Nationwide, the rhetoric in favor of parent involvement is high, but the quality of most programs is low. This comprehensive book explains the theory, practice, and benefits of school and family partnerships, incorporating ideas and lesson plans that teachers and school officials may use to involve parents in the education of their children. It is a valuable research tool, college text, and professional handbook. Nationwide, the rhetoric in favor of parent involvement is high, but the quality of most programs is low. Part of the problem is that most teacher and administrator training programs omit the topic of school and family partnerships. How can teachers and administrators prepare themselves to create positive relationships and productive partnerships with families? The work of Joyce L. Epstein has helped to advance the theories, research, policies, and practices of parent involvement in schooling. In School and Family Partnerships, she offers readings for use in teacher education, in the training of school administrators, and in other courses that prepare professionals to work in schools and with families. The book offers educators a framework for thinking about, talking about, and then actually building comprehensive programs for school and family partnerships. Epstein helps readers understand the theory of overlapping spheres of influence of family and school organizations that support children as students; she reviews the research on the implementation and effects of partnerships; and she offers a framework of six types of involvement for creating partnerships. Epstein encourages readers to apply the theory, framework, and research in class projects and assignments; and she helps them see how to gather ideas for specific practices of partnership to use in elementary, middle, and high schools. This book can be used as a main or supplementary text in courses on elementary, middle, or high school education, including courses in foundations of education, new methods in education, and preparation for administrators or school psychologists. It is also meant for practice-teaching seminars, as well as classes in school psychology and school social work. The material introduces the topic of school and family partnerships in courses in sociology of education, sociology of family, educational psychology, social work, counseling, home economics, and community education.