Core Beliefs

Core Belief 1:  All parents have dreams for their children and want the best for them (p. 28).

Core Belief 2:  All parents have the capacity to support their children’s learning (p. 32).

Core Belief 3:  Parents and school staff should be equal partners (p. 36).
Core Belief 4:  The responsibility for building partnerships between school and home rests primarily
                          with school staff, especially school leaders (p.39).

How Family Friendly Is YOUR School?

Building Relationships

Family center is always open, full of interesting learning materials to borrow

Teachers contact families once a year

Better educated parents are more involved

Families do not ‘bother’ school staff

Linking to Learning

Parents and teachers look at student work and test results together

Teachers explain test scores if asked

Parents are told what students will be learning at the fall open house

Curriculum and standards are too complex for parents to understand

Addressing Differences

Translators are readily available

Office staff will find a translator if parents ask in advance

‘We can’t deal with twenty different languages’

‘Those parents need to learn English’

Supporting Advocacy

Student-led parent-teacher conferences are held 3 times/year for 30 min

Parent-teacher conferences are held twice/year

Families visit school on report card pickup day and can see a teacher if they call first

Parents don’t come to conferences

 

Sharing Power

Parents and teachers research issues such as prejudice and tracking

Parents can raise issues at PTA meetings or see the principal

Principal sets agenda for parent meetings

Principal picks a small group of ‘cooperative parents’ to help out

Welcome to the Family-School Partnership blog!

This blog is a continuation of the session held in June, 2012, at the Center for Urban and Higher Education Summer Institute at The University of Akron. Participants are invited to post questions and report their progress toward creating welcoming schools and vibrant family partnerships.