Sue Doubler, a Project Director of TERC Student and Scientist Partnership Conference talks about a project that involves local scientists in the classroom. She also talks about combining assessment in this program. There are numerous benefits from well-implemented school and community partnership programs. They include increased student attendance, higher achievement and report-card grades, a sense of greater security, fewer behavioral problems, and an increase in positive attitudes about school and homework. Research also finds that parent participation tends to decline as students get older, unless school programs are put in place to encourage it.
Affluent communities tend to have better connections to schools.
Poorer communities need to organize programs that reach out to parents to increase involvement. The studies also find that most families are concerned with their children's education and want to help them succeed in school. Just about all teachers and administrators express interest in increased parental and community involvement. Despite their common interest in helping children succeed, however, teachers and parents may not communicate with each other, in part because of past fears and frustrations experienced by both sides. Another benefit of these programs is to help educators and families cope in an increasingly diverse society.