1. Developing Effective Partnerships
Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement

2. Why are partnerships important?
The more families support their children’s learning and educational progress, the more their children tend to do well in school and continue their education.
Programs and interventions that engage families in supporting their children’s learning at home are linked to higher student achievement. (Parents’ level of engagement affects the degree of influence).
Teacher outreach to parents is positively related to parent involvement and student achievement.
(Henderson & Mapp, 2002)

3. What are school, family, and community partnerships?
School, Family, and Community Partnerships - A philosophy, culture, and process that emphasizes the overlapping influence that stakeholders in each context have on the education and well-being of children and adults.

4. Epstein’s Framework of 6 Types of Involvement
Comprehensive partnership programs have activities that support the following types of involvement:
Type 1 – Parenting
Type 2 – Communicating
Type 3 – Volunteering
Type 4 – Learning at Home
Type 5 – Decision Making
Type 6 – Collaborating with the Community

5. Type 1 - Parenting • Activities to assist families in:
Providing housing, health, nutrition, clothing and safety
Developing parenting skills for all age levels
Sharing information and activities to help schools understand children and families

6. Type 2 - Communicating Information to help families:
Understand educational programs and children’s progress
Understand student assessments
Opportunities for families to:
Express concerns, insights and expectations

7. Type 3 - Volunteering
Involvement at and for the school or organization:
To assist administrators, teachers, students, or parents as mentors, monitors, lecturers, chaperones, tutors, or in other ways
To attend assemblies, performances, sports events, ceremonies, and other events

8. Type 4 – Learning at Home
Involvement in academic activities at home to:
Help with and monitor homework
Understand skills required to pass/master each subject
Guide curriculum-related decisions
Support the development of other skills and talents

9. Type 5 – Decision Making Family participation in school:
Advisory groups
Planning committees
Program-related decisions

10. Type 6 – Collaborating with the Community
Connections with the community for needed services, resources, and support
Connections that contribute to the community

11. Examples of Partnership Activities
The National Network of Partnership Schools
www. partnershipschools.org or

12. Tips for Building Comprehensive Family Engagement Programs
Identify and train a team of administrators, parents, teachers, and other school personnel and community partners to plan, lead the implementation of, and evaluate school wide partnership activities.
Create a welcoming school environment. (See Search: Family Friendly Partnership)
Provide professional development on family engagement for faculty and staff. (See
Support families’ sense of efficacy for involvement by providing engagement opportunities that span Epstein’s six types.

13. Resources
Epstein et al. (2009). School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Your Handbook for Action, Third Edition. Corwin Press.
Henderson, A. & Mapp, K. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
National Network of Partnership Schools at: or
Reynolds, A. & Clements, M. (2005). Parental Involvement and Children’s School Success. In E. Patrikakou, R. Weissberg, S. Redding, & H. Walberg (pp ), School-Family Partnerships for Children’s Success. NY, NY: Teachers College Press.