Family Engagement Practices to Foster Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

1. Family Engagement Practices to Foster Safe and Supportive Learning Environments This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

2. Statewide Family Engagement Framework

3. The road not taken: Changing up Family Engagement in the home of Robert Frost Presented by: Nelson Butten, Director of Community, Family, and Student Engagement Jessica MacLeod, Director of Early Childhood Education

4. Design thinking 101

5. Strategic Planning Process began in 2016/17 • Who: • School leaders • Educators • Students • Community partners • Family Engagement team • Technical assistance from Great Schools Partnership and Every Day Democracy • Vision • LPS administrators, educators, parents, students and community members engage in authentic partnerships in service of student success. Funded by Nellie Mae Foundation and the Flamboyan Foundation

6. “The best way out is always through.” ― Robert Frost

7. Lawrence Public Schools LPS STUDENTS Lawrence Public Schools Strategic Plan ForHigh Quality Family Engagement (HQFE) Jan. 2018 Community, College and Career Readiness PARENTS CLASSROOMS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Schools embed HQFE practices in school’s operational and instructional systems DISTRICT The district calls out and acts upon it’s commitment to HQFE as an academic strategy Provide time, space and resources for schools to prioritize HQFE [PDs underway; HQFE Fellowship to launch in July; media campaign coming this spring] New Utilize the district’s Family Engagement Team to go deeper with schools to help improve HQFE strategies [Home-School Compacts] Survey school administrators and educators capacity and needs for HQFE [Survey conducted in September 2017] Model and communicate the type of authentic partnerships we seek in schools [Launched Family Engagement Partnership Council, 9/17] Presidents’ Council Continuing Pilot communication and transition activities to provide promising practices for feeder schools [Community Day, Arlington, and Tarbox School workgroups]

8. Family Engagement Partnership Council • Collaborative stakeholder group based on Planning Group • Learning and Leading mission • Develops and staffs workgroups • District summits • Fellowship • Cultural Responsiveness • Current focus: policy work for 2019-20

9. Engagement Fellowship • Six school teams commit to 32-hour intensive • Build capacity • Grow mindset • Evaluate current practices, with lenses: • Authentic partnerships • Shared decision making • Five roles families play • Engage families and students in solutions

10. Partnership Hero Campaign • Strategy to raise the profile of impactful, nontraditional engagement practices • Video Series • Hero Awards • Integral component of our biannual Family Summits

11. “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” ― Robert Frost We have learned that we MUST… • Make it meaningful • What is the value proposition for participants and are we making that apparent at all times? • Be flexible • In order to get students’ full participation in the Partnership Council we had to move locations (for school leaders, we had to start later) • Communicate authentically • Students and parents need to be reminded more often and in different ways about upcoming meetings • Create collaboratively • Allow time for peer groups to work together, and then for • Mixed stakeholder groups to learn from each other

12. Milton Public Schools Home Visits

13. Our Story • During the 16-17 academic year Tucker School identified family engagement as a focus through a collaboration with the HGSE Reimagining Integration program (currently known as RIDES) • Through this partnership we identified activities and strategies to best support teachers in developing a stronger relationship with families to enhance engagement and achievement • 1647 was identified as a leader in Massachusetts in piloting home visits in schools and a partnership was developed for all four Miton elementary schools to begin home visits during the 17-18 academic year

14. Why Home Visits? 1647 identified the following which resonate deeply with Milton Public Schools core values: • All Parents Care- 1647 believes that every family wants what is best for their child. When trusting relationships are in place, schools can encourage and guide parents in helping their children reach their goals. • Families Matter-Research shows that a family’s involvement in their child’s education will accelerate his or her success. • School to Home-How schools choose to connect with their families is the single biggest predictor of a family’s involvement in a child’s school life. Schools cannot wait for or expect a family to come to them, but instead need to reach out to the family and make the connection.

15. Why do we think it works so well? • It flips the power dynamic • It provides an opportunity for each child to shine • It provides unimaginable insight into the daily lives of students and families

16. What are the basics of home visits?

17. How should you approach implementation for success? • Prioritize through messaging, professional training and support • Allow for optional participation but incentivize the effort and provide multiple opportunities to increase participation • Consider creating a FELT (Family Engagement Leadership Team) • Identify ways to extend the work from grade to grade or into other areas • Consider partnering for additional PD opportunities or focus attention on different teams • Be prepared for the typical barriers-ex. differences in expectations, lack of trust, feelings of being targeted, staff safety, language barriers

18. Question?