Two reports released in late 2003 featured NNPS research and approaches for developing stronger programs of school, family, and community partnerships. Independent reviewers found the NNPS Partnership Model useful for increasing family involvement in middle schools and for developing parent and community leadership as part of school improvement.
Creating Partnerships, Bridging Worlds: Family and Community Engagement by Turning Points: Transforming Middle Schools uses NNPS research and the framework of six types of involvement to help middle schools develop better programs of school, family, and community partnerships to increase student achievement. The guide’s table of contents includes sections and appendixes for parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaborating with the community. Examples of family and community involvement activities are provided as strategies for action. (Center for Collaborative Education, Boston, MA, 2003. For more information, see www.turningpoints.org.)
Better than Bake Sales authors Lisa Wyatt Knowlton and Cynthia Phillips reviewed programs for increasing parent/citizen and community participation. From fifty-two nominated organizations, they selected four “exemplars” for parent/community leadership development for school improvement including the National Network of Partnership Schools. Of NNPS, the authors wrote: “NNPS…offers clear, structured processes to inspire program design and on-going technical support. . . .NNPS explicitly indicates that (it is) concurrently building the competencies of schools about families.” (That is, not just parent leadership, alone.) “NNPS offers … a research-based approach to parent engagement with multiple dimensions. Annual plans with evaluation and data collection methods provide a cycle of sequenced activities that offer a step-by-step prescription.” (Executive Summary, September, 2003. For the full report, see www.pwkinc.com.)
When independent reviewers comment on the value of NNPS or use NNPS research and approaches to program development, they are, in fact, recognizing the hard work that is being done by both NNPS staff and members across the country. The NNPS’ Handbook, research reports, and practical tools are based on data from all NNPS members and on the dynamic flow of NNPS research to practice and the influence of practice to improve research. Our work together produces the kind of information that others find valuable.