School Partnerships
About
Strengthens connections between churches and local schools to support students, educators, and families through practical service and presence.
Annotated Books & Readings
I.
Putnam, R. D. (2015). Our kids: The American dream in crisis. Simon & Schuster
Explains widening opportunity gaps and why church–school partnerships matter.
Payne, R. K. (2013). A framework for understanding poverty. Aha! Process.
2.
Common framework (debated) that many school–church teams use to understand barriers and supports.
3.
Warren, M. R. (2001). Dry bones rattling: Community building to revitalize American democracy. Princeton University Press.
Case studies of faith-based community organizing with schools and neighborhoods.
Movies / Documentaries
Waiting for “Superman” (2010)
Critiques the U.S. public school system; prompts discussion on justice and community action.
Teach Us All (2017)
Explores educational equity and civil rights; useful for school-church partnership reflection.
Other Resources
• MENTOR: Start a Program
URL: https://www.mentoring.org/resource/start-a-program
• Afterschool Alliance: Starting a Program
URL: https://toolkit.afterschoolalliance.org/starting-a-program/
• ASE Education Foundation: Adopt-A-School Toolkit
URL: https://adoptaschoolkit.com/
• Coalition for Community Schools — Impact
URL: https://www.communityschools.org/learn/start-a-community-school/impact
• Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — School Partnerships
URL: https://www.ncm.org
• MA: Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education (Office of Student and Family Support)
URL: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/?section=family
• RI: Dept. of Education — Students and Families: Engaged Communities
URL: https://ride.ri.gov/students-families
• CT: Dept. of Education — School-Family-Community Partnerships
URL: https://portal.ct.gov/sde/sfcp/school-family-community-partnerships/how-to
• NH: Dept. of Education — Partners
URL: https://www.education.nh.gov/partners
• VT: Vermont Afterschool
• Learning Policy Institute — Equitable Access and Opportunity
URL: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/topic/equitable-access-and-opportunity
• EdTrust — EduReimagined
URL: https://edtrust.org/rti/edureimagined-edtrusts-vision-of-education-equity/