A Place at the Table
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 3.
On the cover
A parent and his son participate in a family literacy activity at Cornelius Elementary School in the Forest Grove (Oregon) School District. For more, see Bienvenidos a Forest Grove.
Photo by Chase Allgood
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Informed by three decades of research—and given new urgency by the No Child Left Behind Act—parent and community involvement in schools is undergoing a paradigm shift. A new model of sustained partnerships and shared decision making is finding its way into the daily operation of schools and districts around the country. In this issue of Northwest Education we profile some of the diverse, dynamic partnerships that are creating this change in our region.
Features
Navigation 101
A pioneering student guidance program helps boost parent involvement in Tacoma’s Franklin Pierce School District.
Strong Partnerships
Debbie Ellis, director of the Oregon Parental Information and Resource Center, talks about the new focus of the decade-old federal grant program.
New School, Old Ways of Knowing
The Fairbanks Alaska Native community works with the local school district to create a new charter school based on Native cultural values.
Bienvenidos a Forest Grove
A rural Oregon school district uses multiple strategies to connect with its growing Latino population.
The Road to Success
An award-winning district in North Central Montana finds success by reaching out to the Native American community.
Voices From the Community
Five diverse views of what school, family, and community partnerships look like in Northwest schools.
Partnering for Success
Innovative tutoring and mentoring projects forge community partnerships in Washington schools.
Making the Parent-School Connection
Shirley Skidmore, director of communications and outreach for the Chalkboard Project, talks about how the Oregon-based nonprofit has helped put parent and community involvement in the statewide spotlight.
Closing the Culture Gap: Q&A With Steffen Saifer
The director of NWREL’s Child and Family Program shares practical advice about the attitudes, skills, and self-awareness necessary to bridge cultural differences.
Departments
Region at a Glance
Parent Involvement Activities
Research Brief
Not Just Participants But Partners:
The Impact of Family-Community Involvement
NWREL News
Practical Handbook Gets Parents Involved
Preventing Bullying and Harassment
Conference Call
What’s New on the Web
Flashback
NWREL Products and Services