A practical hands on guide to helping schools and families work better together.

Beyond the Bake Sale provides compelling, practical ways to collaborate in building the partnerships necessary to create a culture of learning and achievement. It will become the seminal reference for school districts and schools that are serious about family and community engagement.
Thomas W. Payzant, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Beyond the Bake Sale emphatically reminds us that the missing ingredient in closing the gaps in achievement is heaping measures of community and family involvement. In this one-of-a-kind book, even the most savvy experts will find novel advice and useful tools, surveys, sample school policies, checklists, and strategies.
Wendy D. Puriefoy, president, Public Education Network, Washington, D.C.

This outstanding resource recognizes and builds upon assets that parents and communities bring in creating partnerships for children's school success rich in examples that help schools acknowledge the cultural strengths of families, and their important contribution to teaching and learning.
Dr. Rosana G. Rodriguez, Director of Community and Public Engagement, Intercultural Development Research Association, Austin, Texas

Anne T. Henderson is a senior consultant with the Community Involvement Program, Annenberg Institute for School Reform. Dr. Vivian Johnson is the leading researcher on Parent/Family Centers in schools. She lives in Boston. Karen L. Mapp is a lecturer on education at Harvard and former Deputy Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement in Boston. Don Davies is the founder of the Institute for Responsive Education and Professor Emeritus at Boston University.

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments xi

Section I Why Partnerships Are Important

Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Bother to Read This Book? 1
Chapter 2 What Is a Family-School Partnership
Supposed to Look Like? 13

Section II Getting Started: Building the Relationship

Chapter 3 Ready, Set, Go! How Do You Know if You're
Really Open to Partnership? 27
Chapter 4 Developing Relationships: How Can You Build
Trust Instead of Blaming Each Other? 47
Checklist: How Family-Friendly Is Your School? 75

Section III Guidelines for Action from Research

Chapter 5 Linking to Learning: How Will Involving Parents
Help Your Test Scores? 81
Checklist: How Closely Is Your School's Parent Involvement
Program Linked to Student Learning? 108
Chapter 6 Addressing Differences: How Can You Deal with
Issues of Race, Class, and Culture? 113
Checklist: How Well Is Your School Bridging Racial, Class,
and Cultural Differences? 146
Chapter 7 Supporting Advocacy: How Can Problem Parents
Become Partners You Can Work With? 151
Checklist: How Well Does Your School Support Parents
as Advocates? 182
Chapter 8 Sharing Power: Who's in Charge Here Anyway? 187
Checklist: How Well Is Your School Sharing Power and
Practicing Democracy? 214
Chapter 9 Scaling Up: Why Can't All Schools in a District
Create Strong Partnerships with Families? 219
Checklist: How Well Does Your District Support Family and
Community Contents Engagement? 247

Section IV Resources and Tools

Chapter 10 Help! Where Can You Find Useful Resources
to Build Your Partnership? 251
Chapter Topics 252
Selected Resources 265
Recommended Reading from the San Diego PALs 286
Chapter 11 Tools to Support Your Work: Where Do We Start? 289

1. 1. Attitude Check 291
   2. Conference Checklist 293
   3. Developing a Code of Conduct 294
   4. District Policy on Family-School Partnership 296
   5. Family Involvement Coordinator Sample Job Description 298
   6. Family Welcome Questionnaire 302
   7. Homework Survey 304
   8. Needs Assessment Survey 306
   9. Parent Review 307
   10. Parent Volunteer Survey 308
   11. School Climate Survey 311
   12. Tips for Developing a School Family Involvement Policy 314

Selected Bibliography 320
Notes 324
Index 331