1. Framework of Six Types of Parental Involvement

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Basic Responsibilities of Schools
Type 2
COMMUNICATING
Basic Responsibilities of Schools
SCHOOL-TO-HOME
Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, computerized messages, s, 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

6. Basic Responsibilities of Schools
Type 2
COMMUNICATING
Basic Responsibilities of Schools
SCHOOL-TO-HOME
Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, computerized messages, s, 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. …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

12. …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

13. …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

14. …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

15. …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., , 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

16. 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.