Send an Annotation from the Connection Collection by E-mail

This page opened in a new window. Use the form below to send this citation by e-mail or close this window if you wish to return to the Connections Collection.

Send Citation and Annotation by E-mail Enter the e-mail address to which you would like to send this citation/annotation, and click the "send e-mail" button.

Citation:

Belenardo, S. J. (2001). Practices and conditions that lead to a sense of community in middle schools. NASSP Bulletin, 85(627). http://www.principals.org/news/bltn_prac_cond1001.cfm.

Annotation:
In this article Belenardo summarizes the results of her study on the relationship between middle school programs that involve families and the resulting strong sense of community in those schools. She found that parentsÕ sense of community is strengthened if the school conducts involvement activities such as regular communication to inform them of their childÕs progress and provides frequent, meaningful opportunities for parents to be involved. She also found that if the principal has strong administrative decision-making and technical skills, and if teachers communicate effectively with parents about their studentsÕ progress, a schoolÕs sense of community is strengthened. Data were collected from parents, teachers, and administrators in nine middle schools that were in at least the second year of implementing a planned program to involve parents. Parents and teachers were surveyed about their sense of community at their school and about the school program and practices to involve parents. Teachers also answered questions about their principalsÕ leadership style. The surveys focused on six dimensions of community: shared values, commitment, belonging, caring, interdependence, and regular contact. The author cites earlier research that says when teachers, parents, and students all feel surrounded by a caring and supportive school environment, they are more likely to respond favorably to school-wide challenges, such as the pressure to perform well on tests. The authorÕs findings will provide school administrators with characteristics of family and community partnership programs that may affect the schoolÕs sense of community and a useful scale for measuring it. This study does not address the link between school atmosphere and student achievement directly but rather addresses an environment that could impact it.