October 2005 Announcement

Dear FINE Member,

Here are this month's FINE member updates. Please feel free to forward this information to friends and other education colleagues.

New on the FINE Website

• Resource Guide: Taking a Closer Look: A Guide to Online Resources on Family Involvement

  There is more information on family involvement online than any one person can keep track of now. Harvard Family Research Project has taken a closer look and compiled and categorized this large body of information in order to make it easier for practicing educators to access and use. The document contains Web links to research, information, programs, and tools from over 100 national organizations. It provides information about parenting practices to support children's learning and development, home–school relationships, parent leadership development, and collective engagement for school improvement and reform.

• Teaching Case: After School for Cindy

  This teaching case explores the role of schools in linking children to community programs. Expert commentaries by Melody Brazo, Cathy Duffy, and Mary Larner accompany the case. This case can also be found in the book Preparing Educators to Involve Families, edited by Heather Weiss and colleagues at Harvard Family Research Project. The book features a collection of teaching cases and theoretical perspectives for analyzing and problem-solving dilemmas of practice in home–school relations. The book is available for purchase at www.sagepub.com/book.aspx?pid=10625.

• Member Insight: Is Teacher Preparation Key to Improving Teacher Practices With Families? What Are the Alternatives?

  Based on research with parents and teachers in urban schools, Julia Johnson Rothenberg and Peter McDermott of the Sage Colleges share strategies to help novice teachers in working with parents.

New From Harvard Family Research Project

• New Issue of The Evaluation Exchange on Evaluation Methodology

  This latest issue of The Evaluation Exchange periodical focuses on evaluation methodology, covering topics in contemporary evaluation thinking, techniques, and tools. Mel Mark, president-elect of the American Evaluation Association, kicks off the issue with a discussion about the role that evaluation theory plays in our methodological choices. Other voices in the issue include Georgia State University evaluator Gary Henry, who makes the case for a paradigm shift in how we think about evaluation use and influence, and Robert Boruch, a Campbell Collaboration founder, who discusses the role of randomized trials in defining “what works.”

  Other contributors to the issue respond to various “how to” questions, such as how to foster strategic learning, how to find tools that assess nonprofit organizational capacity, how to select and use various outcome models, how to increase the number of evaluators of color, how to enhance multicultural competency in evaluation, and how to measure what we value so others value what we measure. Finally, the issue explores theory of change, cluster evaluation, and retrospective pretests—methodological approaches currently generating much interest and dialogue.

  If you would like to receive multiple copies, email hfrp_pubs@gse.harvard.edu and let us know how you plan to use them.

Books

• Parental Choice as an Education Reform Catalyst: Global Lessons

  John Merrifield's book looks at the power of school choice policies to reform education. The book is available for purchase from the publisher at the above link.

• Parenting Beliefs, Behaviors, and Parent-Child Relations: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

  This book, edited by Kenneth Rubin and Ock Boon Chung, attempts to shed light on parents' thoughts about raising children across the world. The book is available for purchase at the link above.

• Promising Practices for Family Involvement in Schooling Across the Continents

  This book, edited by Diana Hiatt-Michael, provides an overview of family involvement all over the world, aiming to push research and practice along new paths. This book is available for purchase at the link above.

Toolkits

• Organizing Family and Community Connections With Schools: How Do School Staff Build Meaningful Relationships With All Stakeholders?

  This strategy brief from the National Center for Family and Community Connections With Schools provides practical suggestions and advice for schools trying to foster relationships with families and the community.

• A Practical Guide to Promoting America's Public Schools: Values, Vision, and Performance

  This guide from the Learning First Alliance includes parent involvement as an important strategy for promoting public education. This publication was revised and updated in August 2005.

• Reaching Out to Diverse Populations: What Can Schools Do to Foster Family-School Connections?

  This strategy brief from the National Center for Family and Community Connections With Schools suggests ways for schools to involve culturally diverse families.

