Fostering Standards of the Heart Through Family and Community Involvement

Characteristic 3: Family and Community Involvement

Rationale:

Study after study show the importance of parents being involved in their child’s education. Part of that educational process is a partnership between parents, schools, and the community working to ensure schools are healthy and safe places to be. Schools must address issues such as school discipline, violence, vandalism, truancy, alcohol and other drugs(AOD), and other critical youth risk behaviors in partnership with parents and the community. Families, with the support of schools, help children meet life’s challenges and become healthy and productive citizens.

Principles:

Be a resource to families in establishing home environments to support children as students and citizens.
Design effective forms of communication between and among school, home, and community.
Create opportunities for parent and community involvement and support.
Provide ideas to families and communities about how to help students work toward citizenship goals at home and in the community.
Include parents and community members who represent the whole community in citizenship program planning and decision making.
Identify and integrate resources and services from all aspects of the community to strengthen citizenship efforts.

Expected Results of a Citizenship Initiative

Students Will	Staff Will	Families and Community Will
Make meaningful connections with more adults Demonstrate good citizenship outside the school Feel their role as a citizen is valued and supported by the home, school, and community Welcome and encourage their family’s participation in school	Feel supported by the community Gain new partners in the education of students and development of citizens Communicate more effectively with families Have more options for developing community learning activities	Better understand school goals/ curriculum Have opportunities for involvement and communication with the school Learn about and share ideas for helping children succeed in school Better understand the role of the school as a partner in developing good citizens Support parents’ participation in schools

For questions about this information, contact dpisspw@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9117

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:28 AM