developing strong family and community engagement€¦ · and community engagement njdoe osep...
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DEVELOPING STRONG FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
LRE Training Module
Office of Special Education Programs
New Jersey Department of Education
2015-2016 School Year
Workshop Goals
• Understand the importance of family and
community partnerships.
• Identify some of the ways in which schools can
partner with families and the community to
enhance school improvement and effectiveness.
• Develop a district action plan to enhance family
and community engagement
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What is SWIFT?
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SWIFT
Handout
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Family & Community Engagement
Why Family & Community Engagement?If NJDOE Then Then Then
Provides training
and technical
assistance on
strategies for
authentic family &
community
engagement
…IEP team meetings
will be more effective
in identifying student
strengths and needs
…student supports at
home and in school
will be seamless and
integrated…an increased
percentage of
students with IEPs
will benefit from
education in
general education
settings for a
greater percentage
of their school day.
…parents and
caregivers will be
more informed and
engaged in their
children’s learning
…IEPs will better
meet students’ needs
and reflect instruction
in the curriculum and
other student
individual needs
…school efforts to
build collaborative
family-school
relationships will
include families of
students with IEPs
…more students and
their
parents/caregivers
will be meaningfully
engaged in IEP
meetings
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Agenda
• Families and Educators will work together to understand
how family involvement strengthens the school climate
and culture
• New ways to involve parents in the school culture will be
introduced
• Time to plan together to strengthen family engagement
will be provided
• Parent Advisory Groups will be defined
• Time to plan regarding community partnerships will be
provided
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FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPSFacilitator,
Please prepare video:
Http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/video-alleries/?bctid=4076831942001
Handouts – Benefits of Engagement, Resources for Families, Think,
Pair, Share
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8
The Evidence
• Improved academic
achievement
• Higher grades
• Higher expectations
• Improved skill levels
• Increased enrollment in
higher level programs
• Improved attendance
• Improved social skills
• Improved functional skills
• Improved post-school
outcomes
• Promotes positive behaviors
• Supports a positive approach
and attitude towards school
Research provides evidence that parental and community involvement leads to:
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Additional Information
Handout
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How Does IDEA
Support Family Involvement?
IDEA ensures that:• Parents can refer their child and request an evaluation.
• A team of qualified professionals and the parents of the child determine the child’s eligibility for special education services.
• Information provided by parents will be considered when evaluating a child for a disability.
• The child’s parents are members of the IEP team.
• Students 14 and older are required members of the IEP team.
• Parents participate in any group that makes decisions on the educational placement of their child.
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Meaningful and Successful
Family and Community Partnerships
Three Key Aspects:
• Relationships that recognize and respect
DIFFERENCES – including differences in
opinions
• Relationships that are built on TRUST
• Partnerships that value COLLABORATION
Mapp (2015)
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Meaningful and Successful
Family and Community Partnerships
Because……"It Takes a Village"
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It Takes a Village
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Three Key Factors
That Motivate Families
Families [Parents] become more involved
with the school and with their
children’s learning if they:
1. Believe that they are supposed to be involved;
2. Believe that their involvement would make a
difference; and
3. Feel invited by teachers and their children to
be involved.
Adapted from Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey (2005)
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When Schools, Families, and
Community Work Together…
EVERYBODY WINS!• Teachers feel better about teaching.
• Families are more invested in working with schools
to support teaching and learning.
• Parents, teachers, and school leaders
communicate more regularly about student
progress.
• The broader community becomes more invested in
supporting public education.
• And most importantly, students experience greater
success in school.
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Strategies for
Reaching All Families
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ACTIVITY
A Family Gathering
We are having a family gathering.
• How will you reach out to all members of the
family to include them?
• What will you do to make them feel welcome
and part of the family?
• What kinds of things will you do to help them
to feel connected after this event?
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All families…
[Families] WANT to be involved in their children’s
education and school experience - despite their
income level, their educational experience and their
cultural background.
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Strategies for Reaching All Families
Address Differences
• What cultures are included in your school family?
• What do you know about family expectations and priorities for their children’s educational needs?
Trust and Collaboration
• What opportunities do
families have to
participate in the school
culture?
• How are you building the
school/family team?
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Activity
Think, Pair, and Share
THINK: What reasons might prevent parents from
being involved in their student’s education or school
experience?
PAIR: After a few minutes of brainstorming yourself,
introduce yourself to someone next to you so that you
may share your answers.
SHARE: Take time to listen to one another’s answers.
Discuss and then determine what you agree on. Be
prepared to share out with the group.
