Family and Community Engagement in Schools: A Deep Dive

By Megan Okrand, contributing writer

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When envisioning family and community engagement in schools, often the first image that springs to mind is a bake sale. A charming tradition, indeed, where cookies and brownies do the talking. But let’s pause for a moment and ask ourselves: Can community engagement truly be encapsulated in the aroma of freshly baked treats?

Involving families in their children’s education is crucial, as research shows it positively impacts academic performance and overall well-being. Community involvement in schools is equally important, influencing student attendance, academic achievement, and overall development.

But thinking about family and community engagement in terms of bake sales misses the bigger picture. Real engagement goes much deeper.

Defining community and family engagement

Community engagement, in the context of schools, goes beyond the traditional bake sales and open houses. Community leaders play a crucial role in school-family-community partnerships. Community engagement is a multifaceted concept that encompasses building meaningful relationships and partnerships between schools, families, and the surrounding community members.

It’s about two-way communication, collaboration, and shared power, all aimed at enriching the educational experiences of students. Community partnerships are essential in supporting student success. Community engagement is the active involvement and cooperation of various stakeholders, including families, schools, and local community groups, in support of a common goal: student success.

Although I think I can speak on behalf of most educators when I say that we do love a pastry (or two), family and community engagement is not just about cakes and pies. Creating a dynamic partnership where everyone contributes to the recipe of triumph is the true essence of meaningful engagement.

Benefits of family and community engagement in schools

In education, family and community engagement isn’t just a desirable bonus; it’s a game changer. There are myriad ways this collaboration benefits students, families, and schools, while also playing a pivotal role in addressing equity issues in education.

Benefits to Students

• Improved Academic Performance: When families are actively engaged in a student’s education, it often results in higher academic achievement. Students receive more support with their homework, have better study habits, and show increased motivation to succeed academically.
• Enhanced Behavioral Outcomes: Engaged families play a pivotal role in shaping positive behavior in students. They provide the support and guidance needed for children to thrive socially and emotionally.
• Increased Graduation Rates: High school graduation rates tend to rise when families take an active role in their child’s education. The encouragement and guidance provided by engaged families can help students stay on track to earn their diplomas.
• Improved Student Achievement: Family engagement significantly contributes to student achievement. Involving families in education leads to better academic and social performance, faster literacy acquisition, and higher promotion rates to secondary education.

Benefits to Families

• Strengthened Child-Parent Relationships: Family engagement isn’t just about academics; it’s about bonding. When parents actively participate in their child’s educational journey, it strengthens the parent-child relationship, fostering trust and open communication.
• Improved Confidence in Supporting Learning: When families are more involved with schools, they gain a better understanding of the curriculum, teaching methods, and the general school environment. This knowledge empowers parents to more effectively support their child’s learning at home.
• Access to Supportive Resources: Engaged families often gain access to a network of resources and support provided by the school and community. This can include information on nutrition programs, healthcare services, and educational workshops.

Benefits to Schools

• Enhanced School Climate: Schools with active family engagement programs often have a more positive and inclusive atmosphere. When students and families feel supported and valued, the overall school climate improves.
• Improved Teacher Satisfaction: Teachers benefit from family engagement as well. When parents are involved, teachers can build stronger relationships with students’ families. This leads to greater job satisfaction and a sense of shared responsibility for student success..)
• Increased School Readiness: When families are engaged, students are more likely to come to school prepared and ready to learn. This can result in fewer disruptions in the classroom and a smoother learning experience.

When a school adheres to this framework, several pivotal components come into play:

So, the real question emerges: What strategies can we put into action to enable transformative family and community engagement in schools?

Family engagement strategies for building trust and relationships with families

The strategies in this section are built on two key principles. First, every family is unique and brings their own strengths to the educational journey. Second, rather than viewing families as needing “fixing,” educators can empower parents and caregivers as essential partners in education.

These shifts in mindset are marked by the cultivation of mutual respect, trust, and cultural humility — the foundation of building trusting relationships.

Effective strategies to engage families in meaningful ways are crucial for creating strong family-school-community partnerships.

Engaging families in learning

Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. Here are some ideas for learning beyond the classroom, with a key focus on families supporting student learning.

By implementing these approaches, schools can create an inclusive environment where all families feel valued as partners in their children’s education.

Empowering families as partners

As families begin to engage more actively, the focus naturally shifts toward ensuring they become true partners in the decision-making process. Authentic family engagement is deeply rooted in the concept of shared power and collaborative decision-making. It’s important to recognize that this transition is another mindset shift that takes time to cultivate. Starting small is perfectly okay; even minor steps toward this collaborative approach can lead to significant progress.

