Fall, 2000 No. 9 National Network of Partnership Schools
Promoting Postsecondary Planning Through Partnerships with Families and Communities
In a recent study, the National Center for Education Statistics concluded that “parent involvement was strongly associated with students taking algebra in eighth grade, advanced-level mathematics courses in high school, and subsequent enrollment in postsecondary education.”1 The results were strong even after accounting for students’ prior skills and parents’ education. The study reinforces the fact that middle and high schools need to develop school-family-community partnership programs so that all families can help guide their teens toward college and other postsecondary opportunities. Some NNPS high schools are taking important steps in this direction.
Types of Involvement
Indian Creek High School in rural Ohio conducts workshops for parents on preparing for college and financial aid (Type 1); provides information on postsecondary opportunities in the school newsletter (Type 2); and has supported an Author-in-Residence (Type 6) who inspired students by linking the writing process to various careers. Indian Creek also offers a career exploration course for students that uses interactive homework (Type 4) to encourage students to discuss careers with family and community partners.
Glenville High School, a large urban school in Ohio, collaborates with the Council for Economic Opportunity in Greater Cleveland to implement Youth Education Services (Type 6), a college readiness program for students in ninth through twelfth grades. Now in its third year, Youth Education Services (formerly College Club) includes three main components: a tutor and test-taking program staffed by local college students; academic counseling for high school progress, career awareness, and postsecondary planning; and a summer academic program for which students get paid to attend. The twenty-four students in the program also take college tours to local universities and to campuses as far away as Alabama and Georgia. Program Coordinator Iris Owens explained, “These are students who want to go to college and who are ready to prepare themselves.” Some are the first in their families to attend. Last year, three students received full scholarships.
Support from School
Owens, a member of Glenville’s Action Team for Partnerships, makes home visits to develop a rapport with the Youth Education Service students’ families and to personalize the program to student and family needs. The school administration provides space for tutoring and has strongly supported the program. “It’s a lot of work,” Owens admits, “but with the help and support of a lot of people, the students obtain big rewards.”
These high schools demonstrate that partnership programs can help prepare students and families for postsecondary opportunities by implementing activities for the six types of involvement. Which family and community involvement activities will your high school implement this year to support students’ plans for postsecondary education and training? Share your ideas with the Network by contacting Natalie Rodriguez Jansorn, Middle and High School Facilitator, at 410-516-8893 or njansorn@csos.jhu.edu.
1 Horn, L. & Nunez, A. M. (2000) Mapping the road to college: First-generation students’ math track, planning strategies, and context of support (NCES 2000-153). Washington DC: U.S. Department of Education/NCES.