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Activity: Think, Pair, and Share
Handout
THINK
• What reasons can you think of that might hinder parental involvement?
PAIR
• Share with your partner/s your responses and identify some that you have in common?
SHARE
• Of those that you have in common, identify those reasons that hinder parental involvement that the district may impact? Share ways the district might improve parental involvement by addressing the reason.
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PROMOTING FAMILY
INVOLVEMENTFacilitator,
Please prepare the room with 6 large sheets of chart paper hung on the wall, labeled Parenting, Communicating, Learning at Home, Decision-making, Volunteering, Community
Please create partners – one family member, one educator
If there are more than 12 people in attendance, you might want to hang two sets of papers.
Handout – Epstein Framework
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Schools that Promote
Family InvolvementHave a welcoming atmosphere and school climate
Know how to communicate with diverse families
Offer a variety of ways parents can participate –a continuum of options for parent participation
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Family Involvement
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Information Sessions Volunteer
Grandparents Dedicated Dads Saturday Fun Days
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Schools that Promote
Family Involvement
Accommodate family [parent] work schedules
Collaborate with community leaders and community services
Maintain regular communication with home –family, using a variety of methods
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Communication Strategies that
Promote Collaboration
• Parent Ambassadors
• Newsletter or email
• Communicate in multiple languages
• Provide translation services
• Make personal face-to-face contact
• Engage social media
• Offer transportation and child care services
Adapted from “Collaborating For Success” Parent Engagement Toolkit” Michigan
Department of Education (2011)
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Resource for Families
Handout
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Collaboration Strategies that
Promote Trust
• Include parents and community members as equal
partners and value their involvement.
• Educate parents about academic standards and
assessments, and student achievement requirements.
• Share decision-making power with parents and the
community.
• Reach out to parents as often as possible to let them know when their child is doing well! Celebrate successes WITH them!
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Strategies for Promoting
Family Engagement and Involvement
in the IEP Process• Create sustainable processes
• Value diverse input and perspectives
• Avoid the use of “jargon” when discussing the special education
process
• Develop mechanisms for soliciting parent input prior to IEP meetings
• Use student profile tools to encourage parent and student input and
participation in the IEP process
• Empower parents by providing information on special education rules
and processes
• Use person-centered approaches during IEP team meetings
• Pay attention to the physical meeting environment – set the stage for
an open discussion and partnership
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Schools that Promote Parent Involvement
• Creating a welcoming school environment
• Engage families in school leadership, planning, and
meaningful volunteer activities.
• Connect students and families to community resources
that strengthen and support students’ learning and well-
being.
Adapted from Ohio Community Collaboration Model for School Improvement (2013)
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Types of Involvement for Comprehensive
Family and Community Partnership
Handout
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1• Parenting (tools and activities to support families)
2• Communicating (information, feedback, and input)
3• Volunteering (opportunities for involvement)
4• Learning at Home (supporting academics and skills
at home)
5• Decision-making (collaborative opportunities and
participation)
6• Collaborating with Community (making needed
connections)
Epstein (2009)
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Parenting
• Information or seminars about health and safety
• Parent Academies on subjects related to ways parents can support learning
•
•
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Family and Community
Partnership
Epstein (2009)
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Family and Community
Partnership
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Communicating
• Information about standards and assessments
• Back to School Night •
•
Epstein (2009)
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Family and Community
Partnership
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Volunteering
• Parents as Chaperones
• Parent as Classroom Helpers
•
•
•
Epstein (2009)
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Partnership
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Learning at Home
• Reinforcing of skill or difficult concept
• Homework help
•
•
•
Epstein (2009)
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Partnership
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Decision-making
• Advisory groups
• IEP teams
•
•
•
Epstein (2009)
Types of Involvement for
Comprehensive Partnership
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Collaborating with the
Community
• Connections for community support
• Fundraising events
•
•
•
Epstein (2009)
ACTIVITY
Types of Involvement Carousel
Chart paper is hung throughout the room.
• Each table will move from chart to chart.
• At each chart, • Review previous answers
• Add as many ideas that are
different from previous answers
Be prepared to share your ideas• We will be using these ideas to
create individual district plans.
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Parenting
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Decision-Making
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Communicating
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Learning at Home
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Volunteering
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Collaborating with the Community
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YOUR DISTRICT PLANFacilitator:
Handouts – Action Plan, Current Efforts to Engage
Families
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Handouts
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Enhance/Expand Parent Involvement Goal: (state benefit/ need)
Activity:
Tasks/Action Steps“What will be
done”
Responsibilities“Who Will Do It”
ResourcesFunding, Time, People,
Materials
TimelineBy When-Day/Month
Evidence of Success: Was the activity implemented?
Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In what way(s)?
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The
1. Evaluate district’s current
needs
2. Generate some ideas for
activities (reference chart
papers hung around the room)
3. Apply criteria
4. Plan activities
A Plan for Increased Family
Engagement
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A Plan for Increased Family
Engagement
1. Evaluate district’s current
needs
2. Generate some ideas for
activities
3. Apply criteria
4. Plan activities
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Evaluate district’s current needs
• As a team of your colleagues, complete
the “Current Efforts….” worksheet
• Celebrate the things you are doing well!
• Identify areas where you need to develop,
enhance or expand activities that will
involve parents
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Current Efforts to Engage Families
Handout
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1. Evaluate the current needs of
the district you are in
2. Consider some ideas for new
activities to enhance what you
are already doing
3. Apply criteria
4. Plan activities
A Plan for Increased Family
Engagement
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Consider some ideas for new activities
Brainstorm together. Reference the charts around
the room. Use plain white paper.
Think about what aspects of family involvement
you would like to see improve.
Identify the type of involvement (or activity/
initiative ) that will increase involvement in the
areas identified.
Generate potential activities that will help produce
greater family engagement and involvement.
Collect ideas from the posted charts.
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1. Evaluate the current needs of
the district you are in
2. Generate some ideas for
activities
3. Apply criteria (impact, commitment, do-able)
4. Plan activities
A Plan for Increased Family
Engagement
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Enhance/Expand Parent Involvement Goal: (state benefit/ need)
Activity:
Tasks/Action Steps
“What will be done”
Responsibilities
“Who Will Do It”
Resources
Funding, Time,
People, Materials
Timeline
By When-
Day/Month
Evidence of Success: Was the activity implemented?
Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In
what way(s)?
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Apply Criteria
• Discuss each potential activity and how it satisfies the
following criteria:
• IMPACT
• Inclusive – Does the activity address the needs of the families of
students with disabilities?
• Cultural Responsive - Is the activity responsive to the cultures in your
schools and community?
• COMMITMENT
• What kind of commitment would be involved for the success of this
activity? Who would need to be committed in order for this activity to
be successful?
• DOABLE
• Can you realistically accomplish this activity in your district/school?
• Generate a list of those activities that meet the criteria.
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Plan Activitiesties
• Together work to list activities.
• Sort the activities into two categories.
• Go ahead
• Hold for now
• Identify two or three that you have determine are “Go Ahead” activities.
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Potential Activities
Facilitator Led:
• Ask each group to share their
Go Ahead ideas.
• Chart these ideas
• Allow the rest of the group to
comment, discuss new ideas.
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1. Evaluate the current needs of
the district you are in
2. Generate some ideas for
activities
3. Apply criteria
4. Plan activities
A Plan for Increased Family
Engagement
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Develop a Plan
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Enhance/Expand Parent Involvement Goal: (state benefit/ need)
Activity:
Tasks/Action Steps
“What will be done”
Responsibilities
“Who Will Do It”
Resources
Funding, Time,
People, Materials
Timeline
By When-
Day/Month
Evidence of Success: Was the activity implemented?
Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In
what way(s)?
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Implement Plan
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Next Steps for Your District
• Who is coming to the planning meeting?• How will you outreach to ensure that a diversity of parents
are represented?
• What do you want to accomplish?
• Does the meeting promote attendance so that all voices can be heard?• Childcare
• Transportation
• Food
• Translation
• Timing When will you meet?• Daytime? Evening?
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First Step - Planning Meeting• Time
• Schedule a review
• Methodology
• Evaluations after each activity
• Short survey of parents
• Personal phone calls
• Small focus groups
• Suggestion box (real or virtual)
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Schools that Promote Family Involvement
Work to engage families as partners
Plan with flexibility and respect diversity.
Set small doable goals
Regularly access the effects of the involvement using multiple methods.
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Parent Advisory Groups
• Each district board of education shall ensure that a
special education parent advisory group is in place in the
district to provide input to the district on issues concerning
students with disabilities.
6A:14-1.2 (b) 14(h)
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Building an Effective Special Education
Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)
• Through the Statewide Technical Assistance and
Resources Team (START) Project, Parent Group
Specialists are available to provide assistance to help
start parent groups for families with students who have
disabilities, and to support existing special education
parent groups.
