A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n Studies of Education Reform: Parent and Community Involvement in Education - 1995 Community School District 3 New York City, New York Case Summary School District 3 in New York City is a wonderful mosaic of people and programs. The district features parent involvement activities that address parent/child learning activities, parent education, parents as decision makers, and parents as advocates. It took five years and a charismatic leader with a long range plan to make the program work. Keys to success include an approach that emphasizes vertical integration with the home, school, social service agencies, cultural centers, and other resources within the larger community; horizontal integration among and between schools and programs that is developmental in nature, recognizing that as children and families mature, their needs change; and individualization of programs, emphasizing knowledge of individual parents and meeting individual and group needs. "The more parent involvement there is, the more teachers are aware of parents and what they are really like...They were just imagining (negative) relationships when there were not any at all." | |
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