School and community partnership programs set themselves up to fail if they set only long-term goals and do not schedule and measure annual progress in small, steady steps. Each year, more parents should be involved in productive ways in these programs. Each year, the program should improve as evaluations are completed and everyone involved learns from both successes and failures. If family and community involvement activities are purposefully selected, then community connection programs will help students reach school goals, including improving reading, math, or other academic skills. Or, activities may be deliberately selected to contribute to other school goals, such as improved attendance, good behavior, and safety.
Partnerships are no longer just a matter of public relations.
Partnerships are part of whole-school change, school improvement plans, and goals for student learning. To serve this purpose, activities must be specifically designed and selected to closely link to specific goals for student success. The program practices must be assessed to determine if they are effectively implemented, and if they contribute to the attainment of the school's goals that have been set.