Reaching Out to the Community
This section provides resources about recruiting and forming partnerships with constituents or stakeholders, such as parents, policy makers, civic leaders, and businesses or industries.
Click on the following issues related to reaching out to the community to see links and bibliographical references to resources that address those issues.
ISSUE: How can I encourage participation in our outreach program? ISSUE: What kind of planning leads to successful outreach programs ISSUE: How do I engage parents that have not historically been involved with the education system? ISSUE: How do I reach local business/industry that work in areas of mathematics, science, and technology? ISSUE: How do I establish partnerships with parents that go beyond "traditional approaches"? ISSUE: How do I get the support of government, legistlatures, city agencies (e.g., public works)? ISSUE: How do I get financial support (e.g., grants, materials) for community-based experiences? |
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ISSUE: How can I encourage participation in our outreach program?
Students Against Drunk Drivers (SADD)
http://www.saddonline.com/pdf/03EventPlanW.pdf
SADD has produced an event planner that addresses, among other issues, ways of encouraging high participation in one of their events. Pages 32 and 33 of the following document provides tips for publicizing community events and for getting local media and businesses on board.
Partnership Planning Component of the National Network of Partnership
Schools Program
http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/program.htm
Established by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, The National Network of Partnership Schools brings together schools, districts, and states that are committed to developing and maintaining comprehensive programs of school-family-community partnerships. Their Web site includes a range of planning and evaluating tools so that action teams can take stock of their current partnership activities, plan future work, and evaluate progress, all with the goal of increasing participation.
ISSUE: What kind of planning leads to successful outreach programs?
Planning and Evaluating Outreach Flow Chart
http://nnlm.gov/evaluation/guide/introduction.pdf
U.S. National Network of Libraries of Medicine Home Page created a Planning and Evaluating Outreach Flow Chart that is designed for groups focused on health education but is generic enough to guide most outreach program planning.
ParentNet
http://www.parentnetassociation.org/content/program/educators.htm
This Web site describes important steps towards implementing a successful parent involvement program and has a downloadable publication designed especially for educators.
Developing a Hispanic Outreach Program That Works
Anna Torres-Davis, reprinted from the A.T. Quarterly, Volume 5, Number
1, 1994
http://www.resna.org/taproject/library/atq/hispanic.htm
This article describes successful strategies that can be used to develop Hispanic outreach programs. The strategies, including persistence, sensitivity to audience response, and a willingness to learn, can be used to reach all kinds of target audiences.
ISSUE: How do I connect with parents, particularly those in low-income areas or rural areas, and parents with limited English?
Playing Their Parts: What Parents and Teachers Really Mean by Parental
Involvement
Public Agenda Online, 1999
http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/parent/parent.htm
Public Agenda surveyed parents and public school teachers to find out what they think parents should be doing in the public schools. This report explores the disconnect between teacher and parent expectations for parent/child relations.
Attitudes About Teaching: Including the Views of Parents, Administrators,
Teachers and the General Public
Public Agenda, 2004
http://www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=4
For this report, Public Agenda has reviewed and analyzed opinion research on teachers and teaching over the last decade. Requires user registration to view the entire report.
EDUCATION: People's Chief Concerns
Public Agenda
http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/pcc.cfm?issue_type=education
A list of links to surveys and reports on Americans views on education.
Putting Partnerships Into Practice: Resources for Educators
National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education.
http://www.ncpie.org/Resources/Educators.cfm
A list of resources for educators about parental involvement.
Keys to Success
National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education.
http://www.ncpie.org/DevelopingPartnerships/KeysToSuccess.html
Tips for helping an ongoing family-involvement program be successful.
National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs
National PTA, 1997
http://www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1118251710359.html
Guidelines for leaders of institutions with programs serving parents and families. The standards are designed to help direct leaders as they move from discussion to action in developing dynamic parent involvement programs that are meaningful, well planned and long lasting.
Family and Community
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/pa0cont.htm
A substantial list of links to resources about parent and community involvement in education.
Parent and Community Involvement in Rural Schools
Stan Maynard and Aimee Howley, ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education
and Small Schools, June 1997
http://acclaim.coe.ohiou.edu/rc/rc_sub/vlibrary/2_e_digs/Parent%20and%20Community.htm
This article discusses the challenges involved with involving parents in rural areas and highlights several promising approaches.
ISSUE: How do I engage parents that have not historically been involved with the education system?
Stepping Forward: Promoting Community and Parental Evolvement
NEA Today, National Education Association, October 1997
http://www.educationminnesota.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=213
Five strategies for reaching the hard-to-reach parent.
Partnering with Families and Communities
Joyce L. Epstein and Karen Clark Salinas, Educational Leadership, May
2004, 61 (8). Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
http://www.ascd.org/publications/ed_lead/200405/epstein.html
An article describing how effective programs of family and community involvement strengthen school learning communities. Suggests that an organized program of school, family, and community partnerships with activities linked to school goals can improve schools, strengthen families, invigorate community support, and increase student achievement and success. Highlights programs where educators, parents, and other partners work together to systematically strengthen and maintain their family and community involvement programs over time.
