Framework of Six Types of Parental Involvement

Force B Force C Experience, Experience, Philosophy, Philosophy, Theoretical Model OVERLAPPING SPHERES OF INFLUENCE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY ON CHILDREN’S LEARNING External Structure Force B Experience, Philosophy, Practices of Family Force C Experience, Philosophy, Practices of School Force D Experience, Philosophy, Practices of Community Force A Time/Age/Grade Level See Handbook chapters 4 and 5 for the Internal structure of interpersonal connections in this model.

SCHOOL-FAMILY-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL-FAMILY-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EPSTEIN’S SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT Type 1 PARENTING: Assist families in understanding child and adolescent development, and in setting home conditions that support children as students at each age and grade level. Assist schools in understanding families. COMMUNICATING: Communicate with families about school programs and student progress through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communications. Type 2 Type 3 VOLUNTEERING: Improve recruitment, training, work, and schedules to involve families as volunteers and audiences at school or in other locations to support students and school programs. Type 4 LEARNING AT HOME: Involve families with their children in learning activities at home, including homework, other curriculum- related activities, and individual course and program decisions. DECISION MAKING: Include families as participants in school decisions, governance, and advocacy through PTA/PTO, school councils, committees, action teams, and other parent organizations. Type 5 COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY: Coordinate resources and services for students, families, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups, and provide services to the community. Type 6

Type 1 PARENTING and parenting skills for all age levels Basic Responsibilities of Families Housing, health, nutrition, clothing, safety Understand child and adolescent development and parenting skills for all age levels Home conditions that support children as students at all grade levels Information and activities to help schools understand children and families

Basic Responsibilities of Schools Type 2 COMMUNICATING Basic Responsibilities of Schools SCHOOL-TO-HOME Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, computerized messages, e-mails, Web sites Information to help families Understand school programs and children’s progress Understand state tests, report cards, and other assessments Choose or change schools Choose or change courses, placements, programs, and activities HOME-TO-SCHOOL Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions, and interactions

Basic Responsibilities of Schools Type 2 COMMUNICATING Basic Responsibilities of Schools SCHOOL-TO-HOME Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, computerized messages, e-mails, Web sites Information to help families Understand school programs and children’s progress Understand state tests, report cards, and other assessments Choose or change schools Choose or change courses, placements, programs, and activities HOME-TO-SCHOOL Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions, and interactions

Involvement in Academic Activities INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES ON… Type 4 LEARNING AT HOME Involvement in Academic Activities INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES ON… How to help at home with homework Required skills to pass each subject Curriculum-related decisions by and for the student Development of students’ other skills and talents

Participation and Leadership Type 5 DECISION MAKING Participation and Leadership School Council or School Improvement Team Action Team for Partnerships PTA/PTO membership, participation, leadership, representation Title I advisory and other school or district committees Independent advisory and advocacy groups

COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY Type 6 COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY Community contributes to schools, students, and families Business partners Cultural and recreational groups Health services Senior citizen organizations Faith-based organizations Government and military agencies Other groups, agencies, and organizations Schools, students, and families to contribute to the community Service learning and other special projects

STARTING POINTS An Inventory of Present Practices of School, Family, and Community Partnerships Your TABLE will be assigned ONE TYPE of involvement. LOOK. With a partner, look down the list of activities for the TYPE of involvement that you were assigned. CHECK. Check the activities conducted in your school (or schools you supervise or assist) and the grade levels that conduct each activity. REFLECT: What comes to mind as you think about the activities for that TYPE of involvement? CONTINUE. If you finish before time is up, select another TYPE of involvement to review.

