"Here is a book that challenges educators to put aside outmoded images of what is unlikely to push education far or fast enough to make a difference. Underlying each chapter is the belief and the 'how to' that allows for the development of a community culture that matches the changing condition of a changing society and student success."
Lee Mahon, Professor/Mentor, Doctoral Studies
The Fielding Institute, Santa Barbara, CA

Special features of this definitive book include

• Invaluable work sheets and sample plans for easy self-evaluation and implementation
• Specific "Survival Strategies" that have been successfully utilized in urban schools
• Tips for cultivating and maximizing community relationships to obtain resources
• Straightforward assessment methods to authentically measure change
• Real-life examples of principal and teacher practices that have worked

"Very thoughtful and practical, providing well-grounded strategies for effective implementation of community participation."
Gini Doolittle, Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Leadership, Rowan University, New Jersey

Burke and Picus make a case for improved learning through school-community partnerships. Drawing from their twenty years of experience working with parents, community volunteers, teachers, and school site administrators, the authors present a concise, easy-to-understand approach to building and working with these powerful alliances.

Developing Community-Empowered Schools is structured to give the reader a clear overview of the necessary components and strategies to understand and develop these critical partnerships. Highlights include:

• Defining community-empowered schools
• Assessing your school?s strengths and weaknesses
• Identifying stakeholders and their roles
• Establishing policies and procedures that support school and community partnerships
• Empowering and training staff for effective school and community partnerships
• Recruiting and training volunteers
• Creating a family literacy program
• Building community collaborations for added resources
• Viewing schools as economic solutions to communities
• Examining the future of community-empowered schools

Handy overheads, training worksheets, sample memos from teachers to students? families, and enough material for a one-day teacher-training workshop make this a practical, accessible, and valuable resource. In addition, in-depth information is provided on how to seek funding to sustain a school-based community program. Developing Community-Empowered Schools is an all-in-one guide and an essential desk-top reference for bringing all stakeholders together to create optimal learning environments.

"Very thoughtful and practical, providing well-grounded strategies for effective implementation of community participation."
Gini Doolittle, Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Leadership, Rowan University, New Jersey

Burke and Picus make a case for improved learning through school-community partnerships. Drawing from their twenty years of experience working with parents, community volunteers, teachers, and school site administrators, the authors present a concise, easy-to-understand approach to building and working with these powerful alliances.

Developing Community-Empowered Schools is structured to give the reader a clear overview of the necessary components and strategies to understand and develop these critical partnerships. Highlights include:

• Defining community-empowered schools
• Assessing your school?s strengths and weaknesses
• Identifying stakeholders and their roles
• Establishing policies and procedures that support school and community partnerships
• Empowering and training staff for effective school and community partnerships
• Recruiting and training volunteers
• Creating a family literacy program
• Building community collaborations for added resources
• Viewing schools as economic solutions to communities
• Examining the future of community-empowered schools

Handy overheads, training worksheets, sample memos from teachers to students? families, and enough material for a one-day teacher-training workshop make this a practical, accessible, and valuable resource. In addition, in-depth information is provided on how to seek funding to sustain a school-based community program. Developing Community-Empowered Schools is an all-in-one guide and an essential desk-top reference for bringing all stakeholders together to create optimal learning environments.

The education system in the United States, and its principle of creating equal opportunity in a democratic society, is failing many children. Dissatisfaction with the system has never been higher. Based on a study of New York schools, this comprehensive book examines how social justice issues relate to outcome equity in education, and suggests ways of using resources more effectively in order to improve learning results.