The Louisiana State Department of Education joined the National Network of Partnership Schools in the fall of 1999 to increase family and community involvement in ways that help students meet the state’s high standards for learning, and to meet the goal of ending social promotion. State Superintendent Cecil J. Picard regards developing partnerships as a “process that links families and communities to school improvement goals for student achievement and success.” With support from Superintendent Picard, Louisiana’s leaders plan to work with Regional Education Service Centers across the state to assist many districts and schools to join the Louisiana and National Networks, and to develop strong partnership programs.
As Key Contacts to NNPS, Pamela Wall and Patricia Ortiz, from the Office of School and Community Support, will work with other state program managers on the Louisiana Department of Education’s (LDE) Action Team for Family Involvement. The team has identified three main goals in its partnership plan for the 2000-01 school year.
Goal One: To create a more common vision across the state for parent, family, and community involvement, especially among other members of the Department of Education’s state and regional staff. The LDE Action Team for Family Involvement will be the vehicle for interdepartmental communications and coordination about partnerships, as each division works toward school improvement. The Action Team will familiarize department staff and state educational leaders with the main components of the NNPS model, and how it may be integrated in the state’s school improvement planning process. LDE plans a department-wide “kick-off” Family Involvement Informational Rally to promote school, family, and community involvement.
Goal Two: To increase the use of the framework of the six types of family and community involvement in districts and schools across Louisiana. Louisiana’s Department of Education will establish statewide partnerships with youth and family service organizations for the advancement of school, family, and community involvement. Regional Education Service Centers, Distinguished Educators, Title I Parish Coordinators, and other state leaders will provide training and technical assistance to school Action Teams to help them use the six types of involvement to plan and implement goal-oriented partnerships with all families.
Goal Three: To identify and disseminate successful family and community involvement practices in Louisiana schools, districts, and communities. A variety of communication forums and strategies will be used to disseminate research-based and recommended school, family, and community practices. The LDE web site, www.doe.state.la.us, will include family and community information and links to partnership activities. Presentations and training on the six types of involvement and the partnership model will be on-going activities. At the end of each school year LDE will disseminate recommended activities from Louisiana schools.
Louisiana’s leaders have begun to implement an important program that demonstrates the state’s clear vision, strong leadership, and dynamic support for action on school, family and community partnerships.
For more information about Louisiana’s plans for school, family, and community partnerships, contact Pam Wall, Louisiana State Department of Education, at pwall@mail.doe.state.la.us (225-342-9442) or Patricia Ortiz, portiz@mail.doe.state.la.us (225-342-1031).