It is intended to disseminate reliable information to communities struggling to educate children, improve neighborhoods, create living-wage jobs, and engage citizens in public life. Information presented in the booklet includes instruction on how to build new relationships and collaborate effectively, the attributes of a successful project, and evaluation. The booklet also provides a list of resources for communities to use when trying to develop problem-solving strategies. This book is based on the assumption that a public school cannot succeed without community support. It offers suggestions on how parents and other community members can become equal partners with professional educators in reforming schools, strengthening families, and revitalizing communities.
Collaboration happens when people and organizations come together to achieve common goals.
The result is that they often accomplish more together than they would working separately. SEDL has developed a process that schools and their surrounding communities can use to build partnerships at the local level. The process brings people together and helps them learn how to work collaboratively. It guides the development of teams composed of family members, community representatives, school personnel, and students. These two spiral bound volumes include the guide and its companion tool kit.