Clients or Partners: The Challenge to Engage Families in Baltimore’s Community Schools

Abstract

As community schools grow in numbers, this article argues that the model needs to be interrogated in order to address the power imbalances that exist between non-dominant families and schools. This paper draws on a citywide study of parent interviews as well as public documents and interviews with key community school leaders in Baltimore to understand the state of family engagement with community schools. Using Ann Ishimaru’s equitable collaboration framework, we analyze the data and conclude that while there is a strong foundation, there is room to develop a model that truly engages families as partners with community schools.