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXAMPLES for a One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships to IMPROVE READING ACHIEVEMENT READING GOAL TYPE 1 Workshops for parents on various ways to read aloud with young children TYPE 2 Parent-teacher-student conferences on reading goals and reading progress TYPE 3 Reading-partner volunteers, guest readers of favorite stories, and other organized, ongoing read-with-me activities TYPE 4 Family Reading Night to demonstrate reading strategies for parents and grade-specific activities to conduct with students at home TYPE 5 PTA/PTO support for a family room or parent center to provide information on children’s reading, and to conduct book swaps, make book bags for read-at-home programs, and sponsor other reading activities TYPE 6 Donations from business partners of books for classrooms, for the school library, and for children to take home …AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXAMPLES for a One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships to IMPROVE MATH SKILLS MATH GOAL TYPE 1 Workshops for parents to explain new math standards and tests, and to demonstrate and discuss how math skills are taught to students TYPE 2 Articles for parents in school or class newsletters or posted on the school Web site by students and math teachers on interesting math topics and skills TYPE 3 Volunteer math tutors to assist students who need one-on-one tutoring and extra help with specific math skills TYPE 4 Weekly interactive homework assignments for students to demonstrate mastery of a math skill for family partners and to discuss how each skill is used in everyday situations TYPE 5 PTA/PTO-sponsored Family Math Night for fun and learning TYPE 6 After-school programs funded by business and community partners to provide students with extra help and enrichment activities in math …AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL EXAMPLES for a One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships to IMPROVE ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE GOAL TYPE 1 “Attendance Summit” for parents on the importance of student attendance. Speakers may include school administrators, counselors, legal experts, teachers, health service providers, students, and family members TYPE 2 Recognition postcards for good or improved attendance TYPE 3 Family volunteers as attendance monitors TYPE 4 Interactive homework for students and family partners to create a poster about why good attendance is important TYPE 5 PTA/PTO communications, translated as needed, for all families on requirements for student attendance and on-time arrival, and steps to take when students return to school after illness TYPE 6 Agreement with local businesses to post signs that students are welcome only during nonschool hours …AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL EXAMPLES for a One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships to IMPROVE POSTSECONDARY PLANNING COLLEGE & CAREER GOAL TYPE 1 Workshops for parents and students on course credits and requirements for high school graduation, college financial aid, college entry tests, and career planning TYPE 2 Series of videos for families to learn about high school graduation requirements and postsecondary planning TYPE 3 Field trips for students and parents to local colleges and universities TYPE 4 Interactive homework that requires students to discuss their academic goals and career plans with a family partner and to outline strategies for reaching these goals TYPE 5 A postsecondary planning committee of parents, teachers, and students to implement a series of activities on college awareness and career options from 9th to 12th grade TYPE 6 “College and Careers” club linking students and families with alumni from the school to increase knowledge and actions on postsecondary paths and opportunities …AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL EXAMPLES for a One-Year Action Plan to CREATE A CLIMATE OF PARTNERSHIPS Welcome PARTNERSHIP GOAL TYPE 1 Parent support groups to discuss parenting approaches and school issues with other families and with school counselors TYPE 2 “Good news” postcards, phone calls, and other two-way communications (e.g., e-mail, voice mail, Web sites) to connect teachers and families about student progress and success TYPE 3 Volunteers for safe schools to greet, assist, or deter visitors TYPE 4 Quarterly interactive homework assignments for students to review report card grades with family partners and to discuss academic and behavior goals for the next grading period TYPE 5 PTA/PTO-sponsored “Showcase the School Day” with booths and displays on school programs, student clubs, academic departments, the parent association, and partnership activities TYPE 6 Periodic community forums for educators, students, parents, and citizens to discuss school improvement topics, family and community support for education, and other education issues …AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

Write your name at the top of the activity . CHALLENGE-GO-ROUND Write your name at the top of the activity . List ONE important challenge that your school (or a school you know well) must solve to involve all families. At the signal, pass the page to the next person to suggest one possible solution to the challenge. (Wait for 3 signals to get 3 suggestions.) 3. Return the page to the “Starter.” Put a * next to one solution that you think might work well. Be ready to discuss.