Fall, 1997 No.3 National Network of Partnership Schools
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Issues and InsightsThe Certainty of Change in Schools
Joyce L. Epstein, Director
Schools change. Teachers, principals, superintendents, and professional staff move, are promoted, or retire. All schools enroll new students and their families every year. Indeed, the most constant feature of schools is change.
What changes have your school, district, or state faced this fall that affect your program of school, family, and community partnerships? Here are a few critical questions about Action Teams, and steps to take to ensure that your program make progress in 1997-98:
Members: Are all members of the Action Team back for the new school year? Remember that there should be at least 2-3 teachers, 2-3 parents, and the principal on your Action Team, with 1-2 students added at the high school level. New members are needed to replace those who leave.
Leadership: Who are the team leaders this year? Identify the Action Team Chairperson and the leaders of committees for each type of involvement and specific activities. Consider having co-chairs share leadership positions to facilitate smooth transitions from year to year.
Schedules: When and how often are meetings scheduled? Schedule meetings monthly or every other month for the full Action Team, and other meetings, as needed, for committees to plan and implement activities. Remember: Not too many meetings, but enough to monitor work and solve problems.
Orientation: Are all members of the Action Team familiar with the One-Year Action Plan for partnerships for 1997-98? Each fall, use one meeting of the full Action Team to review, discuss, and if necessary, amend projects, schedules, and responsibilities so that activities proceed according to plan.
Communication: Do all important groups at school (or in the district or state education agency) know about the 1997-98 action plan for partnerships, how to have input, and how to participate? How does your Action Team report its work and progress to the school improvement team, faculty, and parent association? to state and district leaders? to the public? Consider using school, district, and state department of education newsletters, local cable TV, community newspapers, and radio to present information about your partnership program and activities.
One goal of the National Network of Partnership Schools is to help schools, districts, and states establish permanent programs of school, family, and community partnerships. To do this, we all must meet the challenges that result from change. These include filling vacancies on Action Teams, reviewing activities in a One-Year Action Plan, identifying schedules and responsibilities-, and communicating with all partners about planned activities and how they can participate. When these challenges are met, successful programs of school, family, and community partnerships are as inevitable as school change.
NOTE: The Network's handbook will assist you with the questions above. At the school level, see: Action Team Structure and Members, ABCs of Action Team Leadership, Who are the Members of Your Action Team?, information on the six types of involvement, One-Year Action Plans (Forms A and B), and Checklist: Are You Ready? At the district and state levels also see: What do Facilitators Do? and District and State Leadership Roles.
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