[SchoolMatters] Does improved school communication support student success?

[Brian Wheeler]

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Board. It is a private, e-mail-only newsletter written by Brian Wheeler,
At-Large Member of the Albemarle County School Board. 
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The National School Boards Association (NSBA) blog has a post this week
about a new report from a national public relations association that
indicates strong school division communication efforts and parental
involvement leads to better performing students.  I almost stopped reading
the post when I saw it was a PR association touting improved communications,
but I clicked through to the press release because I am a strong believer
that Albemarle County Public Schools and our parent/teacher organizations
should be communicating effectively inside and outside our school community.


See: http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/archives/024623.php and
http://www.nspra.org/WhitePaperRelease.htm

In fact, at tonight's School Board meeting, we will be passing our 2006-07
budget (leaders in Richmond, please go to school on that) and it will
include significant investments in our new Community Engagement department
which was started this year.  The Community Engagement office is working on
initiatives in the following areas:

*	Internal/external communications 
*	Equity and Diversity 
*	Community/service learning initiatives for students 
*	School-community relations and engagement in our strategic plan 
*	Career and business partnerships

So back to the new white paper... Ironically, when you get to the PR
Association's press release, you have to send them an e-mail asking for the
38 page white paper.  I'll save you the trouble because the automatic e-mail
reply gives you the "secret" link:  <http://www.nspra.org/WhitePaper.pdf>
http://www.nspra.org/WhitePaper.pdf

Some conclusions highlighted in their press release:

"The white paper, How Strong Communication Contributes to Student and School
Success: Parent and Family Involvement, compiled and reviewed research
investigating the links between school communication and the resulting
parental and community involvement crucial to student achievement. A number
of performance issues, the white paper reports, are linked to school
communication and involvement, including:"

*	Higher grade point averages and scores on standardized tests. 
*	More classes passed. 
*	Higher enrollment in more challenging academic classes. 
*	Better attendance. 
*	Improved behavior at home and at school. 

Other key findings highlighted in the compiled study include:

*	"Parents and principals cite lack of time as the most common barrier
to increased involvement, but research identifies lack of planning for
partnerships and lack of mutual understanding as the two greatest barriers
to effective family involvement."

Based on my quick review of the white paper and footnotes, it looks like
they have compiled and reviewed original research by others, but it is
helpful to pull this together in a document and action plan.  Albemarle
County's recent focus groups, strategic planning, and communications
initiatives have put us on a path that matches up well with the direction
recommended in this report. Now we need to deliver.

"Communication is the foundation of effective partnerships. To build
effective partnerships with families and the community that will enhance
student achievement, schools must first talk to - and listen to - parents,
community groups, business leaders and others with a stake in student
learning. Any strategy must accommodate the diverse language, cultural
needs, lifestyles and schedules of all parties. This means the school often
must take the initiative in reaching out to its community and parents.
Successful partnerships require sustained mutual collaboration and support -
from school staffs and from families at home, at school and in the
community. It requires a school environment that welcomes its partners and
encourages them to raise questions and voice their concerns, as well as to
participate appropriately in decision-making."

Brian Wheeler

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Brian Wheeler
 <mailto:bwheeler at albemarlematters.com> bwheeler at albemarlematters.com
 <http://www.wheeleronboard.com/> http://www.wheeleronboard.com
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