Family Engagement

The Parent-Teacher Partnership Model brings together a small group of family members and school staff a few times per year to discuss such topics as respect, communication, equality, and supporting student learning using a set of 8 suggested modules. Families and schools implement this model for an opportunity for honest and open, two-way communication towards school improvement and family well-being. Parents and teachers co-facilitate meetings, to model to the group that families are equal partners.

Global Family Research Project

Parents not only need access to data, but they need to know how to act on what the data might be telling them. These Parent–Teacher Conference Tip Sheets provide key strategies that both parents and teachers can use to support students both in and out of the classroom. A tip sheet aimed at school principals also outlines how school administrators can support parents and teachers to that end. (English and Spanish)

Boone, B. J., Cunningham, P. D., Bachman, H. F., & Wellman, M. E. (2021). Partnering with Families for Early Language and Literacy: Research-based Strategies for Early Childhood Educators.

National Education Association. (2010). Minority parent and community engagement: Best practices and policy recommendations for closing the gaps in student achievement. Washington, DC: National Education Association of the United States Office of Minority Community Outreach.

The tools featured on this website of The Ohio State University include rubrics for school PBIS teams to assess their level of famiy engagement through PBIS at Tiers I, II and III. Additional tools for communicating about PBIS to families are also available.

Use this checklist to review and rate school policies and practices, then complete the reflection questions at the end of the survey to help you design a plan for bridging racial, class and cultural differences.

As a leadership team, review and rate your school/district programs and practices, then complete the reflection questions at the end of the survey to help you design a plan for improving ways to support families as advocates.

Resources for Schools to help in their work with families. Search the databases by age group, topic or key word for activities, articles and resources on: parent education, communication, professional development, early childhood, special education and English language learners.

This page includes a representative list of recent research literature on multicultural parent involvement and engagement, particularly those which address the interests and needs of educators.

Henderson, A. T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement. Annual Synthesis, 2002.

This research synthesis is the second in a series that will examine key issues in the field of family and community connections with schools. It is a synthesis of 51 studies about the impact of family and community involvement on student achievement and effective strategies to connect schools, families and community.