Respondents also provided open-ended comments on these issues. Most SCDEs offer at least one course and some coverage of topics on partnerships, but not enough to prepare all teachers, counselors, and administrators to effectively conduct practices and programs of school, family, and community partnerships.
Most offerings are in early childhood and special education, as in the past.
Leaders in SCDEs are aware of the need to better prepare new educators to conduct school, family, and community partnerships. They express a readiness to change. Most leaders at SCDEs are aware of growing pressure and explicit mandates to improve partnerships from state departments of education, accrediting organizations, and from school and district educators who hire SCDE graduates. Institutional change in higher education is possible, but requires effort and action. This comment acknowledges that it will be necessary to set new priorities to prepare teachers and administrators with essential skills for working with families and communities.