Let’s FACE it! A Guide to Designing

Effective Family and Community

Engagement (FACE) Programs – Part 2

La Tefy G. Schoen, Ph. D.November 1, 2012

www.laspdg.org

WELCOME

On behalf of the Louisiana State Personnel Development Grant,

I would like to welcome you to today’s webinar “ Let’s FACE it!”

This is Part 2 in a series on effective Family and Community Engagement.

My name is Dr. La Tefy Schoen and I am an

educational consultant with Learning Innovations in Baton Rouge.

2

Recording Webinar This webinar is being recorded and will be available for viewing at www.laspdg.org

Questions?*Please type questions into the chat pod.*If your question is not answered please email it to us, after the webinar.•Content-related questions - Latefy@schoencpa.com •LaSPDG grant-related questions - Melanie Lemoine lemoinem@lsu.edu

People First Language

Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf

“People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is.”

Roll CallAt this time, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, please use your chat pod & type: •district/LEA that you are representing•Also indicate other participants that are in the room with you

I am in Baton Rouge

POLL – participant rolesWho is with us today?

Please select your role:•SPDG Family Facilitator •Federal Programs Director•District supervisor/coordinator•School level administrator•Teacher (General ed./Special ed. /Inclusion)

Purpose of this Let’s FACE it!

Series:

1. Review Research on Effective FACE Programs

2. Examine our current practices

3. Develop/adapt practices that have greater impact on student

academic success

Students who perceive high levels of support from parents AND teachers

consistently achieve more.- National Longitudinal Study (NELS, 88)

US. DOE

Federal Funding for education programs

serving at risk and special needs students

(ESEA/NCLB, IDEA)require that schools partner with families to better serve

students’ needs.

But how do we know our Family Engagement programs are effective?

POLLWhat feedback mechanisms do

you have in place that allow you to assess the

effectiveness of your family engagement activities?

Parent Surveys Walk Through Observations

Informal Communication with Parents Other

Feedback from those we serveis one of the best ways monitor

our effectiveness

The Building Blocks of an effective FACE Program

The SET framework is built on over 20 years of research on Family Engagement in education.

When ALL 3 COMPONENTS are in place an effective home/school partnership emerges that positively impacts student learning!

A common mistake schools make is to focus exclusively on structure. NEVER overlook establishing trust & setting expectations for family engagement. This leads to ineffective practices & programs!

If you completed the Professional

Reflection Exercise provided with Part 1

of this Let’s Face it! Series , please refer to it as we begin to discuss

the Structure of your FACE Program.

You can also download it now in

your Files Pod.

Influences on Concepts of ROLE in parents

-Sandler, 1997

School

FACE Programs can impact

these areas!

Review: Parent Perceptions of their ROLE in the school predicts Whether & HOW they get involved

Expectations in family members

Family & Community PERCEPTIONS …

Are a primary determining factor in parents decision to be involved in school

Establis

h

Parents’ Point of view: What is expected of me to be considered a good parent at this school?What do I need to DO?

TRUST

“mis-trust” = “dis-engagement “

Trust is always personal- not institutional.

Buil

d

Relationships matter!

STRUCTURE • Programs• Policies• Procedures• Scheduling of TIME• Use of Resources• Organization

Structure is important – it’s the “bones” of your FACE ProgramFormalize your FACE Programs• Put them in writing in handbooks, websites, newsletters,

etc…• Be sure to allocate adequate time and staff training to

establish & sustain all structures

What is the goal or desired outcome of your FACE Program?

Are current structures effectively getting the job done ?

As needs change, so should the structures that serve those needs!

Effective Structures can be elaborate or simplisticThe structures in place in a district or school should serve our purposes. There is no static design that works for every context.

Which do you think has a greater impact

on student achievement?

Activities done at Home: – Assistance with

homework/projects– Monitoring out-of-school

activities– Monitoring grades/test scores– Discussing school, preparing

for future

POLL

Activities done at School: – Attending school events– Participation on committees,

meetings– Volunteering at school– Conferencing with teachers

Answer:Parent engagement in assisting their child in the home was most closely

associated with high student achievement.

Especially…discussing the future

& planning for work or education

beyond high school.

-Willms, 1996

A Review of the Literature indicates

A multi-faceted approach to engaging families

• Organized Volunteer Program• Providing School Information • Parent Education Program• Home Learning Resources• Two Way Communication

Systems• Student Assistance Programs• Staff Development Program

An annual review/revision process

• Feedback from multiple stakeholders

• Goal focused/action oriented

• Informed by current research on best practices

Build a strong & effective FACE Program

Well Organized Volunteer Program

Benefits• Build Trust & Transparency • Relieve Workload• Build Efficiency • Reduce Costs

Could Include • Office & Clerical tasks• Tasks for teachers such as:

– Making copies, – Help with bulletin boards – Assist with special activities – Student tutorials

VOLUNTEER TRAINING & CONSISTENCY (PROCESSES, PLACES, & TIMES) make a huge difference in how much benefit

a volunteer program is to the school

Providing School Information

Benefits• Clarity on important topics• Empowers families• Empowers teachers• Unifies people around

common goals, ideas, processes and procedures

• Minimizes confusion & conflict

Includes

• Calendar of events & holidays• Curriculum(subject/grade)• State/district promotion/graduation

standards • Grading policies• Standardized testing dates/policies• School/class rules• Disciplinary processes• Consequences-Suspension/expulsion• Incentives/award programs• Supports available to families• Contact information• Special Programs available • Student placement processes• Homework Tips• Community resources available