Tips and Resources: Strategies That Help Families Feel Welcome at School
Parent Leadership Exchange Project, Institute for Responsive Education
http://www.responsiveeducation.org/tipStrategies.html
A list of ideas for making families feel welcome in their child’s school.
ISSUE: How do I find ways to bring parents from the mathematics-science-technology worlds into the schools more regularly?
The Diversity of Roles for Scientists in K–14 Education and Public Outreach
Cherilynn
A. Morrow, Space Science Institute
http://www.spacescience.org/Education/ResourcesForScientists/Workshops/Four-Day/Resources/Articles/Roles_M.pdf
A framework that describes the different levels of involvement scientists may have in a variety of education and public outreach activities that contribute to improving science education in both formal and informal settings. Various entry points into the system are listed and the roles of advocate, resource, and partner in different components of the educational system are explored.
Roles for Scientists and Engineers in the Schools
Resources for Involving Scientists in Education (RISE), The National
Academies
http://www.nas.edu/rise/roles.html
Links to information on ways scientists and engineers may contribute to schools. these are broken down into four categories of activities: working directly with students, working with teachers, supporting systemic reform, and helping develop instructional materials.
Science Education In Our Elementary and Secondary Schools: A Guide for
Technical Professionals Who Want to Help
Education Outreach Department, Sandia National Laboratories
http://www.nas.edu/rise/scied.htm
This guide was prepared by scientists and engineers at Sandia National Laboratories to help technical professionals become productively involved in enhancing K–12 science education.
ISSUE: How do I reach local business/industry that work in areas of mathematics, science, and technology?
Partnerships with Business and the Community
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education, ENC
Focus 8(1).
http://www.enc.org/features/focus/archive/partners/
This issue of ENC Focus includes articles on shaping the relationship between the school and its environment. Examples and suggestions for reaching out to the business community are provided.
Mathematics and Science Partnership Program
National Science Foundation
http://www.triangle-coalition.org/pdf/04nsfmpart.pdf
Department of Education
http://www.triangle-coalition.org/pdf/04doemsp.pdf
This is a grant-making program largely for universities to build partnerships with schools and other community entities. The National Science Foundation makes some of the grants and the U.S. Department of Education makes others.
Program Pairs Local Teachers with Scientists
Steven Schultz, Princeton Weekly Bulletin, September 25, 2000, 90 (3)
http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/00/0925/1b.shtml
This article describes a local professional development experience.
The Role of Scientists in the Professional Development of Science Teachers
Committee on Biology Teacher Inservice Programs, National Research Council
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/role/summary.html
This report from the NRC Committee on Biology Teacher Inservice Programs provides guidance for teachers and scientists based on a survey of effective professional development programs that most often involved partnerships.
ISSUE: How do I build partnerships with business and industry that are more than “one shot,” isolated programs, but instead are systemic, comprehensive, and intensive?
Finding Prospective Partners
J. Patrick White. ENC Focus, 8 (1), January 2001, Eisenhower
National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education
http://www.enc.org/topics/famcomm/form/document.shtm?input=FOC-001852-index
Information for educators wanting to reach out to sectors of the community such as the government; faculty, researchers, and administrators of colleges and universities; parent organizations; and professionals from the science and technology community.
Strategies for Engaging Prospective Community Allies
Translating Ideas Into Practice, Center for Science Education (CSE) at
Education Development Center, Inc.
http://cse.edc.org/products/teacherleadership/02engagi.pdf
Types of partnerships and challenges to consider in the partnership process. Outline of various types of partnerships and information on challenges faced by partnerships.
Robotics Competitions
National Robotics Engineering Consortium
http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/education/Robotics%20Competitions.shtml
A list of links to robotics competitions that team up students with engineers from businesses and universities, giving students a hands-on, inside look at the engineering profession.
Mars Student Imaging Project (MSIP)
Mars Education Program, NASA and Arizona State University
http://msip.asu.edu/
Provides information about this program which offers students nationwide the opportunity to be involved in authentic Mars research by working with scientists, mission planners and educators to image a site on Mars.
North Carolina Big Sweep
http://www.ncbigsweep.org/
Information about the statewide North Carolina waterways clean-up program.
Great American Cleanup
Keep American Beautiful
http://www.kab.org/programs.asp?id=291&rid=68
Information about community clean-up activities related to Earth Day.
ISSUE: How do I establish partnerships with parents that go beyond “traditional approaches”?
Supporting Parents as Leaders: Stories of Dedication, Determination,
and Inspiration
Parent Leadership Exchange Project. Institute for Responsive Education.
http://www.responsiveeducation.org/pdf/supporting.pdf
An extensive article with stories of parent leaders as well as three educators who share their thoughts on how to have successful school, family, and community partnerships that improve student outcomes.
