We need to shift the way we partner with families to help students learn: from parent involvement to family engagement. To empower families to help schools close gaps and increase student achievement, schools need to:
- Build trust with students' families at every grade level, pre-kindergarten through high school;
- Connect families to information and tools that help them support their students' learning;
- Support educators with time and skill building to help them engage families effectively; and
- Collaborate consistently with families and community partners to ensure every student is career and college ready.
Effective Family Engagement Could Look Like This
Visualize exemplary practices, and their impact, with Esma and her family.
To help build a common understanding of family engagement among staff and administrators, use the tools on the Building a Common Understanding of Family Engagement page.