Parenting: 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 1: Parenting

Schools help families build parenting strengths and skills, and schools work to understand families. Schools strengthen parent networks and support systems so families can care for and guide their children.

Sample Practices

• Develop workshops, videotapes, and newsletter articles on parenting and child development at each age and grade level
• Sponsor parent education or training for parents, such as family literacy or GED
• Establish programs that help families with health, nutrition, and parenting issues, including clothing and book drives, food co-ops, and parent groups
• Host parent forums for schools to hear families' ideas, concerns, and priorities
• Ask families in surveys or conferences to share information about their children's goals, strengths, and talents.

Challenges

• Provide in many ways information to all families who want or need it, not only the few able to attend workshops or meetings at school.
• Invite families to share information with the school about their children, background, culture, talents, goals, and needs.

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 3:03:08 PM