Schools endeavor to engage families in ways that go beyond traditional parent involvement indicators—such as attendance at student performances or classroom volunteering—by focusing on families’ role in supporting their children’s learning and by leveraging families’ strengths and resources. Schools also aim to support families’ involvement in their children’s academic goal-setting, decision-making, and study skills, and to enhance their home literacy environments.
Districts seek ways to help families stay connected with what happens at their children’s schools. They strive to inform parents and caregivers about key initiatives, actively gather family input, and provide opportunities for families to partner with the school and share decision-making. As part of the community they serve, districts hope to build community buy-in and to create ways for stakeholders (e.g., local businesses, service providers, and other residents) to get involved.
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School staff and community members share ideas below to better engage families as partners and advocates for the learning taking place in their community.
Explore the tiles below to learn more about projects and resources that aim to strengthen school and community connections.
This P-16 community initiative aims to advance community-driven and flexible approaches to STEM pathways that position more than 100,000 historically and systematically excluded learners in San Diego on the trajectory toward high-impact STEM careers.
Learning Salons fostered collaboration between districts and edtech/solution providers to co-design innovative and effective teaching and learning tools that addressed a problem of practice.
EdClusters were local communities of practice that brought together educators, entrepreneurs, funders, researchers, and other community stakeholders (families, local government, non-profits) to support innovative teaching and learning.
A licensed therapist, school counselor, and mental health consultant shares how she supports schools, administrators, and counselors to look at their current resources, assess needs, and make counseling services more accessible to all students.
Local education agencies engaged teachers in the research, design, and development of innovative solutions to address challenges posed by pipeline issues and teacher shortages.
A licensed therapist, school counselor, and mental health consultant shares how she supports schools, administrators, and counselors to look at their current resources, assess needs, and make counseling services more accessible to all students.
Local education agencies engaged teachers in the research, design, and development of innovative solutions to address challenges posed by pipeline issues and teacher shortages.
Challenge Map