Improving Schools Through Community Engagement
A Practical Guide for Educators
- Kathy Gardner Chadwick - Saint Olaf College
Engage your community and help students achieve their full potential!
Americans see public schools as a critical community resource and rank education as a priority second only to the economy. How can educators harness this public interest in education to bring parents, families, and communities to action for our schools? Improving Schools Through Community Engagement addresses these questions and more in this invaluable source of methods and strategies for educators to initiate action.
Involvement of family and community members has a significant impact on student achievement. This handy resource provides a framework that education leaders can use in designing and implementing initiatives to more effectively engage the public by:
- Framing a clear focus for community engagement
- Identifying and including representatives from each diverse constituency group
- Developing an understanding of the varied perspectives of these groups
- Presenting strategies to encourage constituent involvement and action
A more engaged community results in improved teaching and learning. The energy of parents, teachers, and communities working together starts small and spreads over time. The possibilities for action are limitless!
“A useful overview of ways to get communities more involved in local schools.”
“Chadwick provides clear information on the components of community engagement and many good ideas of how educators can collaborate with community partners to improve school programs and help more students succeed. This is an important part of a comprehensive program of school, family, and community partnerships.”
“Our democracy depends on an informed, involved public, and our schools do as well. Kathy Chadwick provides deliberate, reasonable ways to seek public input, share data and information, and build community.”
