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| James Wingo, Dr. Dorothy Sterling, Melanie Powell-Brazil, Carmen Colon, Judy L. Simpson, Bertha Banks, Danesha Gardner, Dr. Theresa W. Yeldell (NNPS Key Contact), and Crystal Davis. |
The growth of partnership programs in CMSD led to its second consecutive District Partnership Award. Over 100 schools are being guided by the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) division within the Department of Youth Development and School/Community Services. The director of FACE meets weekly with the CEO, and makes presentations to the school board, principals, and other groups on the district's programs and progress on school, family, and community partnerships. Each FACE facilitator guides a cluster of schools to help them develop and improve plans and practices of school, family, and community partnerships and to meet requirements for NCLB and Title I. Each School Parent Organization/Action Team aligns its plans for partnership with the academic and other goals in the school's Academic Achievement Plan.
District superintendents meet weekly together and monthly with principals to discuss parent issues and activities. In 2005, partnership leaders provided a hands-on workshop for first- and second-year principals called Keys for Successful Leadership. Activities included alignment of the NNPS framework of six types of involvement with the district goals.
This year, the FACE team enhanced the Jean Marie Patton Memorial Awards, named for a former student, parent, and advocate for learning and family involvement. The awards recognize students' improvement in academics, work/study habits, and conduct. Parents are recognized for their part in the improvement as well. At the 2005 awards, Student & Family Spring Into Academic Excellence Celebration, 137 students were honored at a catered dinner. Over 250 supporters attended, including family members, teachers, principals, school board members, community partners, and staff.
FACE continues to promote the development of annual plans by School Parent Organizations. This year, 97% (compared to 20% last year) submitted One-Year Action Plans and budgets for parent involvement. All of the plans included two major literacy activities and goals to strengthen family and community involvement. As a result of the emphases on involvement by the district, more and more parents have become involved and have requested support and resources.
The FACE team has worked to apply the district's Parent Involvement Policy to review and revise procedures and solve funding controversies. The district created a line item in each school's Student Activity Fund to identify a budget for the activities planned by the School Parent Organization/Action Team. Parents and principals sign off on their plans that include how they will use the budget and profits from fundraisers. Next year, district consolidations and school closings will set new challenges for programs of partnership.
CMSD's FACE plans to continue helping schools improve their partnership programs by increasing resources, preparing online reference tools, and publishing a district-wide Promising Practices book. As District CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett explains, “We are implementing partnerships in ways that not only help more students reach high levels of academic achievement, but that serve as models for building strong communities.”
See Cleveland Municipal School District's history of Partnership District Awards in 2004 and examples of Promising Partnership Programs on the website, www.partnershipschools.org, in the section In the Spotlight. Also visit Cleveland Municipal School District's partnership program at www.cmsdnet.net/FACE.