The Family School Community Partnership
IMPORTANCE
While the educational landscape is challenging, parents involved in United Way of San Antonio’s Family School Community Partnership have overcome many obstacles. In partnership with AVANCE-San Antonio, Family Service Association, Presa Community Center and United Way, over 52 parent-leaders are facilitating significantly greater parent engagement and volunteerism. The Partnership exists in 22 SAISD schools, 3 South San ISD schools, and 3 Harlandale ISD schools. These parent leaders play a vital role in growing a volunteer base of other parents, encouraging them to either return to school or take the next necessary step that will improve their own lives by returning to work or by serving others. These parent leaders reinforce leadership by example and therefore become their child’s lifelong teachers.
2015-2016 RESULTS
- More than 53,300 parents (duplicated) attended family events on campuses
- Parent volunteers conducted 5,633 home visits
- 43 parent leaders and 780 parent volunteers served in parent rooms, logging more than 101,600 hours
- Parents benefited from 30 different leadership development topics
IMPACT
“As a Principal I am charged with a lot of responsibility that I take very seriously. Most importantly, I am responsible for the safety and education of children whose parents trust me to make the right decisions each and every day. Some decisions I make on my own, others I pause and reflect upon first and often find that I need the expertise and knowledge of others who are working toward the same end result that I am. That’s where I place the role of the Partnership. First and foremost the parent team is a support system for our campus. Whether I am tackling an attendance issue, looking for resources for a family, or trying to improve student achievement I can always count on the Partnership to be there for whatever it is they can do to help our students and families. I could not do all that I do for our students without the support of the Partnership.”
–Dr. Traci Smith, 5-year Partnership Principal
“Between the training sessions and the life lessons that I have learned in the partnership room, I have felt more empowered and helpful throughout the school and in individual children’s lives.” –Parent Volunteer
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Partners in Education: A Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships
The Relationship between Parental Involvement as Social Capital and College Enrollment
Parental Involvement, Cultural Capital, and the Achievement Gap
Identifying and Decreasing Barriers to Parental Involvement
