Bridging the Community-School Divide: 10 Years of School Community Councils in Hawaii

• In Event: 64.065 - Promoting School-Community Partnerships

Abstract

Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Hawai‘i policymakers passed legislation in 2004 creating School Community Councils (SCCs) in every public school. SCCs bring together community and school representatives to collaborate and provide input on curriculum, budget, student performance, and policies. Using Bridging Multiple Worlds Theory (BMWT; Cooper, 2011), which proposes that partnerships across cultural worlds boost resources and mitigate challenges families, schools, and communities possess, this study examined 10 years of data to understand SCC implementation and the resources and challenges to successful community engagement. Analysis revealed gaps in knowledge, experience, and cultural capital of community and student representatives that weakened partners’ voices in schools. Findings inform strategies to promote integration of family and community resources to leverage student success.

Author

• Umi Jensen, University of Hawaii - Manoa