Spring, 2003, No. 14 National Network of Partnership Schools
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Reach Out To Families of Diverse Cultures with Responsive Partnership Practices.
American schools and educators are serving a more diverse population of students and families. On average, schools in the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) have four languages other than English spoken by the families of its students. In some cases, this number is above 30. The variety of cultures in our society requires schools, school districts, and states to plan partnerships that include all families and reach results for all students. Many schools in NNPS post signs in several languages welcoming family members, and host family events that celebrate the diversity of cultures in the school community. Here are a few more ideas that can help your school connect with families from different backgrounds.
Getting to Know Families
Embracing multiculturalism in school, family, and community partnerships can begin by gathering information from all families. The cities of Seattle and Minneapolis have translated their parent surveys into several languages including Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, and Chinese. Translating surveys enables more families to voice their opinions, and is important for the establishment of two-way communication between schools and family members.
Taking Stock
After learning about the students and families at your school, the next step is to think about how your partnership program reaches out to families from different racial or ethnic backgrounds. Natalie Jansorn, NNPS State and District Facilitator, suggests reviewing each section of your Action Plan for Partnerships to make sure the needs of diverse students and families are met. For example,
1. Are modifications in the School Improvement Plan for different student populations reflected in your Action Plan?
2. Are modifications needed in the activities so that they address the needs, strengths, and interests of family members from diverse backgrounds?
3. Do the dates of your partnership activities conflict with religious or cultural holidays?
4. Are people identified who can help serve as a liaison to families from different racial and ethic backgrounds?
Answering these questions can help you begin to assess the strengths and weakness of your partnership program and plan a truly inclusive partnership program.
Communicating with Families
Establishing supportive school-home relationships can be facilitated with the help of community members. Albuquerque Public Schools teamed with several community partners, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and PNM, to create a video for families in Spanish with English subtitles. Hosted by an Univision TV newscaster, the video features school district personnel and others sharing with parents the many ways parents can support their children’s success in elementary, middle, and high school. In order to reach a large number of families, the video was broadcast on Univision during the local news.
Nearly all schools across the United States serve a diverse population of students. Partnership programs that embrace cultural diversity can provide enriching experiences for all students and families. Achieving this requires two-way communication in families’ spoken language; partnership plans that account for existing diversity; and collaboration with community partners to facilitate connections with families.
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