Design family engagement practices that are directly connected to student learning. Increase your capacity to engage staff, families, and your community to improve student outcomes.
“Parent participation is the leading predictor that supports students’ academic success, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or cultural background.” – Karen Mapp, Faculty Chair
Overview
Family engagement is critically important to student achievement, but while most educators recognize its importance, they need opportunities to develop particular skills, knowledge, and dispositions to effectively integrate families into the life of the school.
Family Engagement in Education prepares educators to create a school culture that honors and respects the knowledge that families bring to the learning process. With guidance from Harvard faculty and district and community leaders, participants study best practices in family engagement and identify strategies they can use to promote student learning and improve educational outcomes for all.
Program Details
This four-day institute convenes educators and school leaders from around the world who delve into research on family engagement and learn how to align family engagement initiatives with standards-based reform. You will participate in plenary sessions and small working groups where you can dig deeper into topics relevant to your interests or community. Topics discussed in past institutes have included home visits, outreach to fathers, balancing privilege and power, race in family engagement, and finding sustainable funding for family engagement.
Objectives
- Understand what the latest research on family engagement means for your school
- Understand what systemic, integrated family engagement looks like, as opposed to random acts of engagement
- Explore the infrastructure, roles, and skills required to sustain an effective engagement strategy
- Learn how to define and measure outcomes and to evaluate practice
Scott Ratchford, Ph.D., Director of Family and Community Partnership, Manchester Public Schools
Family Engagement in Education 2016 participant
Karen Matt, Ed.D., Principal, Brazosport Independent School District
Family Engagement in Education 2017 participant
Betsy Barrera, Counselor, Southwest ISD
Family Engagement in Education 2017 participant
John Gordon III, Chief of Schools, Chesterfield Public Schools
Family Engagement in Education 2017 participant
Who Should Attend
- Teams comprised of district or state leaders, school board members, and educators in leadership roles
- Teams comprised of school leaders, teachers, parent/family coordinators and other staff leading family engagement initiatives
- Individuals with an interest in this topic

Senior Lecturer on Education
Faculty Director, Education Policy and Management
Karen Mapp is the faculty chair of Family Engagement in Education.
Fees & Policies
Tuition: $2,795 per person
Members of The National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE): $2,495 per person
The comprehensive tuition includes all instructional materials and refreshments. Participants receive a certificate of participation and a letter confirming clock hours of instruction. Payment or a purchase order must be received within 30 days of program acceptance, or upon receipt of the invoice if acceptance is within 30 days prior to the start of the program. Click here for more information on payment and tuition assistance.
Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.
The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.