schools must hold themselves to high and measurable standards if they are to survive The majority of people in the community do not have children in school. The majority of people in the community do not have children in school. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2010, families with children will account for little more than one-quarter of all households. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2010, families with children will account for little more than one-quarter of all households. The concept of making schools the “center of community,” by creating joint-use facilities, is once again on the rise. Your thoughts? The concept of making schools the “center of community,” by creating joint-use facilities, is once again on the rise. Your thoughts?

Perceptions: Perceptions: Many community members have no real idea of the need or the conditions at their local school. Create connections: Create connections: How to create meaningful connections between school and community? Communications Communications Supporting school communication is key to boosting interest and involvement in schools by parents and communities.

Meaning of Community Relations School public relations is a cooperative development and maintenance of of efficient two-way channels of information and understanding between the school, its personnel, and the community. (American Association of School Administrators) School public relations is a cooperative development and maintenance of of efficient two-way channels of information and understanding between the school, its personnel, and the community. (American Association of School Administrators) A process of communication between the school and community for the purpose of increasing citizen understanding of educational needs and practices and encouraging intelligent citizen interest and cooperation in the work of improving the school. (Kindred) A process of communication between the school and community for the purpose of increasing citizen understanding of educational needs and practices and encouraging intelligent citizen interest and cooperation in the work of improving the school. (Kindred)

Educational public relations is a management function which interprets public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual organization with the public interest and executes a program of action to encourage public involvement and to earn public understanding and acceptance. (The National School Public Relations Association) Educational public relations is a management function which interprets public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual organization with the public interest and executes a program of action to encourage public involvement and to earn public understanding and acceptance. (The National School Public Relations Association)

Understanding the Community Existing needs and expectation of citizens regarding public education Existing needs and expectation of citizens regarding public education Opportunities and means for creating better cooperative relations with various publics Opportunities and means for creating better cooperative relations with various publics The nature of the power structure and the areas of decision making The nature of the power structure and the areas of decision making Situations to be avoided due to past history of conflict Situations to be avoided due to past history of conflict Identification of those individuals and groups who are friendly or unfriendly toward public education Identification of those individuals and groups who are friendly or unfriendly toward public education The channels through which public opinion is built in the community The channels through which public opinion is built in the community

Changes that are occurring in the patterns of community life Changes that are occurring in the patterns of community life Leadership and leadership influence Leadership and leadership influence The number and types of organizations and social agencies existing in the community The number and types of organizations and social agencies existing in the community

Sociological Inventory Customs and traditions Customs and traditions Population characteristics Population characteristics Communication channels Communication channels Community groups Community groups Leadership Leadership Economic conditions Economic conditions Political structure Political structure Economic conditions Economic conditions Political structure Political structure Social tensions Social tensions Previous community efforts Previous community efforts

Power Structure A power structure is an interrelationship among individuals with vested interests who have the ability or authority to control other people, to obtain their conformity, or to command the services of other men A power structure is an interrelationship among individuals with vested interests who have the ability or authority to control other people, to obtain their conformity, or to command the services of other men Types of power structure Types of power structure The elite power model The elite power model The community power structure is pyramidal, the base representing the lower echelons of power distribution and the apex representing the high concentration of power

The Pluralistic/diffused model The Pluralistic/diffused model It has several centers of power There are many groups that are highly influential and that each one concerns itself with a different issue or issues The Amorphous model The Amorphous model Power is basically absent (latent) It resembles a condition that is that is controlled by those who maintain the status quo

School Management and Power Structures The best protection the school has against power structure pressures on financial and other decisions is a well-planned and carefully implemented program in school and community relations The best protection the school has against power structure pressures on financial and other decisions is a well-planned and carefully implemented program in school and community relations Proper organization of citizen and advisory committees and groups of concern parents Proper organization of citizen and advisory committees and groups of concern parents

How to Measure Public Opinion Opinion research technique Opinion research technique Opinion research helps to determine: Opinion research helps to determine: How people get their information about the schools How citizen judge the quality of their schools Whether a change would arouse controversy Whether a shift is taking place in the community How well the public understands the education program Point of popular Satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the schools

Opinion Research Methods Forums and conferences Forums and conferences Advisory committees Advisory committees Consumer panels Consumer panels Key communicators Key communicators Public opinion surveys Public opinion surveys

Gains When Schools and Communities Work Together Families access community resources more easily Families access community resources more easily Businesses connect education programs with realities of the work place Businesses connect education programs with realities of the work place Students serve and learn beyond their school involvement Students serve and learn beyond their school involvement

Iowa Association of School Boards Model Basic steps for Partnerships (With the business sector): Basic steps for Partnerships (With the business sector): Start small Start small Having a pilot project/program Promote awareness Promote awareness Informing stakeholders that you are having a partnership Involve potential key partners Involve potential key partners Involve them at an early stage Consider the needs of both parties Consider the needs of both parties Look at mutual needs and goals

Identify potential resources for both parties Identify potential resources for both parties Determine how resources will be used effectively to meet top priorities Be specific about jobs that need to be done Be specific about jobs that need to be done Be specific about resources and duration of the partnership Monitoring Monitoring Set up a system to monitor the program Design for implementation phases Design for implementation phases Provide skill training and etc. Evaluation of the program Evaluation of the program Determine if the partnership is achieving its goal