Through New Pathways we focus on building the capacity of schools to reach out to their students' families, and on supporting leadership development among family members. This program focuses on elementary school students reading below grade level by engaging their parents and caregivers in the literacy effort. Based on a solid team approach, FAR brings parents, teachers and administrators to plan activities and strategies to engage families at home in the important task of building literacy. FAR is a two-year program that started in the fall of 1999 in four San Francisco public schools. These allies develop a partnership plan based on school needs and organizational interest and resources.
Organizational partners can serve as a galvanizing force to mobilize large groups of volunteers.