School-Community Relations

Learning Outcomes(School-Community Relations)

Students are able to:Students are able to: Explain the meaning of meaningful collaboration Explain the meaning of meaningful collaboration

with the communitywith the community Utilizing different tools to understand the structure Utilizing different tools to understand the structure

and evolvement of communitiesand evolvement of communities Describe the gains from collaborating with Describe the gains from collaborating with

the communitythe community

Studies on Family/Community Involvement

Impact of family/community involvement on Impact of family/community involvement on student achievementstudent achievement

Effective strategies to connect schools, families, Effective strategies to connect schools, families, and communityand community

Parent/community organizing efforts to improve Parent/community organizing efforts to improve schoolsschools

Effective Strategies to Connect Schools and Community

School and Community partnershipSchool and Community partnership Factors contributed to successful community Factors contributed to successful community

partnership:partnership: The school’s commitment to learningThe school’s commitment to learning The principal’s support and vision for community The principal’s support and vision for community

involvementinvolvement The school’s willingness to engage in two-way The school’s willingness to engage in two-way

communication with potential partners about their communication with potential partners about their level and kind of involvementlevel and kind of involvement

Collaborating with CommunityQuality Indicators

National PTA Distribute information regarding cultural, academic, Distribute information regarding cultural, academic,

health, social and other services that serve families within health, social and other services that serve families within the communitythe community

Develop partnerships with local businessDevelop partnerships with local business Encourage employers to adopt policies that promote and Encourage employers to adopt policies that promote and

support adult participation in children’s educationsupport adult participation in children’s education Foster student participation in community serviceFoster student participation in community service Involve community members in school volunteer programsInvolve community members in school volunteer programs Disseminate information to the school community Disseminate information to the school community

regarding school programs and performanceregarding school programs and performance Collaborate with community agencies to provide family Collaborate with community agencies to provide family

support services and adult learning opportunitiessupport services and adult learning opportunities

The circle of adult relationships is now less likely The circle of adult relationships is now less likely to include parents of their children’s associates, to include parents of their children’s associates, thus reducing the availability of knowledge about thus reducing the availability of knowledge about what their child is doing, and the opportunity to what their child is doing, and the opportunity to influence the child’s actions through norms and influence the child’s actions through norms and sanctions. sanctions.

Hoffer and ColemanHoffer and Coleman

Issues Related to Community Involvementin Schools

Public schools must hold themselves to high and Public schools must hold themselves to high and measurable standards if they are to survivemeasurable standards if they are to survive

The majority of people in the community do not have The majority of people in the community do not have children in school. children in school.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2010, families The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2010, families with children will account for little more than one-quarter with children will account for little more than one-quarter of all households. of all households.

The concept of making schools the “center of community,” The concept of making schools the “center of community,” by creating joint-use facilities, is once again on the rise. by creating joint-use facilities, is once again on the rise. Your thoughts?Your thoughts?

Perceptions:Perceptions:Many community members have no real idea of the Many community members have no real idea of the need or the conditions at their local school.need or the conditions at their local school.

Create connections:Create connections:How to create meaningful connections between How to create meaningful connections between school and community? school and community?

CommunicationsCommunicationsSupporting school communication is key to Supporting school communication is key to boosting interest and involvement in schools by boosting interest and involvement in schools by parents and communities. parents and communities.

Meaning of Community Relations

School public relations is a cooperative development and School public relations is a cooperative development and maintenance of of efficient two-way channels of maintenance of of efficient two-way channels of information and understanding between the school, its information and understanding between the school, its personnel, and the personnel, and the communitycommunity. (American Association of . (American Association of School Administrators)School Administrators)

A process of communication between the school and A process of communication between the school and community for the purpose of increasing citizen community for the purpose of increasing citizen understanding of understanding of educational needs and practiceseducational needs and practices and and encouraging intelligent citizen interest and cooperation in encouraging intelligent citizen interest and cooperation in the work of the work of improvingimproving the school. (Kindred) the school. (Kindred)

Educational public relations is a management function Educational public relations is a management function which interprets public attitudes, identifies the policies and which interprets public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual organization with the public procedures of an individual organization with the public interest and executes a program of action to encourage interest and executes a program of action to encourage public involvement and to earn public understanding and public involvement and to earn public understanding and acceptance. (The National School Public Relations acceptance. (The National School Public Relations Association)Association)

Understanding the Community

Existing needs and expectation of citizens regarding public Existing needs and expectation of citizens regarding public educationeducation

Opportunities and means for creating better cooperative Opportunities and means for creating better cooperative relations with various publicsrelations with various publics

