Last weekend, at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning, surrounded by educators, representatives from the nonprofit and business worlds, global education experts, academics, and education advocates of all stripes, I found it inspiring how committed the group as a whole was to not just
improving family engagement in schools, but expanding engagement beyond the family, to the community in general.
In the midst of the annual Teaching and Learning Week at the Harvard Graduate School of Education — a series of events dedicated to exploring how to effectively teach and learn through demonstrations of powerful and innovative practices — the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) is bringing attention to its collection of case studies focused
on family engagement in schools.
From Meg Campbell, Executive Director of Codman Academy Public Charter School in Dorchester, Massachusetts: To
increase family engagement in our school, we open our Saturday courses to parents on a space - available basis and offer a Wednesday evening drop - in studio art class open to parents and students.
Studies are resounding:
robust family engagement in schools positively affects student growth, improves test scores, and enhances the overall vibrancy and success of a school.
To state the association's opposition to «parent trigger laws» and to offer recommendations to federal, state, district, and school leaders about how to ensure meaningful parent and
family engagement in school reform efforts for the success of all students.
We learned a great deal from our pilot at South Bronx Preparatory, and we are excited to continue to enhance Family Playlists and ultimately
transform family engagement in schools and districts across the country,» said PowerMyLearning CEO and Co-Founder Elisabeth Stock.
A senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Mapp works with superintendents on
building family engagement in schools and has seen acceptance of the movement grow at a more local level.
Under No Child Left Behind, the federal government requires school districts to use 1 percent of Title I money to fund programs that involve parents in the schools and provides another $ 39 million annually for 62 Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) that provide training and information for both parents and district personnel to
bolster family engagement in schools.
National PTA's Every Child in Focus is a campaign centered on
strengthening family engagement in schools by celebrating important cultural distinctions and achievements, while highlighting solutions to potential educational issues.
The Family and Community Engagement (FCE) Network within the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is one of many organizations today that promotes the growth
of family engagement in school districts.
Please view these recordings to gain an understanding of how to increase family engagement in your schools
Case studies produced by the Harvard Family Research Project delve into key topics of family engagement in schools
Nonetheless, parent and
family engagement in schools is an important component of comprehensive school improvement efforts.
According to Lily Eskelson Garcia, president of the National Education Association, «Ongoing research shows that
family engagement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents» confidence in their children's education.
, president of the National Education Association, «Ongoing research shows that
family engagement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents» confidence in their children's education.
Transportation is a barrier to
family engagement in schools.
While the growing support and awareness of
family engagement in schools is promising, Mapp also acknowledges that many communities and schools still remain unsure of how to implement such programs.
Today's PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of
family engagement in schools.
Family engagement in schools is defined as parents and school personnel working together at the classroom, local, and system level to support and improve the learning, development, and health of children and adolescents.
Family engagement in schools is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to reaching out to engage parents in meaningful ways, and the parents are committed to actively supporting their children's and adolescents» learning and development.