Increasing Family Involvement and Cultural Understanding through a University-School Partnership

Abstract

Abstract We believe that one powerful model for preparing culturally responsive teachers who are well equipped to increase family involvement is through established partnerships between universities and high-need schools. Participants in this program are involved in a variety of cross-cultural experiences in a school that serves culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse students. The active and frequent participation of preservice teachers in carefully crafted school-based experiences with diverse students, faculty, staff, and community members can help these young people identify, analyze, and reconstruct beliefs and misconceptions that can potentially lead to inequitable practices.