This report describes the findings of a research project designed to improve understanding of the key elements of successful home–school partnerships and how they operate in some different school settings. The project includes a review of evidence and an empirical research component.
The review of evidence draws on seven international case studies that have data linking home–school partnership initiatives to improvements in student achievement, and four recent evaluations of New Zealand home–school partnership initiatives. The empirical research component consists of seven New Zealand case studies (and one mini case study). These case studies cover a range of schools including primary and secondary, low and high decile, urban and rural, a special school and a kura kaupapa Māori. In each school, interviews were held with the principal and groups of teachers, parents, and where appropriate, students.
Purpose
The purpose of this research project is to improve understanding of the key elements of successful home–school partnerships, and how these partnerships operate in different school settings. The project has two parts—a review of evidence, and an empirical research component. Both parts of the project are reported on here.