by Anne T. Henderson, Vivian Johnson, Karen L. Mapp, Don Davies

A practical, hands-on primer on helping schools and families work better together to improve children's education.

Countless studies demonstrate that students with parents actively involved in their education at home and school are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, enroll in higher-level programs, graduate from high school, and go on to post-secondary education. Beyond the Bake Sale shows how to form these essential partnerships and how to make them work.

First published by the National Committee for Citizens in Education in 1986, Beyond the Bake Sale went on to sell more than 50,000 copies in nine editions. Packed with tips from principals and teachers, checklists, and an invaluable resource section, this updated and substantially expanded edition reveals how to build strong collaborative relationships and offers practical advice for improving interactions between parents and teachers, from insuring that PTA groups are constructive and inclusive to navigating the complex issues surrounding diversity in the classroom.

Written with candor, clarity, and humor, Beyond the Bake Sale is essential reading for teachers, parents on the front lines in public schools, and administrators and policy makers at all levels.

Includes answers to these questions:
• What is a family-school partnership supposed to look like?
• How can schools and families build trust instead of blaming each other?
• How can involving parents help raise students' test scores?
• How can teachers relate to families who don't share their culture and values?

About the Author
Anne T. Henderson is a senior consultant with the Institute for Education and Social Policy at New York University. Dr. Vivian Johnson is the leading researcher on Parent/Family Centers in schools. She lives in Boston. Karen L. Mapp is a lecturer on education at Harvard and former Deputy Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement in Boston. Don Davies is the founder of the Institute for Responsive Education and Professor Emeritus at Boston University.

Click here to read excerpts from an interview with Anne Henderson.