State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster heads the Wisconsin Network of Partnership Schools, a member of the National Partnership Schools Network directed by Joyce Epstein at Johns Hopkins University. Wisconsin is a charter member of the National Partnership Schools Network begun in 1997, and serves as the resource and membership contact for Wisconsin schools.
The goal of the Network is to establish in each school a permanent and positive program of family-school-community partnerships that supports children's learning. This goal is attainable by any elementary, middle, or high school with the desire to work toward effective partnerships and is based on more than three decades of research.
The Network has three levels of membership: school, district, and organizational. Wisconsin has about 70 school and district members. The Wisconsin Parent-Teacher Association, Parents Plus of Wisconsin, and several CESAs are organizational members.
Cost of membership is nominal and requires a commitment of budget and staff, determined locally, to develop and enhance partnerships. Each member must also establish an Action Team for School, Family and Community Partnerships and implement a program of partnership based on the Six Types.
The Six Types of Partnerships are parenting,
communicating, learning at home, volunteering, decision making, and community
collaboration.
Members receive a partnership manual to guide their work, as well as a semi-annual
newsletter featuring the latest research results from the National Partnership Schools Network.
Members are encouraged to attend annual DPI family-school-community partnership conferences, and to participate in statewide videoconferences which allow partnership schools and districts to share effective practices and connect with one another.
A program of partnerships is not an "extra" program, but offers a research-based framework and strategies to help any school organize and link productive family-school-community partnerships to improving children's learning. Many schools already conduct various partnership activities, but can use the Framework and Six Types to
- Focus and organize partnership resources and energies
- Reach out to and involve all families, and
- Link partnerships to improving children's learning.
Research shows that schools need at least three to five years to create and maintain a permanent program of partnership that helps students, strengthens families, and improves schools. If your school or district is ready to develop and maintain strong and positive school-family-community partnerships, you will want to join the Wisconsin Network of Partnership Schools.
For more information on the Partnership Schools Network
To receive more information and membership forms contact: The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Families in Education Program at 608-266-9757,
Ruth Anne Landsverk or
Jane Grinde at
608-266-9356.
For questions about this information, contact Ruth Anne Landsverk (608) 266-9757
Last updated on 12/2/2008 4:08:32 PM
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