You are the Director of a preschool that has struggled with family and community engagement. This year, with the help of a few families, willing staff, and community leaders, you created the Family and Community Engagement Task Force to address these concerns head on. As a group, you have decided to identify research-based strategies to:
Engage more families in partnering with the school to foster children’s healthy development and learning.
Build meaningful relationships with the community to promote positive outcomes for children and families.
You plan to write up your recommendations and rationale in a Task Force report to share with the preschool’s Board of the Directors.
Sample Solution
1. Establish a system for regular two-way communication between parents and teachers. This could include weekly newsletters, emails, text messages or phone calls.
2. Create an annual family survey to gain feedback on school operations, events and programs.
3. Develop an “open door” policy that encourages families to visit the school at any time and participate in activities such as classroom projects or parent meetings.
4. Offer various opportunities for parental involvement including volunteering in the classroom or serving on a school committee/parent advisory board.
5. Prioritize cultural responsiveness by incorporating culturally relevant material into instruction and providing resources about diverse parenting styles and practices for families to explore at home.
6. Foster collaboration among community partners by forming relationships with local organizations who can provide additional services and support to families (e.g., churches, health/social service agencies).