Three schools, six districts, one organization, and one state department of education are winners of the NNPS 2004 Partnership Awards. For the first time, nine of the award winners received "Special Recognition" and a prize of $500 for exceptional programs and sustained progress. All winners received a plaque and one free registration to a future NNPS conference. The award winners, from diverse communities in California, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington, were recognized for excellent goal-oriented programs of school, family, and community partnerships (see team photos). The following are a few features of the award-winning programs that may assist other schools, districts, organizations, and states to improve their leadership and programs.
Excellent school programs fulfilled two major expectations: (1) create a welcoming school and (2) involve families and the community to support student success. Highlands Elementary School in Naperville, IL, worked collaboratively with its parent organization and made families welcome with activities such as a New Parent Coffee for incoming parents of kindergarteners, Dad's Breakfast, and a Volunteer Data Base. The school's Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) linked involvement to student achievement through Family Math, Reading Workshops, Math Backpacks, a Family Art Night, and other activities.
Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta, GA, welcomed families at Move Forward with Fitness, Wonderful Wednesdays, and Parents to Lunch. The ATP focused family involvement on student achievement in the Wonderful World of Math, Accelerating Reading, Math-a-Thon, and Parents Assuring Student Success (PASS).
At Roosevelt Elementary School in Saint Paul, MN, Hmong, Latino, African American, and other families were welcomed at the Open House Before School Starts, Family Breakfasts, YMCA Swim and Gym Night, and Second Cup of Coffee-a monthly open discussion for parents and staff. Parents helped boost student achievement through a Reading at Home Program, Raising Readers Book Fair, Guest Writers, and more. The school's leaders attributed double-digit gains in reading and math achievement test scores to good teaching and family and community involvement.
Award-winning districts addressed two major expectations: (1) conduct district-level leadership activities and (2) assist schools to develop effective, goal-linked partnership programs. District leaders increased the number of schools working on partnerships. For example, Cleveland scaled up its local network to include over 100 schools, which also are linked to NNPS. Similarly, Saint Paul, District B and District F (now Districts 2 and 4) in LAUSD, and Seattle-all large districts-expanded their local networks to help more schools develop their partnership programs.
By working with others across departments, district leaders extended and improved their partnership programs. For example, Saint Paul's leaders worked with colleagues in Title I, ELL, Special Education, Indian Education, and others to conduct parent workshops and community forums. They also enlisted foreign language newspapers, radio, and TV stations to provide information to families about schools.
Districts B and F received technical assistance from Families In Schools, a Partnership Organization Award winner, to provide programs such as Read with Me/Lea Conmigo, an early at-home reading program, and Going On To (GOT) College, an early awareness program for planning postsecondary education.
All district award winners helped schools build their capacities to develop and implement partnership programs. In large districts like Cleveland, facilitators assisted clusters of schools to create ATPs, write annual goal-linked action plans, and evaluate progress. Leaders in Seattle and the other award-winning districts provided schools' ATPs with training, monthly meetings to share best practices, regular e-mail communications, and other technical assistance.
School and district award winners aligned their One-Year Action Plans for Partnerships to school goals for student success. In Districts B and F, plans for partnership were linked to the Single School Plan (SSP); in Saint Paul to the School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP); in Cleveland to the schools' Academic Achievement Plan (AAP); in Seattle to the School Transformation Plan (STP); and in Naperville to the School Improvement Plan. By appending One-Year Action Plans to schools' improvement plans, award winners address the NCLB requirement to conduct programs of family and community involvement that contribute to student success.
At the state level, collaboration multiplied efforts and actions. Partnership State Award winner, California State Department of Education, worked with many organizations to reach districts and schools. State leaders also connected with colleagues in about 20 departments (e.g., Title I, Homeless Education, Gifted and Talented Education, and Safe and Drug Free Schools) to identify how family involvement weaves through state programs for school improvement.
The 2004 Partnership Award winners have more examples and information to help your school, district, organization, or state improve its program. Read their full stories here. Plan now to apply for a Partnership Award next spring!