Community Learning and Partnerships

The DPI Community Learning and Partnerships team brings together staff and programs that focus on helping to build strong communities. The core team includes staff in community education, early childhood education, nutrition education, service-learning, and family-school-community partnerships. Over time, the team has significantly increased interdepartmental and other state connections on partnerships. Our team's vision is that all children will grow up in nurturing, healthy, and safe learning environments in which all families are fully supported in their roles and responsibilities. Our mission is to work with communities to ensure learner success and stronger communities through family - school - community partnerships.

Publications

The team develops and produces publications related to partnerships, including family involvement, service-learning, early childhood collaboration, and team nutrition.

Annual Conferences

Visit the Early Childhood Care and Education Training, Workshops, Course, and Conferences site for links to related events.

Team Contacts

The DPI Calendar lists many educational and education-related events.

Programs

AmeriCorps: Service for Life and Learning

DPI AmeriCorps members help schools throughout Wisconsin establish high-quality service-learning, tutor children, and make connections between schools and community volunteers. This site contains detailed information about DPI's AmeriCorps program.

VISTA: Family - School - Community Partnerships

DPI's AmeriCorps*VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) develop family, school, and community partnership practices in low-income schools to help close the achievement gap. This site allows you to learn about the types of practices our VISTAs implement and how you can apply to host a VISTA or become a VISTA member yourself!

Community Education

Community education is an educational process which seeks to involve citizens by identifying local needs and meeting those needs by using existing resources in thoughtful and engaging partnerships. This site guides you to information, resources, links, organizations, and people to support your efforts to strengthen an existing program or begin a new community education program.

Early Childhood

This section addresses a wide variety of early childhood issues including but not limited to: guiding practices, four- and five- year old kindergarten, early childhood special education, professional development, and links to collaborative partners including Head Start and the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners.

Family - School - Community Partnerships

Family-School-Community Partnerships work! This site offers many resources to help with the building of such partnerships.

State Superintendent's Parent Leadership Corps

Former State Superintendent Burmaster appointed a panel of parents and educators to seek out successful practices of family-school-community partnerships within the state and nation, share information on positive programs and resources, and help parents network with each other to initiate school-wide student achievement projects.

Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), Title VI - Part B: Section 6201

The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) is a U.S. Department of Education program that distributes funds to rural school districts. Eligibility for this program is determined by federal criteria, and all eligible districts are automatically notified by the Department of Education.

Contact Information

Team Members (Email)	Program	Phone
Jane Grinde	Director	608-266-9356
Steve Kretzmann	AmeriCorps, Community Education, and the Rural Education Achievement Program	608-267-9278
Jill Haglund	Early Childhood and 4- and 5-yr-old Kindergarten	608-267-9625
Ruth Anne Landsverk	Family-School-Community Partnerships	608-266-9757
Betsy Prueter	Family-School-Community Partnerships/VISTA, AmeriCorps Every Student a Graduate	608-267-7290
Laura Paella	Office Associate	608-264-9325
Katherine Foster	VISTA Leader	608-261-6332

Last updated on 8/21/2011 8:52:54 AM