Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

As Project Coordinator of the Long Island Parent Center, I have been asked to write a column for the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators' newsletters. We are fortunate to have Special Education Administrators here on Long Island who see the importance of working closely with families and value the relationships we have built focusing on collaborative practices. I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity and look forward to long, positive working relationships with the professionals with whom we work. Here is the first article of the series that I would like to share with you, our LIPC readers. Enjoy!!

Helene Fallon

Project Coordinator

Collaborative Practices with Families

In today's world of education reform and the goal of having students ready for college and career, we must think out of the box and incorporate strategies that may be challenging yet effective in improving outcomes for all students, especially students with special needs. Effective Communication and Collaboration are included in evidence based practices that are keys to improving educational outcomes for all students. Meaningful stakeholder involvement in education has proven to reduce conflict and improve overall performance in a school environment. The good news is there has been years of work around this concept. There are strategies, practices and curriculum that can be formally implemented in pedagogy; but educators, families and the professionals with whom they work must embrace the importance of collaborative practice as a priority. Although, as educators we must collaborate with all team members; in this article, I will focus on the importance of family engagement and parent involvement while citing publications that are available to review and you will find direct resources to improve on meaningful collaboration. First let's touch on the research, followed by resources and strategies!

Taken together, decades of research strongly suggest that families have a major influence on their children's achievement in school and through life. When schools support families to be involved at home and at school, students achieve at higher levels, no matter what their background. In short, when parents are involved in education, children do better in school and schools get better. According to A New Wave of Evidence; the Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement, a review of recent research published by the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, SEDL,

The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families have a major influence on their children's achievement in school and through life  confirms that the research continues to grow and build an ever-strengthening case. When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.

(Ann Henderson, Karen Mapp; 2010)

Family, school, and community engagement in education should be an essential strategy in building a pathway to college---and career---readiness in today's competitive global society.

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