Family Engagement in Education: Seven Principles for Success

Researchers from the University of Southern California’s Center on Educational Governance (CEG) wrote a toolkit for family engagement.

Barriers.

Strategies for involving parents around seven principles.

National Resource Center on Charter School Finance and Governance (2009)

1. BE PREPARED AND DEFINE OBSTACLES

u  Address Language barriers.

u  Provide Families with Resources and Support.

u  Utilize room parents.

2. BE RESPECTFUL AND BUILD A COMMUNITY

u  Have an open door policy

u  Reach out to “high need” families.

u  Value families’ cultural

backgrounds.

u  Utilize family input.

3. BE SPECIFIC AND IDENTIFY OUTCOME

u  Incorporate family engagement into the school’s mission.

u  Provide family orientations.

u  Compose an agreement text

between the school and family.

4. BE STRATEGIC AND REFLECT ON CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS

u  Provide training for family members.

u  Schedule strategically to increase Participation.

5. BE FLEXIBLE

u  Offer a variety of family engagement opportunities.

u  Provide a range of ways for families to meet participation requirements.

6. BE CREATIVE u  Dedicate a space in the school to families.

u  Offer incentives for participation.

u  Assign responsibilities to families.

u  Use technology.

7. BE COLLABORATIVE

u  Bring in outside organizations.

u  Provide families a voice in school decision-making.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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