Moving Forward: Ideas for Research on School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Studies for over twenty-five years have set a firm base on which to build new research and to design more effective programs and practices of school, family, and community partnerships. Extant studies confirm that parents care about their children, but need good, clear information from educators in order to remain involved in their children’s education from preschool through high school. The research has produced a useful theory and framework of six types of involvement that are guiding research, policy, and practice. Researchers have begun to inspect, dissect, and identify components and effects of partnership programs in schools and school districts.