Dear Friends:

During the First Regular Session of the 112^th General Assembly, 2001, Senate Enrolled Act 505 was enacted to address parental involvement in school systems and students’ educational processes. The Indiana Department of Education was charged with the responsibility to provide models of parental participation to schools.

In response, the Indiana Department of Education is pleased to present the field test edition of School-Parent-Community Partnerships Resource Book. Research cited in this resource book represents national studies, multiple states’ policies, and best practices at the local level.

The Indiana Department of Education is requesting that all school systems, as part of their continuing work with Public Law 221-1999 on continuous school improvement, incorporate a review of this document. The Department welcomes comments and suggestions in order that a final resource book can be disseminated. The Department is also requesting that schools having school and family partnerships policies in writing and in practice, send copies of policies and examples of successful practice to the Department in order to provide resources for other schools. All comments, copies of policies, and examples of best practices, should be directed to: Bob Marra, Associate Superintendent of Education, Room 229, State House, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204-2798, or email to
rmarra@doe.in.gov, no later than January 31, 2002.

Sincerely,
Bob Marra, Associate Superintendent of Education