January 2008 Announcement
Dear FINE Member,
FINE is back from winter break and is kicking off 2008 with new ideas—yours
and ours—for how to improve our work. This month, we want to thank you
for sharing your feedback and provide a look at the results of our FINE Member
Survey and a preview of what's ahead for FINE.
New From FINE
- Results of the FINE Member Survey
With over 9,000 members as of this announcement, FINE continues to grow
rapidly. The FINE Member Survey, administered in October 2007, was designed
to help us learn more about you, how you use FINE resources, and your perspectives
on how we can better serve the field. Here are some preliminary results:
- FINE members represent a range of roles and professions. Parents,
teachers, principals, social workers, government representatives, researchers,
after school providers, parent liaisons, funders, and policymakers all
filled out the survey.
- Once they join, FINE members stick around. Twenty-three percent
of survey respondents had been a FINE member for 3 or more years.
- Members rely on FINE for a variety of reasons. Eighty-five percent
of survey takers said that they use FINE to keep track of what is going
on in the field. Other common uses include improving family involvement
in a classroom, school, or district (62%); dissemination to others (57%);
providing professional development or training (52%); academic or scholarly
research (45%); and “making the case” to decision makers (43%).
- Members use some FINE resources more than others. FINE members
found the monthly announcement (74%) and the research digests (67%), in
particular, to be “very useful” in their work.
- Members offered ideas for making FINE even better. The FINE members
who took our survey suggested new ways we could help them in their work.
Suggestions included providing information on specific topics, reorganizing
the format of the announcement, offering resources and examples from the
field, providing information on funding and professional development opportunities,
and enhancing member dialogue and interactivity.
- New in 2008
Looking ahead, FINE and Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) will be
busy with a number of exciting projects, including:
- A redesigned HFRP website
- A new and improved format for the FINE monthly announcement, designed
in response to your suggestions in the FINE survey
- A double issue of The Evaluation Exchange focused on building
and evaluating the family involvement field
- New complementary learning research and case studies
- Lessons learned and best practices in statewide and district family
involvement
Stay tuned!
Policy
- Kentucky
CPAC Report
The Commissioner's Parents Advisory Council (CPAC) has submitted its report,
The Missing Piece of the Proficiency Puzzle, to the Kentucky education
commissioner. The report sets state standards for parent involvement, issues
recommendations for implementing them, and includes a rating tool to evaluate
parent involvement.
Articles and Reports
- The Family:
America’s Smallest School
A new study conducted by the Education Testing Service (ETS) examines
factors that influence learning gaps, beginning in early childhood and persisting
into adulthood, and found large discrepancies in home life variables and
achievement. The authors suggest that reform efforts focus not only on improving
schools, but also on improving home and community learning environments.
- The School
Community Journal
The fall/winter 2007 issue of The School Community Journal is now
available. This issue includes articles related to home–school communication,
preservice teacher preparation, and cross-cultural policies and practices.
- Skills
for Smart Systems
The most recent edition of Voices in Urban Education from the Annenberg
Institute for School Reform explores how school systems, other agencies,
and the community can build their capacity to nurture partnerships that
support student learning.
- Evaluation
of Chicago Public Schools Community Schools Initiative
Now almost 6 years old, the Chicago Public Schools’ Community Schools
Initiative (CSI) recently published a summary report detailing positive
findings and emerging challenges from its evaluation. The report describes
CSI’s progress in a number of key areas, including parent engagement
and community partnerships.
- “Teaching
Low-Income Parents to 'Work the System'”
Edwin Darden, director of education policy at Appleseed, argues in this
Education Week commentary that the spirit of No Child Left Behind’s
parent involvement legislation should not be left behind in discussions
about reauthorization. He discusses the legislation's responsibility for
empowering parents, especially low-income parents, to hold their schools
accountable.
- “Parents
Are From Mars, Teachers Are From Venus”
In Teacher Magazine, Bill Ferriter shares his thoughts about improving
communication between parents and teachers. His outline of “scoring
points with the opposite group” offers some best practices that teachers
and parents can use to build the foundation of a good relationship.
Books
-
Other Kinds of Families: Embracing Diversity in Schools
Editors Tammy Turner-Vorbeck and Monica Miller Marsh showcase strategies
for working with families outside the “so-called norm.” A diverse
group of authors explore such issues as multigenerational views of school
for immigrant families, the educational needs of gay and lesbian families,
the representation of adoption and adoptive families in children’s
literature, and the experiences of homeless students and their families
with the educational system.
Upcoming Events
- PTA
Take Your Family to School Week
The PTA's annual Take Your Family to School Week will occur February 10–16
this year. During this week, PTAs across the country will celebrate their
Founder's Day and encourage family engagement with teachers and schools.
- Dads
Make a Difference
The 9th Annual National Fatherhood & Families Conference, hosted by
the Fathers and Families Coalition, Inc., will take place March 4–7
in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will include sessions about strengthening
families, working with incarcerated fathers, and engaging males in the education
and healthy development of children.
- Family
Partnership Initiative Training-of-Trainers Institute
WestEd is offering a series of institutes this spring to help develop
trainers to enhance partnerships between families and staff. The Institute
is designed for staff in state-funded, center-based programs and family
child-care home networks serving children from birth through 12 years old
and their families.
- National
Conference on Family Literacy
The 17th annual National Conference on Family Literacy will take place
March 30–April 1 in Louisville, Kentucky. Participants will learn about
legislation, research, technology, and practical strategies in family literacy
and related fields.
Funding Opportunity
- Lowe's
Toolbox for Education Grant
The Lowe's Foundation is accepting applications through February 15th for
its Toolbox for Education Grant Program, which aims to increase parent involvement
and build strong community spirit and school traditions that improve educational
opportunities for children. Award amounts are $2,000–$5,000. Eligible
applicants include individual nonprofit public K–12 schools and associated
parent groups with 501(c)(3) status.
Contact Us
If you experience a problem reading this newsletter or have questions and
comments concerning our work, we would love to hear from you. Please send an
email to fine@gse.harvard.edu.
Enjoy!
The FINE Team at Harvard Family Research Project
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