Goal: Create partnerships among schools, families, community groups, and individuals designed to share and maximize resources.
Functioning, supportive families and social support within communities contribute to studentsÂ’ success. When children feel valued, they are more likely to develop important skills, avoid risk behaviors, and remain in schools (Epstein, 1995)
Families and communities can support each other and contribute to the success of the school by:
- Volunteering times and resources
- Work in conjunction with student supportive services
- Participate on School Health Advisory Councils, to build support for school health programs
- Schools and communities share facilities and encourage participation by all individuals and groups
NC Board of Education Strategic Priority: Strong Family, Community, and Business Support:
The State Board of Education has identified strong family, community and business support for schools as one of their five strategic priorities for education in North Carolina. The specific goals of this strategy are:
- State education priorities responsive to the needs of the family, community, and business customers
- A comprehensive and aligned system of support for the academic success and general well-being of all children that promotes:
- Meaningful involvement in schools
- Interagency collaboration for health, nutrition, and social services
- State and local partnerships
- A system to build the capacity of local districts to create, respond to, and sustain meaningful partnerships
Resources:
- 50 Things You Can Do to Move America to the Head of the Class
- Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities
- Healthy Carolinians
- Healthy People 2010
- Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities
- National PTA Parent Involvement Resources
- National School Boards Association
- North Carolina Communities in Schools
- North Carolina PTA
- Parental Involvement Self-Report Card
- School Business Resource Kit