Community and Family Engagement: Principals Share What Works

The paper explores ways in which principals of community schools--and other principals who, though they may not yet identify their schools as community schools, are responding in a very similar manner--work successfully with community partners, families, and other key stakeholders to improve student outcomes. By reflecting on the topic from the perspective of principals, the text offers insights about why they engage community, why doing so is hard, and what strategies and approaches they find most effective. We know this information will be valuable to principals who devote their energy and passion to the education of America's children. It also will inform the work of school systems, which must support their principals in this work, and of those involved in developing the next generation of principals. (publisher)