Supporting Parent, Family, and Community Involvement in Your School
Deborah Davis, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, June 2000
http://www.nwrel.org/csrdp/family.pdf
This guide provides ideas and suggestions taken from research on family and community involvement in schools and can help school staff and others design a long-term approach to garnering the positive involvement of all concerned.
ISSUE: What do business and industry expect high school graduates to know and be able to do if they are going to be hired for mathematics, science, and technology positions?
Industry’s Wish List for Academia: Hamline University
Reshapes Science Curriculum to Better Meet the Needs of Industrial
Employers
Sophie Wilkinson,Chemical and Engineering News, September
16, 2002, Vol. 80, No. 37, American Chemical Society
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/education/8037/8037education.html
This article describes a project where a university surveyed professionals to develop a list of characteristics that they would value in graduates whom they would consider hiring: communication skills, technical course development, industrial organization, team problem solving, and cultural competency. University faculty then revised their curriculum to address those needs.
What Work Requires of Schools: A SCANS Report for America 2000
The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, U.S.
Department of Labor, June 1991
http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/whatwork/whatwork.pdf
This report from the Department of Labor describes the characteristics of today and tomorrow’s workplace and outlines competencies that high school graduates need in order to be successful in that workplace.
SCANS Skills: Detailed List
SCANS 2000: The Workforce Skills Web Site, Institute for Policy Studies,
Johns Hopkins University, 2001
http://www.scans.jhu.edu/NS/HTML/SkillsDet.htm
This site provides a list of the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) workplace competencies and foundation skills, some with examples in various jobs.
ISSUE: How do I get community help in sustaining programs and/or developing new ones?
Mobilizing Citizens for Better Schools
Robert Sexton, Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence, 2004
http://www.prichardcommittee.org/mobilizingcitizensforbetterschools.htm
Guidance for citizens of all states who are interested in implementing school reform. Topics such as initial organizing, building credibility, working with business and the media, the ins-and-outs of school reform politics, organizing the public, including parents, and communications strategies are covered. Call 800-928-2111 to order the book for $18.95.
Making the Case
Center for Science Education (CSE) at Education Development Center, Inc.,
2000
http://cse.edc.org/pdfs/community/11making.pdf
Seven overhead transparencies to use in discussion about making the case for systemic science education reform to various groups (parents, school board, central office, teachers, principals/school leadership teams, site-based decision making team).
See the interview with Dwight Sieggreen for some helpful tips!
ISSUE: How do I get the support of government, legislatures, city agencies (e.g. public works)?
Federal Funds
Tracy Crow. ENC Focus 6(1) pp.12–14. 1999.
http://enc.org/professional/funding/funding/document.shtm?input=FOC-000764-index
To get a good overview of federal funding, check this ENC Focus article, with links to sources for locating federal funds.
Grant and Development Resources: Grant-Seeker’s Guide
McDougal Littell. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2004.
http://www.mcdougallittell.com/prodev/grants/ref01.cfm
This page offers a list of government funding sources for education.
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators: Grant Sources
Kathy Schrock. DiscoverySchool.com. 2004.
http://www.discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/business/grants.html
This site supplies federal, state, and private funding opportunities, and provides links to individual states' Web sites.
U.S. Department of Education: Grants and Contracts
http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml?src=rt
This site provides information and links for all federal grants and initiatives issued under the DOE.
ISSUE: How do I get financial support (grants, materials, etc.) for community-based experiences?
Get That Grant! (Grades PreK-12)
Jennifer Gonya. ENC Feature: Classroom Calendar. October 9, 2002.
http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/unit/0,1819,205,00.shtm?ls=eu
This article provides many Web resources andadvice for writing a grant.
Federal Funds
Tracy Crow. ENC Focus 6(1) p.12-14. 1999.
http://enc.org/professional/funding/funding/document.shtm?input=FOC-000764-index
To get a good overview of federal funding, check this ENC Focus article, with links to sources for locating federal funds.
SchoolGrants.org
http://www.schoolgrants.org/
Devoted to preK-12 teachers, this site offers a wealth of information and services for grant seekers. A Bring Home the Bacon listserv facilitates discussion about the grant-writing process and offers a forum for sharing tips and experiences.
Grant Seeking Primer
David Bauer. Scholastic Inc. 2004.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/grants/grantprimer.htm
Well-organized and user-friendly, this site offers an overview of what's needed to help you develop a winning proposal.
See the interview with Dwight Sieggreen for some helpful tips!
Disclaimer:
The Web resources collected on these pages are not maintained by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), nor does EDC make the claim that they are accurate. As with all Web-based information, links change from time to time. To our knowledge, all links were functional as of August 2006. Please notify Kerry Ouellet at kouellet@edc.org if you experience any problems.
