The Collective Initiative: Foundational Components for Successful Growth and Sustained Success

• In Event: Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Improving Districts: Organizational Climate, Leadership, and District-Wide Efforts

Abstract

In July 2012, Connecticut state statute created the Alliance District Program. The following year, Community schools legislation passed and paved the way for expanded community school development within the Alliance districts. CommPACT ((C)ommunity, (P)arents, (A)dministrators, (C)hildren and (T)eachers) is named in the bill as one of three turnaround approaches. While CommPACT was implemented as a multi-faceted approach to school improvement, we have found that CommPACT’s most effective activities have been the establishment and coordination of parent involvement and community engagement programs and activities. We investigated aspects of the successful tenets of the reform initative after six years of implementation as reported by CommPACT schools teachers and administrators, union leaders and members of central office.

Authors

• Michele Femc-Bagwell, University of Connecticut

• Vanessa Eleni Kass, University of Connecticut