Last Updated on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 3:32 PM
What can community partners do to help each school close academic achievement gaps? Each community will have a wide range and different set of community stakeholders. Each school within that community will have different needs. This page focuses on what community partners can do.
To ensure that Kentucky's children will have every opportunity to reach their fullest potential, families and other community members must work together in collaboration with their schools to determine the needs of the students within their community and the resources, both human and fiscal, that will enable all students to achieve at high levels.
Office of Family Resource Youth Services Centers
There is no magic bullet or special step in closing the gap, but there is a process that can better ensure that stakeholders are closing the gap. Each set of stakeholders must establish a questioning process that enables community partners to seek answers and define their roles and responsibilities in closing the achievement gap.
The process examines three areas: Beliefs, data collection, and practice by those stakeholders.
Beliefs
Do our community leaders believe that all students can learn at high levels?
Data Collection
Do our schools in the district show improvement over time?
How does our progress compare with that of other Kentucky districts and the nation?
Practice
Are we forming collaborative partnerships?
Have community members formed mentoring programs with the schools?
Are community resources maximized to ensure that all students achieve at high levels?
Are we encouraging community involvement and support?
Partners
Community Engagement
This site has a lot of good information for community leaders.
Partners in Education
This site provides links to our partners, many of which can support your community and school.
Student and Family Support Services
This site is designed to help schools, parents and community members identify health, community, mental health, and other resources that are needed by students and families.
Resources
The Education Trust
The mission of this independent nonprofit organization is to help schools and colleges work for all students.
CARET Research
The Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET) bridges education technology research to practice by offering research-based answers to critical questions.
Pulling Together
This site brings together a collection of research and development resources to assist rural educators in providing a high quality education for all children.
Kentucky Cares
KyCARES is an online services/information directory and guide for Federal, State and Community Providers who can offer basic services like housing, food, childcare, transportation, benefits information and much more.
The process above is not linear, but rather spiral in nature. Beliefs, data collection, and practices must be continually examined by each stakeholder.