Community Outreach: 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 6: Collaborating with Community

Connect families to services and resources from the community; provide learning opportunities and services to the community.

Sample Practices

• School provides information to link families to community health, recreation, cultural, and support services and programs
• School provides information on community activities to strengthen student skills and talents, including after-school and summer programs
• School provides service-learning opportunities for students that meet a community need
• Students host programs for community members (e.g., art, music or drama, computer education, recycling, or tutoring)
• District and community agency(ies) host a series of parent forums to discuss important issues related to youth health or safety (e.g., gangs, truancy, illnesses)
• School building is available for community use during after-school hours.

Challenges

• Keep goal of children's learning and well-being at forefront of negotiations around funding, turf, and responsibility
• Ensure equal access of all families to educational and community service opportunities

Welcome the voice and participation of all community members, not only those with children in school.

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

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

Last updated on 10/21/2008 3:04:19 PM