Federal Legislation Relating to Family and Community Involvement

The following federal legislation has called for schools to support family and community partnerships:

• The Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994 describes several National Education Goals that relate to school partnerships:

• Goal 4 calls for the development of partnerships "among local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, parents, and local labor, business, and professional associations to provide and support programs for the professional development of educators."

• Goal 7 calls for "parents, businesses, governmental, and community organizations" to work together with schools to create "a safe and secure environment that is free of drugs and crime." It also says that "community-based teams should be organized to provide students and teachers with needed support."

• Goal 8 specifically relates to partnerships with parents and families:

"By the year 2000, every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.

The objectives for this Goal are that--(i) every State will develop policies to assist local schools and local educational agencies to establish programs for increasing partnerships that respond to the varying needs of parents and the home, including parents of children who are disadvantaged or bilingual, or parents of children with disabilities; (ii) every school will actively engage parents and families in a partnership which supports the academic work of children at home and shared educational decision making at school; and (iii) parents and families will help to ensure that schools are adequately supported and will hold schools and teachers to high standards of accountability."

• Title I of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children meet high standards. One section of this legislation, Section 1118 - Parent Involvement, relates directly to school partnerships with families. The U.S. Department of Education (1996) explains the purpose and aims of this section:

"Title I makes family involvement a priority by supporting partnerships between families and schools while encouraging community efforts to improve schools and reinforce the importance of learning.... Title I legislation includes three key provisions to strengthen parent involvement:

• A written parent involvement policy, jointly developed by school districts and parents, and by schools and parents.

• School/parent compacts that identify shared responsibilities for high student performance.

• Training to build school and parent capacity for involvement, including literacy and parenting education."

Moles (1996) adds that Title I funds also can be used for "creating school-based parent resource centers, training and supporting parents to enhance the involvement of other parents, and reducing transportation and child-care costs so parents can participate in school-related meetings and training sessions."

For further information, refer to the following sources:

• Achieving the Goals. Goal 4: Teacher Professional Development (U.S. Department of Education, 1996b)

• Achieving the Goals. Goal 8: Parent Involvement and Participation (U.S. Department of Education, 1997)

• Title I Parent Involvement: Partnerships with Families, Schools, and Communities to Support Learning (U.S. Department of Education, 1996a)

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