This is Alan Blankstein's text Failure is NOT an Option, Chapter 9. He wrote this chapter with Pedro Noguera. This chapter is about School Community Relations. They present a framework for engaging parents to create effective change in K-12 schools. This chapter includes many examples -- challenges and then the authors provide for solutions.

1. Creating Sustainable
Systematic School Change
Wafa Hozien, Ph.D.
Virginia State University
whozien@vsu.edu
Based on the Book: Why Failure Is Not An Option

2. Fifth Principle:
Gaining Active Engagement
From Family and Community
CHAPTER 9

3. •
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Nothing motivates a child more than when
learning is valued by schools and families/ community
working together in partnership…
These forms of involvement do not happen by accident or even by
invitation.
• They happen by explicit strategic intervention. (Fullan, 1997)
Partnership

4. • What is meant by
“helicopter
parents”?

5. •
•
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Greater parental involvement leads to
higher levels of student achievement and
improved student behavior,
irrespective of such factors as socioeconomic status or ethnic
background.
Involvement

6. Building Positive Family and
Community Relationships
• Three Key Principles in Building Positive Family Relationships:
1. Mutual understanding based on empathy and recognition of shared interests
2. Meaningful involvement of family and community in a variety of school
activities
3. Regular outreach and communication to family and community

7. Areas in which schools can extend
Understanding and Support
• Creating afterschool homework centers so that children include who don’t
have someone at home to help them are not penalized because they have not
completed assignments;
• Creating schedules, policies, and programs that take into account students’
home-life challenges;
• Providing translators who can communicate with non-English-speaking
families and produce versions of important school announcements and
communications in the languages spoken by the families that are served;

8. • Creating waiting areas at school for parents and other visitors so that they
don’t have to stand at the counter while waiting to speak to a staff;
• Arranging for transportation of students to afterschool activities and for
families to school events;
• Setting up alternatives to telephone communication for families who lack
telephones; and
• Holding meetings for parents at public libraries and community centers
when transportation to school is a problem.
School as Community

9. Encouraging Meaningful
Parental Involvement
• Establishing a parent-to-parent
outreach
• Inviting parents and community
members to provide lessons in the
language/ culture represented in the
community
• Inviting parents and community
members to provide leadership for
extracurricular activities
• Training teachers and the school
receptionist in how to greet parents/
conduct productive parent to parent
conferences

10. Teacher wisdom for maximizing parent-teacher
collaboration includes asking parents to:
•
•
•
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Mentor and tutor students who need extra help
Assist with classroom writing projects, science experiments and so forth
Direct or assist with dramatic productions
Present various performances, e.g. musicals, dramas, puppet shows, etc.

11. Strategies for Engaging Parents in
Genuine Partnerships
• Change middle and high school handbooks so that they provide positive,
identity-building opportunities awaiting students.
• Develop positive feedback systems
• Provide parents with multi-media formatted guidance

12. • Creating forums for dialogue about cultural and ethnic differences
• Create opportunities for community service and more meaningful
student government
• Provide forums for parent discussions and mutual support
Partnerships

13. • How do you productively engage family and community
in schools?
• Why is this important?
• What is your school doing that is providing for
meaningful parental school relationships?
• How can this be improved?
Questions

14. • Blankstein, Alan M. (2004). Failure Is Not an Option:
Six Principles That Advance Student Achievement in
Highly Effective Schools. Thousand Oaks, Calif. :
Corwin.
References