Framework of Six Types of

Parental Involvement

Theoretical ModelOVERLAPPING SPHERES OF INFLUENCE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND

COMMUNITY ON CHILDREN’S LEARNINGExternal Structure

Force BExperience,Philosophy,Practices of Family

Force CExperience,Philosophy,Practices of School

Force DExperience,Philosophy,Practices of Community

Force ATime/Age/Grade Level

See Handbook chapters 4 and 5 for the Internal structure of interpersonal connections in this model.

THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFULSCHOOL-FAMILY-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

EPSTEIN’S SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENTPARENTING: Assist families in understanding child and adolescentdevelopment, and in setting home conditions that support childrenas 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.

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.

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.

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY: Coordinate resourcesand services for students, families, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups, and provide services to the community.

Type 1

Type 2

Type 6

Type 5

Type 4

Type 3

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 schoolsunderstand children and families

Type 1

PARENTING

Basic Responsibilities of Families

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

Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions, and interactions

SCHOOL-TO-HOME

HOME-TO-SCHOOL

Type 2

COMMUNICATING

Basic Responsibilities of Schools

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

Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions, and interactions

SCHOOL-TO-HOME

HOME-TO-SCHOOL

Type 2

COMMUNICATING

Basic Responsibilities of Schools

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

Type 4

LEARNING AT HOME

Involvement in Academic Activities

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES ON…

School Council or School Improvement Team

Title I advisory and other school or district committees

Type 5

DECISION MAKING

Participation and Leadership

Independent advisory and advocacy groups

Action Team for Partnerships

PTA/PTO membership, participation, leadership, representation

Community contributes to schools, students, and families

Type 6

COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY

• 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

An Inventory of Present Practices of

School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Your TABLE will be assigned ONE TYPE of involvement.

1. LOOK. With a partner, look down the list of activities for the TYPE of involvement that you were assigned.

2. CHECK. Check the activities conducted in yourschool (or schools you supervise or assist) and the grade levels that conduct each activity.

3. REFLECT: What comes to mind as you think about the activities for that TYPE of involvement?

4. CONTINUE. If you finish before time is up, select another TYPE of involvement to review.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXAMPLESfor a One-Year Action Plan for Partnershipsto IMPROVE READING ACHIEVEMENTTYPE 1 Workshops for parents on various ways to read aloud with

young children

TYPE 2 Parent-teacher-student conferences on reading goals andreading 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

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 5

Donations from business partners of books for classrooms, for the school library, and for children to take home

TYPE 6

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

READING GOAL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXAMPLESfor a One-Year Action Plan for Partnershipsto IMPROVE MATH SKILLSTYPE 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

PTA/PTO-sponsored Family Math Night for fun and learningTYPE 5

After-school programs funded by business and community partnersto provide students with extra help and enrichment activities in math

TYPE 6

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

MATH GOAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXAMPLESfor a One-Year Action Plan for Partnershipsto IMPROVE ATTENDANCE

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

PTA/PTO communications, translated as needed, for all families on requirements for student attendance and on-time arrival, and stepsto take when students return to school after illness

TYPE 5

Agreement with local businesses to post signs that students are welcome only during nonschool hours

TYPE 6

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

ATTENDANCE

GOAL

HIGH SCHOOL EXAMPLESfor a One-Year Action Plan for Partnershipsto IMPROVE POSTSECONDARY PLANNING

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 tooutline strategies for reaching these goals

A postsecondary planning committee of parents, teachers, and students to implement a series of activities on college awarenessand career options from 9th to 12th grade

TYPE 5

“College and Careers” club linking students and families with alumni from the school to increase knowledge and actions on postsecondary paths and opportunities

TYPE 6

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

COLLEGE & CAREER GOAL

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL EXAMPLESfor a One-Year Action Planto CREATE A CLIMATE OF PARTNERSHIPS

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

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 5

Periodic community forums for educators, students, parents, and citizens to discuss school improvement topics, family and community support for education, and other education issues

TYPE 6

…AND MANY OTHER IDEAS FOR EACH TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

PARTNERSHIP GOAL

ACTIVITY CHALLENGE-GO-ROUND

1. List ONE important challenge that your school (or a school you know well) must solve toinvolve all families.

2. 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.

Write your name at the top of the activity .