Community Relationships

Internet Sites:

PROJECT REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES

• Communities at Work: A Guidebook of Strategic Interventions for Community Change
Examples of strategic interventions used by local education funds to engage communities in school improvement. The complete guidebook is available as a pdf document.
http://www.publiceducation.org/pdf/CAW/CAW_report.pdf

• Connection Collection : Publications Database
A keyword searchable database containing annotations 270 research studies, articles, monographs, and other literature related to school, family, and community involvement in education, from the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools.
http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources/bibsearch.html

• Research Syntheses
From the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, these annually published reports provide the latest research and the most innovative thinking about family and community connections with schools.
http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources.html

• New Relationships with Schools (2003)
This report contains three in-depth case studies of organizations that connect with schools and a survey of eight additional organizations doing this work. The report analyzes how these organizations identify pressing issues, translate their beliefs into action, and structure successful interventions.
http://www.publicengagement.com/practices/publications/newrelationshipssummary.htm

• Who Helps Public Schools: A Portrait of Local Education Funds, 1991-2001 (November 2003)
“Through the provision of data on the financial, programmatic and functional aspects of this relatively new movement, this research intends to more clearly define LEFs and distinguish them from other nonprofit organizations involved in K-12 public education at the local level.” Published by the Urban Institute.
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410915_PENReport.pdf

• ERIC Digests
Community Coalitions To Restructure Schools (1994)
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed368080.html
The Role of Business in Education (1990)
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed321344.html

PORTALS AND RESOURCE SITES

• Afterschool Alliance
“The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. It is supported by a group of public, private and nonprofit organizations that share the Alliance’s vision of ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010.” Access to resources and publications on starting and sustaining after-school programs.
http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/home.html

• Coalition for Community Schools
The Coalition for Community Schools works toward improving education and helping students learn and grow while supporting and strengthening their families and communities. Resources include links to research reports, letter templates, and informational guides and brochures.
http://www.communityschools.org/

• National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools
Links to research based information and resource that parents and community members can use to effectively connect schools, families, and communities. Sponsored by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
http://www.sedl.org/connections/welcome.html

• Public Education Network
The Public Education Network is a national association of Local Education Funds (LEF’s) dedicated to bringing a community voice to school reform. Their website includes tools and guides for parents and community members to begin effective collaborative efforts with schools.
http://www.publiceducation.org/

Organizations:

• Communities in Schools
Communities in Schools is a non-profit organization that facilitates student success by connecting community resources with schools.
277 South Washington Street, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA  22314
Tel: 1-800-CIS-4KIDS (1-800-247-4547)
Email: cis@cisnet.org
http://www.cisnet.org/

• Institute for Youth, Education & Families (National League of Cities)
“The Institute for Youth, Education & Families helps municipal leaders take action on behalf of children, youth, and families in their communities.” Links to programs and policies that can be implemented by communities to support healthy learning environments for schools and families.
National League of Cities – Institute for Youth, Education, and Families
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701
Tel: 1-202-626-3014 message line
Email: iyef@nlc.org
http://www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/programs/institute_for_youth_education_and_families/index.cfm