This book examines how teachers and administrators can prepare themselves to create positive relationships and productive partnerships with families and communities. There are two main parts with seven chapters. The chapters include readings by outside authors. Part 1, "Understanding School, Family, and Community Partnerships," includes: (1) "Introduction" (e.g., matching rhetoric with practice, the need, the gap, the goals, and achieving the goals); (2) "Theory and Overview," which includes "Toward a Theory of Family-School Connections: Teacher Practices and Parent Involvement" (Joyce L. Epstein) and "Perspectives and Previews on Research and Policy" (Joyce L. Epstein); and (3) "Research," which includes "Parent Involvement: A Survey of Teacher Practices" (Henry Jay Becker and Joyce L. Epstein); "Teachers' Reported Practices of Parent Involvement: Problems and Possibilities" (Joyce L. Epstein and Henry Jay Becker); "School Programs and Teacher Practices of Parent Involvement in Inner-City Elementary and Middle Schools" (Joyce L. Epstein and Susan L. Dauber); "Parents' Reactions to Teacher Practices of Parent Involvement" (Joyce L. Epstein); "Single Parents and the Schools: Effects of Marital Status on Parent and Teacher Interactions" (Joyce L. Epstein); "Parents' Attitudes and Practices of Involvement in Inner-City Elementary and Middle Schools" (Susan L. Dauber and Joyce L. Epstein); "Effects on Student Achievement of Teachers' Practices of Parent Involvement" (Joyce L. Epstein); and "Student Reactions to Teachers' Practices of Parent Involvement" (Joyce L. Epstein). Part 2, "Applying Research on School, Family, and Community Partnerships," includes: (4) "Policy Implications," which features "Parent Involvement: State Education Agencies Should Lead the Way" (Joyce L. Epstein); "Sample State and District Policies on School, Family, and Community Partnerships"; and "A Question of Merit: Principals' and Parents' Evaluations of Teachers" (Joyce L. Epstein); (5) "Framework for Developing Comprehensive Partnership Programs," which offers "School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Caring for the Children We Share" (Joyce L. Epstein); (6) "Practical Applications: Linking Family and Community Involvement to Student Learning," which features "Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS): Interactive Homework in Math, Science, and Language Arts" (Joyce L. Epstein) and "Organizing Productive Volunteers in the Middle Grades" (Joyce L. Epstein); and (7) "Strategies for Action in Practice, Policy, and Research." Each chapter includes discussion and activities. (SM)