Preparing Educators for School-Family-Community Partnerships : Results of a National Survey of Colleges and Universities

Abstract

A survey of educators in 161 U.S. schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) examined the preparation of teachers to work with tamilies and communities. The survey included questions on the demographic characteristics and present course offerirgs of the SCDE; attitudes and perspectives of the respondents about school, family, and community partnerships; expectations or readiness for change in programs to prepare teachers, administrators, and counselors on partnerships; and open-ended questions for comments on these issues. Data analysis indicated that most respondents strongly believed in the importance of all teachers, principals, and counselors knowing how to conduct practices to involve families and communities in students' education, though few believed students graduating from SCDEs were fully prepared to do so. Most SCDEs offered at least one course and some coverage of the issue, but not enough to prepare all necessary people. Most respondents whose SCDE was not covering diverse topics on school, family, and community partnerships believed they should do so. The five appendixes present the survey questionnaire, a list of colleges and universities, regions and states of participating SCDEs, course titles, and national and state accrediting organizations.