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www.HFRP.org

The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.

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Dear FINE Member,

Here are this month's FINE member announcements. Please feel free to forward this information to friends and other education colleagues.

New on the FINE Website

Recent Reports

  • All Students Reaching the Top: Strategies for Closing Academic Achievement Gaps

    Overcoming the minority achievement gap will require a systemic approach that combines simultaneous interventions by families, teachers and administrators, and the larger society. This is the premise of the National Study Group for the Affirmative Development of Academic Ability, which formed in 2002 to review relevant research and to explore home, community, and school-based interventions. In this report, the Study Group outlines a set of practical recommendations that focus on improving learning opportunities of minority and low-income students in the community, home, and school environments.

  • Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning: What Does the Research Say?

    What is the relationship between social-emotional education and school success? Leading experts show the educational benefits of social-emotional learning programs and describe specific interventions that enhance student learning. Creating school-family partnerships to help students achieve is one of several key strategies. Read the first chapter on the scientific base linking social and emotional learning to school success online on the CASEL website. The report is available for purchase from Teachers College Press.

  • Constituents of Change: Community Organizations and Public Education Reform

    The Institute for Education and Social Policy is currently conducting a 6-year longitudinal study of eight local community organizing efforts to reform education. The study will explore the processes that lead to improved student achievement outcomes and the challenges faced in organizing for school reform. This initial report is based on field work conducted between 2003 and 2004 and presents a conceptual basis for the study's future analysis.

Toolkits

  • Parent Teacher Education Connection

    The North Texas Partnership for Parent Engagement has developed six online, problem-based learning experiences (modules) that reflect curriculum goals in parental engagement for teacher preparation programs. The modules are designed to be integrated by teacher education faculty into their course curriculum. The modules cover parenting, communicating, learning at home, volunteering, decision making, and collaborating with the community, and are available in English and Spanish.

  • Educating Our Children Together: A Sourcebook for Effective Family-School-Community Partnerships

    This sourcebook from the National Center on Dispute Resolution identifies and describes promising practices in family-community-school involvement in pre-K–12 school environments across the country. The book includes guiding principles for family-school-community involvement, tips for getting started, and a self-assessment tool to determine current practices.

  • Promising Partnership Practices 2004

    Each year, school and district members of the National Network of Partnership Schools at John Hopkins University share their promising practices for school-family-community partnerships. The publication covers six types of partnership activities for elementary, middle, and high schools.

  • Opportunities for Parental Involvement in Special Education Afforded by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997

    This resource was prepared as a tool for parents, caregivers, and family members raising children with emotional or behavioral disorders. The author focuses on the portions of Part B of the Act that specifically mention parents and require and encourage their participation, and provides suggestions on how parents can take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the law.

  • Planning for Terrific Transitions: A Guide for Transition-to-School Teams

    According to a survey of 3,600 teachers by the National Center for Early Development and Learning almost half of children entering kindergarten had moderate or serious problems adjusting. To address this issue, the Regional Educational Laboratory for the Southeast has developed a set of training materials to be used for transition-to-school groups that include principals, prekindergarten and Head Start staff, kindergarten teachers, parents, and transition coordinators.

Policy

  • Recent State Policies/Activities: Parent/Family

    This page on the Education Commission of the States' website provides current information about any new education bills, legislation, and policies in each state that relate to parents or families.

Websites to Watch

  • Family Strengthening Policy Center

    This newly created policy center is a program of the National Human Services Assembly, an association of leading national human and health service organizations. The center seeks to make family strengthening a priority by mainstreaming neighborhood-based, family-centered practices, programs, and policy. Read about connecting families, schools, and community resources through school-linked services in the latest issue of the center's practice-driven policy briefs.

  • Parents' Action for Children

    Parents' Action for Children provides parenting information and education materials and supports parents to fight for issues such as early education, health care, and high quality and affordable child care.

  • Reading Is Fundamental

    Reading Is Fundamental has launched a new national campaign to promote early childhood literacy among Latino families. The campaign emphasizes ways that Latino families can incorporate literacy into everyday family activities. The campaign includes public services announcements, a 30-minute parent video, and a Spanish-language website with literacy resources and activities and bilingual book lists.

Events

  • National Family Week: Connections Count

    National Family Week: Connections Count will be celebrated November 21–27, 2004. Visit the website to get great ideas on how your agency, school, or business can participate with local activities; how to engage families, communities members, other organizations, and elected officials in the event; and how to use the occasion to raise awareness of local issues affecting families.

  • Community Schools: The Time Is Now!

    The Coalition for Community Schools will hold its annual National Forum March 9–11, 2005, in Chicago. Visit successful local Chicago community schools to see what's working and enjoy plenary sessions with senior education, community, and political leaders speaking on the benefits of community schools.

Other Resources From Harvard Family Research Project

  • New Evaluation Exchange Issue on Harnessing Technology for Evaluation

    The new issue of The Evaluation Exchange explores technology's contribution to evaluation practice, with articles centering on four key areas in which evaluators are using technology: data collection and analysis, collaboration, knowledge mobilization, and evaluation capacity building. Rounding out the issue is a special feature on the role technology plays in fostering youth civic engagement and in evaluating programs for youth.

Contact Us

Have a problem with the website or questions and comments concerning our work? Send an email to fine@gse.harvard.edu.

Enjoy!

FINE - Family Involvement Network of Educators

© 2016 Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College
Published by Harvard Family Research Project