Definition
Effective family engagement requires a collaborative effort on the part of teachers, administrators, and families to support the success of students both in and out of school. Families are essential partners in understanding and meeting the needs of their child and must know how their child is progressing in school and what they can do to support their child’s learning and development at home.
What does it look like in practice?
a. Educators and families partner to identify and implement plans and practices that support jointly identified desired outcomes or goals for students.
b. Educators ask families for information about their child, family, culture, values, norms, beliefs, and/or community to use in classroom planning.
c. Families work with teachers, administrators, and other school staff to identify, act on, and achieve their hopes and goals for their child.
d. Educators get to know individual families and their stories so that teachers can understand what families need to support their child’s learning.
e. Families have information, tools, and training about child development and how to create supportive learning environments outside of school that are linked to what the child is learning in the classroom.
f. Conferences and visits are arranged by the school or as requested by families based on students’ individual needs.