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