Empowering Families for College Success: Effective Parent Engagement Strategies

1. Effective Parent Engagement in College Access Programs Silvia Torres Go Alliance Meeting April 25,2019

2. Overview of Families In Schools History: • Families In Schools (FIS) was founded in 2000 as a legacy organization of the largest reform movement in Los Angeles during the 1990s (Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project - LAAMP) • LAAMP and a rich body of research reveal that when schools engage families, families get involved and student achievement increases • FIS was created to deepen the work around parent engagement so that schools, families and communities work together in partnership to maximize and support student learning Three Strategies • Curriculum and Professional Development • Community Engagement • Advocacy • Non-Profit Empowerment

3. Mission of Families In Schools To involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success.

4. Welcome and Goals As a result of today’s session, participants will: • Become familiar with foundational parent engagement research and best practices • Learn about the development process, objectives and methodology for creating a transition to college focused family engagement program. • Experience family centered workshop activities that help families to have open conversations and prepare for the transition from high school to college.

5. Icebreaker

6. Parent Involvement vs. Engagement Parent Involvement Describes how parents participate at home and at school in their child’s education Parent Engagement Describes the work of schools and organizations as they engage parents to become involved in their child’s education

7. Parent Engagement Overview and Research • Spheres of Influence • Students learn and grow in three major contexts: the family, the school, and the community (Epstein, Coats, Salinas, Sanders & Simon, 1997). Reciprocal interactions between parents, educators, and community partners help to: • Establish social ties and exchange information. • Understand each other’s views and appreciate each other’s contributions. • Identify common goals for students. • Build social capital.

8. Parent’s Influence on Education • When parents are involved in their children's education at home, children do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school — and the schools they go to are better. • Language Socialization • Academic Socialization • Academic Achievement

9. Funds of Knowledge • Funds of Knowledge represent a positive and realistic view of households as containing ample cultural and cognitive resources with potential for classroom instruction (Luis C. Moll).

10. Core Values • All parents have dreams for their children. • All parents/adults have the capacity to support a child’s learning. • Parents and school staff should be equal partners. • The responsibility for building partnerships between school and home rests primarily with school staff, especially school leaders.

11. Theory of Change

12. Barriers to Parent Involvement

13. Kresge Foundation Grant • The need for a Transition to College program is supported by statistics demonstrating low college persistence rates among low-income, first-generation college goers. • Scope of Work: • Curriculum Program • Brochure • Trainings for schools & partnering agencies • Information sessions for families • Participation in Conferences TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

14. Partnerships • The most promising practices occur when families, schools and community organizations work together. (Carter, 2000) • Schools, Colleges, Non-Profits and Foundations can work together strategically to help strengthen the internal capacity of schools and community organizations to provide quality parent engagement. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

15. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE • Process for Curriculum Program Development • Focus Groups & SoCal CAN Advisory (Summer 2016) • Themes: College Application Process, Financial Literacy, Social-Emotional & Academic Adjustment • Additional Research (Summer 2016) • Development (Summer 2016) • Facilitator Trainings (Dec. 2016/May 2017) • Program Piloting (Dec. 2016-March 2017) • Evaluation (April-May 2017) • Curriculum Revisions (June-Dec. 2017)

16. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE Transition to College Program Description The Transition to College program is a parent engagement curriculum that will help support the transition of low-income and first-generation students as they move from high school to college. • Program Format: • 2 Parent Only, and 4 Joint Parent and Student workshops. • Train the Facilitator Model

17. Lesson 1 - Applying to College: • The Importance of Parent Involvement in the College Process • Explore the role that they play in their child’s college application and selection process. • Become familiar with statistics related to college counseling and application completion • Learn about college match and fit, and how to use that information to support their child. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

18. Lesson 2 – Money Matters: • Preparing for and Managing College Expenses • Understand the necessity of budgeting and banking for college. • Review the importance of borrowing wisely and investing in education. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

19. Lesson 3 – College Costs: • An In-Depth Look at College Expenses • Review the cost of attending college. • Develop a better understanding of the financial aid award letter. • Understand the importance of communicating about finances. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

20. Lesson 4 – The Social-Emotional Transition: • Preparing for your Child to go off to College • Explore their emotions around their child’s transition to college. • Become familiar with statistics related to enrolling in and graduating from college. • Identify ways to build trust and support your child’s independence. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

21. Lesson 5 – Adapting and Overcoming Challenges: Social and Emotional Support in College • Learn about the differences between high school and college schedules. • Review the skills and resources necessary for adjustment to college life. • Explore the challenges that students may face in college. • Practice communication strategies for dealing with difficult discussions. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

22. Lesson 6 – Succeeding Academically: Navigating the College Experience • Reflect on past academic experiences as learning opportunities. • Become familiar with college terminology. • Identify resources that contribute to academic success. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

23. Program Evaluation Results: • (Preliminary data based on a two-month program evaluation of the Transition to College program. The evaluation included focus groups with parents and students, as well as analysis of pre and post surveys) TRANSITION TO COLLEGE Benefits of the Program Parents Reported: •Learning about different aspects of applying to and attending college (e.g., costs, financial aid, coping with the emotional transition from high school to college). •Becoming more involved with their children’s schooling. •Improved communication as parents felt more confident talking to their children about college.

24. Program Evaluation Results: Benefits of the Program Students Reported: •The program helped increase and improve communication with parents regarding different aspects of college. •Reduced students’ burden and stress in explaining college application processes and documents to parents. •Happiness from seeing parents confront and accept their fears and emotions regarding their children going to college. •Students felt more supported and understood. TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

25. Transition to College: Lesson 1 activities • Looking at Statistics • Parents Role TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

26. Q & A Contact Information: Silvia Torres-Families In Schools Email: stores@familiesinschools.org Rachel Gonzalez – Families In Schools Email: rgonzalez@familiesinschools.org Website: www.familiesinschools.org