Engaging Parents & the Community in Schooling

ASCD Express is looking for short, 600 to 1,000-word essays on the theme "Engaging Parents and the Community in Schooling." The theme description is below, and guidelines for submissions are here. Send us your submissions by May 26, 2010. 

When it comes to parent and community involvement in schools, school leaders recognize that it takes staff time and sound organization to pull off these efforts, whether a school is hosting tutors, offering internships, or running a parent center that helps strengthen learning and family life. What kinds of initiatives work well to harness family and community resources? How do they get funded? What is the payoff for students but also for the wider community? We welcome stories about innovative programs that break down the barriers between school and community and provide mutual enrichment for all concerned.