Legitimizing Community Engagement with K-12 Schools

Abstract

This article examines the issue of internal legitimization and its importance in securing high-quality community engagement in K-12 schools. Drawing on the literature from the fields of community engagement, school reform, school–university partnerships, and school–community partnerships, this article describes some of the prevailing challenges and barriers external partners face when conducting reform oriented partnership work in K-12 schools. The discussion focuses on four factors that contribute to enhancing external partners’ internal legitimization within K-12 settings. The article offers a set of strategies for working through each of the four components.

Notes

For the most recent administration of the Programme for International Student Assessment, the United States ranked 24 (of 65 countries) on the reading portion.