District and school leaders play a crucial role in fostering these family-school partnerships by building relationships based on trust and respect.

Community Connections

Education doesn’t happen in isolation. Schools that embrace their surrounding communities as partners in education unlock a world of possibilities for their students. For example:

Scaffolding Family Engagement

Whatever next steps your school or district decides to take toward authentic family engagement and community involvement, it’s important to ensure that there is something that meets all families where they are.

ParentPowered supports this approach by delivering a whole-child development curriculum directly to families via text message. Each message is carefully crafted with practical tips and activities based on scientific research, fostering healthy child development and providing continuous learning opportunities. This method not only facilitates consistent engagement but also empowers parents to be active, informed participants in their child’s educational journey

Community-Based Outreach

Resource Libraries

Schools can set up resource libraries within the community, such as at local libraries or community centers. From mental health tools and counseling resources to educational materials, these libraries become hubs of holistic support, empowering families with the knowledge and tools they need to nurture both their children’s academic success and overall well-being.

Establishing meaningful connections and partnerships among schools, families, and communities isn’t just important — it’s what makes education transformative. These connections promote student success by providing a strong support system that positively impacts academic and overall well-being. And let’s not forget an added bonus: These partnerships help equip students with life skills, the know-how to tackle life’s ups and downs. They foster an inclusive learning environment where diversity is celebrated, and shared responsibility among stakeholders ensures effective decision-making and holistic development.

Schools, families, and communities become a united front, offering invaluable resources like mental health services and mentorship programs, and setting a powerful example of trust, communication, and community investment. The result? A dynamic, engaging, and truly enriching educational experience that benefits everyone involved.

Strategies to overcome barriers and ensure equity

To truly unlock the potential of family and community engagement, we must shift our focus towards equity. This means recognizing that not all families have the same starting point in their engagement journey, and providing differentiated support accordingly.

By adopting an equity-focused approach, we acknowledge the importance of reaching traditionally marginalized groups and underserved communities. We go beyond being reachable to actively and appropriately reaching out to families who may have been overlooked or even harmed by the educational system in the past.

Breaking down barriers to access

Too often, families face barriers to access resources, even the very resources we education leaders created to help them and their students thrive. (You could write the most succinct, helpful, informative newsletter in the world, but if it’s not available in families home languages, it may not make much difference!)

When school leaders remove or reduce these barriers, they take a crucial step toward equitable, meaningful family engagement. Common obstacles include transportation, childcare, and language barriers. Here are some common barriers to check when you’re planning your family and community engagement:

Culturally responsive engagement

Cultural diversity enriches school communities. Culturally responsive family engagement goes beyond tolerance. It actually means embracing and empowering families from diverse backgrounds.

Cultural Celebrations Schools can showcase diverse backgrounds through cultural heritage celebrations, fostering inclusivity and appreciation.

Funds of Knowledge Schools should incorporate families’ “funds of knowledge” into the curriculum. This concept, developed by Dr. Luis Moll, represents the cultural practices and knowledge inherent in families’ daily routines.

Engaging Community Groups Schools can partner with community groups representing various cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Identifying parent leaders who bridge these groups and the school community can help build trust. Collaborating with trusted community organizations can also strengthen ties between the school and the broader community.

This approach weaves inclusivity into the educational experience, enriching both schools and communities. Continuous listening, adaptation, and innovation ensure that schools reflect the diversity and potential of every family they serve.

Growing together in our school communities

Our school communities are wonderfully diverse, and it’s through this diversity that we find strength. From workshops to cultural events and community collaborations, each element plays its part in fostering an environment where everyone’s contribution is valued and essential for student success. Family engagement is hard work – much harder than baking and eating. But it’s worth it. Robust family engagement is like having your cake and eating it too! 

It’s also important to take a moment to appreciate our achievements, both large and small. Celebrating these milestones is more than recognition; it’s a way to keep our spirits high and maintain our momentum. Moreover, staying adaptable and open to feedback is key. Continuously refining engagement strategies helps schools meet the changing needs of their school communities effectively.  

ParentPowered makes it easy to refine engagement strategies. The ParentPowered Dashboard simplifies digital family engagement by providing an efficient way to enroll families in the curricula, manage enrollment, assess program impact, and create high-quality visualizations for presentations and stakeholders.

Additionally, ParentPowered regularly gathers family feedback to guide program improvement and allows educators to send brief, text-based surveys for quick feedback. This efficient system ensures educators can easily adapt to family needs, enhancing the effectiveness of family engagement.

Are you inspired to be part of this positive change? Learn how ParentPowered can help you actively engage with families in your school community.

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