Governance and Advocacy: One of the Six types of Partnerships

The Six Types

Researcher Joyce Epstein has identified six ways that schools can reach out to families and the community, known as The Six Types of Family-School-Community Partnerships. It's important to remember that every school is most likely conducting partnership activities that include some of these types; and that every partnership activity usually encompasses more than one type. Schools with the most effective partnerships offer many opportunities for parents of every student to become involved.

Type 5: Decision Making

Invite families to share power with school staff in making decisions about policies, practices, and programs. Develop parent leaders and empower parents as advocates for children.

Sample Practices

• Has strong Parent Membership on the Action Team for Partnerships connecting families to school goals and programs
• Has active, inclusive parent group, advisory councils, and committees (e.g., curriculum, hiring, school improvement, and safety) with firm parent participation
• Parent networks and parent representatives are linked to all families
• Disseminates information on school and local elections to families.

Challenges

• Include parents from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and other groups in the school
• Offer training to develop parent leadership skills
• Include student representatives in decision making

Using the Six Types

Schools can use The Six Types as a tool to examine how each partnership activity engages families, and to focus on areas connected to school goals that need strengthening. For example, schools aiming to improve student math skills in Grade 3 may look at

• How parents share information (Type 1) and concerns with teachers about their child's performance in math
• How well the school communicates (Type 2) to families what children are learning in math
• How school volunteers (Type 3) help individual children strengthen math skills
• What parents need to help their children learn math at home (Type 4)
• Asking parents to help decide (Type 5) how written materials from the school can be clear and understandable for all families
• How community programs (Type 6) both after school and during the summer can reinforce math skills

Return to School House

For questions about this information, contact Ruth Anne Landsverk (608) 266-9757

Last updated on 11/18/2008 11:49:05 AM