Summarizes the accomplishments of the Environmental Education and Training Partnership's first five years of providing professional development and support to environmental educators across the United States.

Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.

In "Bridging the Gap: Strengthening School-Community Partnerships through Cultural Brokers," Dr. Oscar Harris delves into the transformative power of cultural brokers in fostering meaningful connections between schools and their surrounding communities. Drawing from his extensive experience and research, Dr. Harris unveils the vital role these intermediaries play in bridging cultural divides, promoting inclusivity, and enhancing collaboration. Through illuminating case studies and insightful analysis, Dr. Harris demonstrates how cultural brokers serve as catalysts for change, facilitating dialogue, understanding, and trust among diverse stakeholders. From navigating linguistic barriers to bridging socio-economic disparities, cultural brokers emerge as essential agents of change in building more equitable and vibrant communities. As Dr. Harris delves into the strategies, challenges, and successes of cultural brokerage, readers are empowered to rethink traditional approaches to school-community partnerships. "Bridging the Gap" offers a compelling roadmap for educators, policymakers, and community leaders seeking to cultivate authentic connections and create more inclusive environments for all.