• Contact the START Project for assistance in starting and
running a parent group. Email:[email protected] or call
973-642-SPAN (ext. 123).
• http://www.spanadvocacy.org
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BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
IN YOUR COMMUNITYFacilitator:
Please prepare videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvngdbG0g4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO2dZsshoMg
Handout: Community Partnerships
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Benefits of Community Partnerships
• Enables the school to obtain the needed resources and supports
• Expands students’ learning opportunities outside of school (e.g. after-school, service learning, Community-Based Instruction, Structured Learning Experiences)
• Enables families to gain access to multiple sources of support
• Allows community to participate in school’s decision making processes
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Benefits of Community Partnerships
• Increased volunteerism at the school/district
• Increased access to community experts and learning
experiences (e.g. police, drug free programs, college
related opportunities)
• Strengthens families
• Facilitates cost sharing
• Enables accountability
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Community Connections
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvngdbG0g4
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Examples of Community Partners Include
the Following:
• Colleges and college based student organizations
• Local church groups and other religious groups
• County and local agencies such as: Public Health and Local Government
• Employers and employment organizations
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Local community groups
• Alumni
• Companies and Businesses
• Volunteer groups
• Other…
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Impact of School &
Community Partnerships• Upgraded school facilities
• Improved school leadership and staffing
• Higher quality learning programs for students
• New resources and programs to improve teaching and curriculum
• Resources for after-school programs and family supports
• Increased social and political capital of participants
Adapted from Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D. Deputy Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
(2002)
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ACTIVITY
Connecting with My Local Community
Adapted from The Power of Family School Community Partnerships: A Training Resource
Manual, National Education Association
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ACTIVITY
My Community Eco-MapIn your community, think about the local organizations and
partnerships that affect your school and the type of
relationship your school has with each:
strong and supportive, weak or stressful
1. Complete the Ecomap.
2. Jot down some ideas of how your school
a. Enhance the relationships that you identified as
strong and supportive.
b. Strengthen the relationships you identified as
weak or stressful.
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Connecting With Community Handout
EcoMap
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Family, School, and Community
Partnerships
Building Partnerships
Defining Collaborative Goals
Improving Education for all students
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Considerations:Differences, Trust, Collaboration
Building Strong Family and Community
Engagement
Dr. Karen Mapp,
Director, Harvard
University
Education Policy
and Management
Program on the
Recipe for School
Improvement
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO2dZsshoMg
Family [Parent] Involvement
• A recipe
• Practice for everybody
• Shared power
• Instructional guidance
• Student center
• Parent/community ties
• Staff – flour
• Family Engagement - Baking powder
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Next Steps
Today: You have defined new activities for families
You have defined community outreach
What are your next steps?
• Build better family and community partnerships
• 2015-2016 school year
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The Role of the School Leader in
Building Partnerships
•Define vision and clear goals with
regard to school partnerships.
•Have effective administrative
structures to ensure efficient and
effective programs.
•Establish regular and meaningful two-
way communication with partners.
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The Role of the School Leader in
Building Partnerships
•Engage a broad base of partners.
•Respect position and feelings of
partners in decision making.
• Identify and use community
resources and services to
strengthen school, family and
student learning and development.
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The Role of the School Leader in
Building Partnerships
• Include parents in decisions and develop
parent leaders and representatives.
• Welcome, value, and recruit parental
support, and assistance in school activities.
• Have open days to create awareness about
what the school does.
• Promote and foster parental skills.
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References
• Epstein, Joyce, et al. School Family and Community
Partnerships Your Handbook for Action Thousand Oaks,
CA. Corwin Press, 2002.
• Hendersen, Anne, Mapp, Karen, Johnson, Vivian, Davies,
Don. Beyond the Bake Sale An Essential Guide to Family-
School Partnerships New York, The New Press, 2007.
• Spradley, Pat (2015, 24 February) Parent Engagement on
Rise as Priority for Schools, Districts Ed Week
http://leaders.edweek.org
• National Network of Partnership Schools; John Hopkins
University, 2006
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LRC Central200 Riverview Plaza
Trenton
LRC South at EIRCSouth Jersey Tech Park107 Gilbreth Parkway
Mullica Hill
LRC North Satellite104 American Road
Morris Plains
LRC North7 Glenwood Avenue
East Orange
The LRC provides:Professional Development & Consultation ServicesTechnical assistance to teachers, administrators, and parents of students with disabilities
Web-based instructional resources
Resources Circulation Services
Production Services
Van Outreach
New Jersey Department of Education
Office of Special Education programs
Learning Resource Center Network
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