Family Engagement

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.

Caspe, M., & Lopez, M. E. (2017). Seven Research-Based Ways That Families Promote Early Literacy. Research-to-Practice Brief. Global Family Research Project.

This brief from the Global Family Research Project depicts the ways that families engage in supporting early literacy.

Van Voorhis, F. L., Maier, M. F., Epstein, J. L., & Lloyd, C. M. (2013). The impact of family involvement on the education of children ages 3 to 8: A focus on literacy and math achievement outcomes and social-emotional skills. MDRC.

The studies reviewed in this report represent the most rigorous work conducted over the past decade on the nature and effects of family involvement on young children’s literacy, math, and social-emotional skills.

How can schools get families involved in their children’s education to achieve academic success? This What Works Brief, cowritten by WestEd’s Maria Paredes and Meagan O’Malley, provides research-based strategies for thoughtful planning, mentoring, encouraging open communication, modeling high expectations, and much more.

REL Mid-Atlantic provides a description of the research and the evidence-based family engagement strategies that are supported by the research.

Gershwin, T. (2020). Legal and research considerations regarding the importance of developing and nurturing trusting family-professional partnerships in special education consultation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 30(4), 420-436.

This guide will help local school communities implement programs, practices, and policies that encourage partnerships between families, schools, and communities and promote student success. Use the guide and the supporting resources at PTA.org/partnerships to educate your community about the importance of family involvement, and to direct the development of effective partnerships.

SEDL’s Working Systemically approach is a process for school improvement—and, ultimately, increased student achievement—that focuses on key components and competencies at all levels of the local educational system.

The Dual Capacity-Building Framework helps schools, districts and states to develop a comprehensive family engagement strategy that includes building the capacity of both school personnel and families to partner with one another to promote student success.