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The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University (OSU) hosts the Ohio Network of Partnership Schools. Ohio’s Network is comprised of schools that have embraced the National Network of Partnership Schools approach to build strong connections between the three major places students learn and grow: family, school, and community. Based on the work of Dr. Joyce Epstein at Johns Hopkins University, the Partnership Schools approach aims to ensure better outcomes for children. Decades of research have consistently shown that when families, schools, and communities overlap and work together they provide the best possible opportunities for students at any grade level. Working in this way improves academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for children, including gains in daily attendance.
Our Center collaborates with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in the promotion of this model for Ohio schools.
The Partnership Schools approach is grounded in evidence-based practices. It incorporates strategies shown to improve attendance, enhance gains in reading and math, and reduce disciplinary actions. Learn more on NNPS’ Research and Evaluation Page.
The Partnership Schools approach seamlessly adapts to diverse learning environments, accommodating various resources and educational needs. Whether in a rural district with one campus or a large urban district with multiple schools, this model is flexible to your environment.
No one will use this model in the same way. The Partnership Schools approach aligns a framework at the district and school level to behavior, academic, and school climate goals. The Partnership Approach also aligns closely with the priorities of Ohio schools for Title I & III, PBIS, and school improvement.
The Partnership Schools approach is designed to collaborate actively with families. It enhances these efforts by promoting greater inclusivity, ensuring that all families are included in their child’s education regardless of their background or circumstances. Moreover, it places a deliberate focus on equity, ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to succeed.
At the district level, there is a designated leader who supports each participating school’s implementation. District leaders create awareness throughout the community, align policies, support professional learning for staff, guide and document progress, and celebrate the work of the school teams.
Schools have a designated leader who facilitates a school Partnership Team. The team has both parent and staff members and also includes students at the middle and high school levels. The team creates an annual plan for family-school engagement. The plan aligns to the school’s goals for student learning (literacy, math, etc.), student behavior (attendance, graduation, transitions, etc.), and school climate (student belonging, hope, etc.). Each school’s plan is unique, based on their community and students. Once the plan is created, the leader and team facilitate the implementation of the plan and monitor the impacts – just like other teams in the building. This team and process continue year after year. Schools that sustain a team and implementation reach more families, more diverse families, have more staff support, and most importantly, students have improved learning!
The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center is part of The Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment, a translational research center within the College of Education and Human Ecology.