Parent Education Program

Benefits • Empowers parents &

families• Builds rust & goodwill• Builds knowledge & skills

that enhance student achievement

• Minimizes parent frustration, anxiety & hostility

Possible Topics • Grade /subject specific

expectations for students & families

• Grade /subject specific compacts

• Topics Relevant to Parents: “How to help your child with ____________”

• Parenting Workshops: Characteristics & Strategies for Sub-sets of Children (age group, disability, circumstance)

Home Learning Resources

Benefits• Families have materials and

processes in hand that are recommended by the school

• Families are much more likely to feel like their help will make a difference for the child

• Fewer parents will be frustrated over not knowing how to assist their child

Could include• Homework materials that correlate with the

curriculum• Effective techniques/methods /ways to support

learning• Recommended websites• Interactive Home Learning assignments with

specific instructions for how families should help

• Digital texts or dual textbook sets for students• Lists of school & community resources to assist

with specific tasks• Home learning tasks using everyday materials• Online project descriptions, study guides, study

helps • Co-ordinated calendars with test & homework

schedules, due dates , events etc. for multiple teachers

Two-way Communication Systems

Benefits• Improved student

standardized test scores• Better mutual

understandings• Improved relationships &

trust• Empowers teachers• Empowers families• Eliminates the need for

“child-as the-go-between”

Could include• Parent Outreach Program – teachers

call all parents routinely• Access to Information

– Comprehensive parent handbook– Information easily available online– Information in minority languages– Contact information provided

• Access to Personnel– Conference times available & posted– Messaging system for rapid response to

parent contacts – Family input & feedback

solicited/accepted– Supports for meeting attendance

(childcare, snacks, transportation)• Consistent reporting system• Multiple methods of communication

Student Assistance Programs

Benefits• Easy for families to utilize • Student gets help in targeted

areas, based on individual needs

• Affordable• Individualized one-on-one

help/tutoring • Supports students with less

access to family assistance• Additional help for students

with special challenges

Could include

• Trained family, student or community volunteers

• Interventions specially designed for the student

• Routine daily/weekly support for students

• Guidance from teachers • Help with homework• Reinforcing concepts

taught in class• Remediation/building basic

skills

Staff Development Program

Benefits• Raises awareness of the

impact of family engagement on student achievement

• Unifies efforts• Builds Capacity• Increases effectiveness

Should include• Networking with organizations or

schools beyond the LEA• Professional Development for all

teachers & administrators• Training for non-instructional

staff• All members of FACE Committee • A research-based approach• Annual Revision processes based

on data and research-based approach

• Parent-Leadership Training

Staff & Professional Development on Family Engagement impacts the success of a FACE program.

“Home-grown” FACE programs with …

strong input from parents collaborative planning by teachers

guidance & support from administrators

are as effective as purchased programs, when they are built upon research on effective family engagement practices!

“Teacher professional development & faculty outreach to families of students are consistently related to high student achievement. “ -Westat 2001

The SET acronym focuses us on the most important aspects as in a FACE program, based on a wealth of research.

In FACE programs that build strong structures, expectations, and trusting relationships, research indicates you can expect to see:

Higher GPAsHigher standardized test scoresMore high school credits earnedMore difficult courses takenBetter attendanceFewer discipline problems at home & school

Start by planning structures that establish positive expectations and build trust !

for Success

Structuring FACE Programs – Key Concepts & Actions – School level

• Provide constant online access to information• Collaborate to create a grade/subject specific School-

Parent Compacts.• List materials needed parents need to help children at

home & include with parent-school compacts. • Provide home learning resources for all. • Provide materials at school for families in need. • Organize FACE leadership team – include parent

leadership training.• Develop a Network of External (to LEA) FACE Supports • Review FACE plan annually- survey parents & use

results to improve. • Develop a schoolwide Parent Outreach plan - each

teacher contacts each parent on a regular basis.• Provide time for teachers to provide outreach to

parents and engage with them. • Provide consistent 2 way communication structures• Examine your Student Assistance Programs• Communicate in multiple ways , frequently• Educate parents on topics of importance .• Structure the volunteer program - provide training . • Network with others outside the district on FACE ideas.

The “I”s have it!Invite – be specific & personalInform -make information availableInclude -ask for input/helpIncorporate -act on what families sayIncentivize – Tell why parent help is

important; recognize efforts

Structuring FACE Programs– Key District – level Actions

• Provide a consistent infrastructure across schools. (Develop & sponsor same programs)

• Provide teacher & administrator FACE PD specific to the instructional level.

• Provide FACE training for non-instructional staff• Designate a FACE sponsor staff member at each

school. • Support Parent –Leadership Training in FACE • Provide materials for grade-level parent packets &

parent training sessions.• Consider the effectiveness of mass

communication methods with parents: websites, handbooks, automated calling

• Conduct, analyze & distribute results of a FACE opinion survey each year. Include questions suggested by parents & teachers.

• Encourage school FACE committees to network with other LEAs & FACE organizations

Professional Reflection1.Which of these supports do you currently have in place ?2. Which would be beneficial

to add/revisit/revise?

Most of the studies in this presentation are summarized in A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School Family, and Community Connections

on Student Achievement. (2002) by Anne Henderson & Karen Mapp.

For a full bibliography or for consulting services please contact:

Dr. La Tefy Schoenwww.Learning-innovations.com

Latefy@schoencpa.com

The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H323A110003. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

www.laspdg.org

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