FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF STATE FEDERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE - MAY 2017

FRANCES FROST, FAMILY AMBASSADOR

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Engagement Doesn’t Just Happen

Planning for Family Engagement

ENGAGEMENT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN

Objectives: Review the importance of family engagement Overview the Personnel-Environment-Social-Technology (PEST)

and Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis tools

Analyze school/program using PEST and SWOT Generate ideas for family engagement Develop preliminary sketch of family engagement program

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PLANNING FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

“FAMILY ENGAGEMENT” DEFINED

“Family engagement refers to the systematic inclusion of families in activities and programs that promote children’s development, learning, and wellness, including in the planning, development, and evaluation of such activities, programs, and systems.”

U.S. Dept. of Education, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Joint Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades,

2016

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IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

• Strong family engagement is central in promoting children's healthy development and wellness.

• When families and the institutions where children learn partner in meaningful ways, children:

• have more positive attitudes toward school • stay in school longer • have better attendance • experience more school success

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Source: ED/HHS Joint Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016

OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

In order to establish and foster sustained, trusting relationships it is important to:

Always provide information within the context of why family engagement is important for the child and how it will help him/her. Identify and address needs of the school, the

students, and the families. Think of engagement as an opportunity to build

relationships and partnerships, not an isolated event. Listen to parents and families and incorporate

feedback.

AT SEA & LEA LEVELS

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PEST ANALYSIS

Personnel Environment Social - Cultural Technological

PERSONNEL – ENVIRONMENT – SOCIAL-CULTURAL - TECHNOLOGICAL

CONSIDER YOUR SCHOOL…

Current situation: List at least 3 conditions for each category in the PEST Analysis

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PEST ANALYSIS

Personnel • Fully staffed, well-

trained teachers • Guidance counselors • Family engagement

office in central office • Family coordinator

on-site at schools • ½ teachers are

bilingual

Environment • Schools in suburban

and urban neighborhoods • New Board of

Education members • Extensive public

transportation system reaches urban areas, but not suburban areas

Social - Cultural • 35% FARMs • 25% ESOL • 50% students and

families speak a 2nd language • Students come from

neighborhood, as well as from out of area (for magnet programs)

Technological • All students have

school-issued email addresses • 85% of families

have smartphones • School has computer

lab • Use of tech by

teachers varies

HAPPY EXAMPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

STRENGTHS – WEAKNESSES – OPPORTUNITIES - THREATS

INTE

RNA

L EX

TERN

AL

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

CU

RREN

T FU

TURE

CONSIDER YOUR SCHOOL…

Strengths & Weakness: List at least 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of your school/program

Opportunities & Threats: List at least 3 opportunities and 3 threats in your school/program

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SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

HAPPY EXAMPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Teachers & staff have gone through cultural proficiency training

• Parents feel welcome coming to school

• Key front office staff are bilingual

• Staff does not live close to school therefore, doesn’t like to stay for evening programs

• Does not use emails to communicate with families

• Bd of ED making family engagement a priority

• New library being built 2 blocks from the school

• Budget cuts may reduce public transportation in the area

INTE

RNA

L EX

TERN

AL

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

CU

RREN

T FU

TURE

WHY ARE YOU INCLUDING FAMILIES?

Clarify your goals What are you trying to accomplish? Who would benefit most from the proposed activity or is most

impacted by the proposed policy? Are there any racial/economic disparities being addressed?

Identify and engage stakeholders – What families should be involved? Why would they want to

be involved? – Reach out to diverse groups – Consider community demographics – race, economics,

language, neighborhood – Go outside of the normal participants

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Adapted from Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Stakeholder Engagement Guide

NOW WHAT?

PEST SWOT GOALS PLAN

PEST SWOT GOALS PLAN

NOW WHAT? PLANNING AT HAPPY EXAMPLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

staffing

demographics

families

technology strengths

future outlook

positive elements

Goal: Greater family engagement with parents of children below reading level in our schools in order to increase literacy

GENERATE IDEAS!

students

families

schools

COMMON PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Welcoming all families

Effective 2-way Communication

Links to student achievement

and development

Builds community

Builds capacity of school staff and families

Empowers families

SUPPORT EQUITY TO ENSURE GOOD OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN

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DOES YOUR PLAN ADDRESS THE COMMON PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT? Define a GOAL Welcome all families Effectively communicate Link to student achievement Build community Build capacity Empower families Think about how families will be represented in:

– Planning – Implementation – Evaluation

FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Discussion: Share ideas to improve your family engagement work to lead to improved outcomes for students.

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Questions?

RESOURCES From ED Family and School Partnership

– http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/iniatiatives/files/Family-School%20Partnership-010517.FINAL_.pdf

Dual Capacity-Building Framework – https://www2.ed.gov/documents/family-community/partners-education.pdf

ED – HHS Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016

– http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/families.html

Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Publications (RSN Strategic Communications Resources)

– http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/implementation-support-unit/tech-assist/resources.html#sce

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HOW TO STAY IN CONTACT/INFORMED

Office of Elementary & Secondary Education U.S. Department of Education Email: frances.frost@ed.gov Twitter: @FamiliesatED Department of Education website

– Family & Community Engagement Page http://www.ed.gov/family-and-community-engagement

– Homeroom blog: http://blog.ed.gov/ – Engaging Families & Touching Base Newsletters:

http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/index.html

FRANCES FROST, FAMILY AMBASSADOR

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