The nature of the power structure and the areas of decision The nature of the power structure and the areas of decision makingmaking

Situations to be avoided due to past history of conflictSituations to be avoided due to past history of conflict Identification of those individuals and groups who are Identification of those individuals and groups who are

friendly or unfriendly toward public educationfriendly or unfriendly toward public education The channels through which public opinion is built in the The channels through which public opinion is built in the

communitycommunity

Changes that are occurring in the patterns of community Changes that are occurring in the patterns of community lifelife

Leadership and leadership influenceLeadership and leadership influence The number and types of organizations and social agencies The number and types of organizations and social agencies

existing in the communityexisting in the community

Sociological Inventory

Customs and traditionsCustoms and traditions Population characteristicsPopulation characteristics Communication channelsCommunication channels Community groupsCommunity groups LeadershipLeadership Economic conditionsEconomic conditions Political structurePolitical structure Economic conditionsEconomic conditions Political structurePolitical structure Social tensionsSocial tensions Previous community effortsPrevious community efforts

Power Structure

A power structure is an interrelationship among A power structure is an interrelationship among individuals with vested interests who have the ability or individuals with vested interests who have the ability or authority to control other people, to obtain their authority to control other people, to obtain their conformity, or to command the services of other menconformity, or to command the services of other men

Types of power structureTypes of power structure The elite power modelThe elite power model

The community power structure is pyramidal, the base The community power structure is pyramidal, the base representing the lower echelons of power distribution and representing the lower echelons of power distribution and the apex representing the high concentration of powerthe apex representing the high concentration of power

The Pluralistic/diffused modelThe Pluralistic/diffused model

It has several centers of powerIt has several centers of power

There are many groups that are highly influential and that There are many groups that are highly influential and that each one concerns itself with a different issue or issueseach one concerns itself with a different issue or issues

The Amorphous modelThe Amorphous model

Power is basically absent (latent)Power is basically absent (latent)

It resembles a condition that is that is controlled by those It resembles a condition that is that is controlled by those who maintain the status quowho maintain the status quo

School Management and Power Structures

The best protection the school has against power structure The best protection the school has against power structure pressures on financial and other decisions is a well-pressures on financial and other decisions is a well-planned and carefully implemented program in school and planned and carefully implemented program in school and community relations community relations

Proper organization of citizen and advisory committees Proper organization of citizen and advisory committees and groups of concern parentsand groups of concern parents

How to Measure Public Opinion

Opinion research techniqueOpinion research technique Opinion research helps to determine:Opinion research helps to determine:

How people get their information about the schoolsHow people get their information about the schools

How citizen judge the quality of their schoolsHow citizen judge the quality of their schools

Whether a change would arouse controversyWhether a change would arouse controversy

Whether a shift is taking place in the communityWhether a shift is taking place in the community

How well the public understands the education programHow well the public understands the education program

Point of popular Satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the Point of popular Satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the schoolsschools

Opinion Research Methods

Forums and conferencesForums and conferences Advisory committeesAdvisory committees Consumer panelsConsumer panels Key communicatorsKey communicators Public opinion surveysPublic opinion surveys

Gains When Schools and Communities Work Together

Families access community resources more easilyFamilies access community resources more easily Businesses connect education programs with Businesses connect education programs with

realities of the work placerealities of the work place Students serve and learn beyond their school Students serve and learn beyond their school

involvementinvolvement

Iowa Association of School BoardsModel

Basic steps for Partnerships (With the business sector):Basic steps for Partnerships (With the business sector): Start small Start small

Having a pilot project/programHaving a pilot project/program Promote awareness Promote awareness

Informing stakeholders that you are having a partnershipInforming stakeholders that you are having a partnership Involve potential key partnersInvolve potential key partners

Involve them at an early stageInvolve them at an early stage Consider the needs of both partiesConsider the needs of both parties

Look at mutual needs and goalsLook at mutual needs and goals

Identify potential resources for both partiesIdentify potential resources for both partiesDetermine how resources will be used effectively to meet Determine how resources will be used effectively to meet top prioritiestop priorities

Be specific about jobs that need to be doneBe specific about jobs that need to be doneBe specific about resources and duration of the partnershipBe specific about resources and duration of the partnership

MonitoringMonitoringSet up a system to monitor the programSet up a system to monitor the program

Design for implementation phasesDesign for implementation phasesProvide skill training and etc.Provide skill training and etc.

Evaluation of the programEvaluation of the programDetermine if the partnership is achieving its goalDetermine if the partnership is achieving its goal