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ERIC Number: ED387273
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Oct
Pages: 3
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Parent, Family, and Community Involvement in the Middle Grades. ERIC Digest.
Rutherford, Barry; Billig, Shelley H.
From a synthesis of findings culled from a study that examined partnerships of families and communities with middle schools at multiple sites, researchers derived eight "lessons" that can help foster understanding of the nature of family-school partnerships in the middle grades. Researchers also elaborated implications of these lessons, which are highlighted by examples from specific middle schools. The lessons are: (1) the stakes are high and immediate for everyone in the middle grades, and schools can create programs that respond to the unique needs of middle-grade students and their parents; (2) challenges can become opportunities for parent and family involvement, implying that schools can make available specific educational opportunities geared to the interests of middle-grade families; (3) relationships are the essence of middle-grade family and community involvement, implying that schools can encourage direct contact between middle-grade families and teachers; (4) responsibility and decision making are shared by many individuals, including the child, implying that schools need to include families, teachers, and students in decisions about curriculum and instruction; (5) sustained parent, family, and community involvement depend on active advocacy by leaders, implying that schools need to look for a whole array of community connections and to use creative approaches in defining leadership and solving problems; (6) a system of supports for teachers and school staff is critical to parent and family involvement, implying that schools can provide professional development on promising practices and family involvement programs; (7) families need connections to the curriculum, implying that families need to create an environment that values achievement; and (8) schools need connections to the community, implying that schools need to seek opportunities to invite the community to participate in school activities. (BC)
Publication Type: ERIC Publications; ERIC Digests in Full Text
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Urbana, IL.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A