Self-evaluation Good schools do not rest on their laurels. They continually question both what they are doing and how they are doing it. They know where their students are academically and they are aware of individual strengths and weaknesses. Good schools are open to new ideas and always searching for ways to do things more effectively. Communication Good schools foster communication.
Teachers share ideas and discuss problems informally over coffee as well as in faculty meetings.
Teachers are also available to students and parents on a regular basis, and encourage them to share information and concerns. Parent and Community Involvement Effective schools recognize that parents are partners, not adversaries. Administrators and teachers seek to involve parents in meaningful ways in their children's education. Parents, in turn, willingly volunteer their time and talents in the library, in the classroom, and at book fairs and benefits. Good schools use community resources to enrich their students' educational experiences, and many involve students in the upper elementary grades in community service projects.