1. WHO'S WHO IN SCHOOL
Share staff roles, school-based programs,& Key Partnerships
Schools provide robust systems of support; from innovative programs, specialized staff and community partnerships. Share with families, who to contact and for what reasons so they know how and with whom to engage. Share via social media, email, phone calls and in person meetings.
Access a sample framework which can be edited and adapted for your school HERE
2. RELATIONSHIPS LAUNCH STUDENT SUCCESS
The start of each school year presents a perfect opportunity to establish strong relationships with families. In Welcome Calls home, educators share expectations, ask questions to learn about family and child, confirm best communication method creating the foundation for a strong partnership
Access Welcome Call question and template for tracking HERE
3. REDUCE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM & LEAN INTO EQUITY
- Engage families early and establish positive relationships connection with them
- Communicate clear expectations & supports available
- Take a strengths based approach & be inclusive of all families ( foster, homeless, grandparents, EL ect.)
- Remember, family engagement is and ongoing process, not a one-time event!
Access Attendance Works Toolkit for reducing chronic absenteeism HERE
4. SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AT HOME
In the same way that a strong school-wide SEL program helps children develop key skills, families too can build upon the schools SEL Initiatives by bridging SEL language and strategies into the home.Talk to families about SEL, inviting families in to support their child's SEL development.
Access 7 Tips for SEL at Home and Share with families to bring SEL home HERE
5. ATTENTION & INTENTION
Family engagement requires attention and intention and teachers who are great at it do these three actions year-round:
- Build trusting and authentic relationships with their families, getting to know families whether through Welcome Calls or Home Visits
- Communicate with families regularly and provide opportunities for learning at home activities and extensions
- Shared actionable academic information in real time so that something could be done with that information. Test or approaching due reminders are helpful for families to support student success.
These small actions launch student success and align as universal MTSS strategies. Access additional family engagement strategies HERE
For More Information & Free PD Support Contact:
Andrea Summers, Family & Community Partnership Liaison
Andrea Summers serves as the Family & Community Partnership Liaison for the ESC of Central Ohio. She holds a M.S. in Nonprofit Management, with a concentration on Education Policy, from The New School in NYC. She earned her B.A. from Antioch College in Sociology/Anthropology with a focus on Education. With more than 20 years’ experience as an educator and administrator in schools and Out-of-School Time (OST) and co-curricular learning programs, Andrea’s expertise will guide districts in implementing effective parent engagement and community partnership strategies that serve all youth but specifically our community’s most vulnerable. Her approach puts equity and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), for both adults and students, at the center.