Innovative Approaches to Family and Community Engagement in Schools

Creative strategies for engaging with families and developing effective home, school, and community partnerships

Posted October 10, 2024
By News editor

Research shows significant benefits for students and educators when schools actively partner with families to support young people’s learning and development, including lower rates of chronic absenteeism. We dig into innovative strategies for engaging with families and growing effective home, school, and community partnerships.

Guests:

Karen Mapp, Professor of Practice, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Shadae Harris, President and CEO, Groundwork Consulting; Assistant Professor and Special Assistant to the Dean of Education, Virginia State University
Eyal Bergman, Senior Vice President, Learning Heroes

Host:

Josephine Kim, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Key Takeaways

Be intentional about creating and cultivating relationships of trust and respect with your students’ families. Relationships really matter.
Be aware of the history of your school communities, including any past harm that has occurred.
Share power, affirm differences, and create sustained engagement strategies that are linked to learning outcomes and motivated by love.
Effective family engagement is not just a “nice to have” practice for schools — it is essential and responsible for many positive outcomes for kids and their learning, including reduced chronic absenteeism.