Home conditions that support children as students at all grade levels
Information and activities to help schools understand children and families
SAMPLE PRACTICES
Workshops, videotapes, computerized phone messages on parenting and child development at each age and grade level
Parent education and other courses or training for parents (e.g., GED, family literacy, college or training programs)
Family support programs to assist families with health, nutrition, and parenting, including clothing swap shops, food co-ops, parent-to-parent groups
Home visiting programs or neighborhood meetings to help families understand schools and to help schools understand families
Annual survey for families to share information about their children’s goals, strengths, and special talents
CHALLENGES
Provide information to all families who want it or who need it, not only to the few who attend workshops or meetings at the school building
Enable families to share information with schools about background, culture, talents, goals, and needs
REDEFINITIONS
“Workshop” is not only a meeting on a topic held at the school building, but also the content of that meeting to be viewed, heard, or read at convenient times and varied locations.
RESULTS FOR STUDENTS
Balance time spent on chores, homework, and other activities
Regular attendance
Awareness of importance of school
RESULTS FOR PARENTS
Self-confidence about parenting as children proceed through school
Knowledge of child and adolescent development
RESULTS FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
Understanding of families’ goals and concerns for children
The Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships and NNPS are part of the Center for Social Organization of Schools (CSOS) in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University.
Promising Partnership Practices
NNPS members share their best practices in books of Promising Partnership Practices. The activities address challenges to engage all families and organize leadership for partnerships. They show how family and community partnerships improve the school climate and boost student success in school.
Contact
National Network of Partnership Schools
Center for Social Organization of Schools
Johns Hopkins University School of Education
2800 N. Charles Street, Suite 420
Baltimore, Maryland 21218 nnps@jhu.edu
tel: 410-516-2318
fax: 410-516-5572