The Family School Community Partnership
THE FAMILY SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
EDUCATION ISSUE COUNCIL’S PARENT ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE
“No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children’s best interests.” – Dorothy H. Cohen, teacher and author
IMPORTANCE
While the education landscape is challenging and continuously evolving, parents involved in United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Family School Community Partnership are dedicated to improving the educational and social outcomes of students. In partnership with AVANCE-San Antonio, Family Service Association of San Antonio, Presa Community Center and United Way, parent leaders are facilitating greater parent engagement and volunteerism in area schools with a goal of helping parents understand their role in their child’s academic success. Parent leaders reinforce leadership by example and therefore become their child’s lifelong teachers.
The partnership began in 2006 as the main initiative of the Education Issue Council in six San Antonio ISD schools to serve as a resource and bridge between parents and school staff via the “Parent Room.” Today, parent rooms exist in 22 SAISD schools, three South San ISD schools, three Harlandale ISD schools and three Northside ISD schools. Parent leaders play a vital role in growing a volunteer base of parents advocating on their child’s behalf, participating in leadership training and, in some cases, encouraging parents to further their own education and/or career goals.
The Family School Community Partnership, with considerable input from parent leaders, has selected four priorities and created performance metrics to measure impact on student success: academic achievement, attendance/chronic absenteeism, bullying and increased parent engagement.
PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS
San Antonio ISD South San ISD
Bowden Elementary Kindred Elementary
Davis Middle School Palo Alto Elementary
Green Elementary Zamora Middle School
Herff Elementary
Highland Hills Elementary Harlandale ISD
Hillcrest Elementary Bellaire Elementary
Hirsch Elementary Terrell Wells Middle School
Lanier High School Vestal Elementary
Pershing Elementary
Page Middle School Northside ISD
Poe Middle School Knowlton Elementary
Rhodes Middle School Passmore Elementary
Rogers Middle School Zachry Middle School
Sam Houston High School
Sarah King Elementary
Smith Elementary
Stewart Elementary
Washington Elementary
Young Men’s Leadership Academy
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