• Listening to Families: The Family Learning Outreach Study

  This research brief from the Connecticut State Department of Education reports on a social marketing study of family involvement. Findings suggest that most parents value education highly, see those in direct contact with children as the most credible messengers, and respond positively to messages that family involvement helps students and makes families strong. The brief also describes an implementation pilot project based on the findings.

Websites

• Advocating Strong Standards-Based Induction Support for Teachers (ASSIST)

  This website, developed by the Michigan Department of Education in partnership with Michigan State University, includes advice for beginning teachers about family life and engaging communities. Other resources include articles about home literacy, cultural and lingual awareness in the classrooms, and home–school–community partnerships.

• Postsecondary Access for Latino Middle Grades Students (PALMS)

  This website reports findings from a 1-year study of the Postsecondary Access for Latino Middle Grades Students Project (PALMS). Launched in September 2004, PALMS allows middle school staff, community organizations, and universities to access research-based resources for reaching out to families and encouraging college enrollment. The program website also includes “college knowledge” information for parents. PALMS seeks to increase college access for low-income Latino youths.

• Promising Partnership Practices 2005

  This resource from the National Network of Partnership Schools includes members' accounts of successful school, family, and community partnerships over the last year.

Policy

• The Governor's Commission on Quality Education in Maryland

  In this September 2005 report, the Governor's Commission makes 30 recommendations for improving Maryland schools, including enhanced early childhood education services, increased parental participation, and connections with community resources. A link to the report can be accessed from the website above.

Upcoming Events

• Early Disparities in School Readiness: How Do Families Contribute to Successful and Unsuccessful Transitions Into School?

  The 12th annual symposium, presented by Pennsylvania State University, October 13–14, will focus on the role of families in school readiness, including children's acquisition of executive function and the development of language and social skills.

• National Head Start Association Transition Conference: Continuing the Momentum

  Taking place October 13–15 in Washington, D.C., the annual National Head Start Association conference for practitioners will focus on how to support children and families during the transition into elementary school.

• Family and Community Engagement: Successful and Sustainable Models for Immigrant and Minority Communities

  The Education Alliance at Brown University will sponsor this conference on Monday, October 17, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Speakers and panelists will discuss school outreach to a variety of ethnic communities, parent involvement models, and research.

• Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum: Reclaiming the Freedom to Learn

  The annual Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum for researchers, parents, and educators will take place in Boston, November 3–5. Topics include community connections, leadership, school culture, and teaching, learning, and assessment.

• 2005 Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Conference: Creating Intergenerational Community

The Search Institute's 9th annual Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Conference will take place November 3–5 in Dallas, Texas. Intended for youth and adults who want lead community change, the conference will focus on strategies for developing connections between children, older youth, and adults.

• Facilitating Family and Community Connections With Schools Workshop

The Southwest Educational Development Laboratory's National Center for Family and Community Connections With Schools will sponsor a workshop in Colorado Springs, November 7–9. The workshop will focus on using its new training materials to introduce strategies for family and community involvement programs and evaluations.

• Box Tops for Education Kids' Caucus Essay Contest

From October 1 until December 1, Box Tops for Education is accepting entries from kids for its first essay contest. Entrants will write essays suggesting ways to improve parent involvement at their schools. Fifty-two $1,000 grants will be distributed to finalists' schools to support family involvement, and 10 winners will travel to Washington, D.C., in April to share their ideas on Capitol Hill.

Funding Opportunity

• Destination Sustainability: A Guide to Funding Community School Partnerships

  This new book from the California Healthy Start Program provides tools and resources for partnerships pursuing funding opportunities. The book is available for purchase from the link above.

Contact Us

Have a problem with the website or questions and comments concerning our work? Send an email to fine@gse.harvard.edu.

Enjoy!

FINE – The Family Involvement Network of Educators

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© 2006 President and Fellows of Harvard College
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