School-Family-Community
Partnerships
Epstein (1995) notes that the school, the family, and the community are "three major contexts in which students live and grow"; these "overlapping spheres of influence" are extremely important because they "directly affect children's learning and development" (p. 702). She calls for schools to work together with families and the community as partners who share responsibility for the education of all students. This joint effort, explains Epstein (1995), contributes to improved outcomes for children: "Partners recognize their shared interests in and responsibilities for children, and they work together to create better programs and opportunities for students" (p. 701).
To emphasize the importance of schools sharing responsibility for student learning, federal legislation relating to family and community involvement has called for the development of school partnerships with families and community groups. A partnership approach gives families and community members a greater opportunity to participate in the wide range of school involvement activities, but it also gives them a voice in the school's decision-making process as well as real roles and responsibilities in school-improvement efforts.
