2020-2021 Six Types of Family Engagement Training

Summary

The Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) emphasizes the importance of family and community involvement in supporting student success. Using Dr. Joyce Epstein's framework, the district promotes six types of family involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community. These efforts aim to foster strong partnerships between families, schools, and the community to enhance student achievement. The school district encourages clear communication, volunteer opportunities, and collaborative decision-making to empower families and ensure every student receives the support needed to thrive academically.

Takeaways

• 😀 Family and community support are essential for student success in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD).
• 😀 Families play a crucial role as children's first teachers, supporting their learning both in and outside of school.
• 😀 TUSD utilizes Dr. Joyce Epstein's framework of six types of family involvement to build school-home-community partnerships.
• 😀 The six types of family involvement are: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community.
• 😀 Schools should educate families on how to create supportive home environments that enhance student achievement.
• 😀 Effective two-way communication between schools and families is vital for understanding and addressing students' needs.
• 😀 Schools must ensure clear, usable communication, including translations and interpreters, to accommodate diverse family backgrounds.
• 😀 Volunteer opportunities should be flexible to include working families, ensuring everyone can contribute to the school community.
• 😀 Schools should provide families with resources and activities that promote student learning at home, including coordinated homework tasks.
• 😀 Parent involvement in school decision-making is crucial. Schools should offer opportunities for parents to engage in governance and advocacy.
• 😀 Building collaborations with community organizations, businesses, and agencies strengthens the ability of schools and families to support student development.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD)?

The main goal of TUSD is to provide quality education for every child in the district, with an emphasis on the importance of family and community support to ensure student success.

How does TUSD plan to strengthen school, family, and community partnerships?

TUSD plans to strengthen these partnerships by using Dr. Joyce Epstein's framework of six types of involvement, which includes activities such as parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community.

What are the six types of family involvement in Epstein's framework?

The six types of family involvement in Epstein's framework are: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community.

Why is effective communication between families and schools important?

Effective communication is important because it creates a two-way exchange of information, allowing both families and schools to learn about each other and support students' success. It empowers families to become valuable partners in their children's education.

What strategies can schools use to improve communication with families?

Schools can improve communication by reviewing the clarity and frequency of messages, providing translations for non-English speaking families, using interpreters at meetings, and creating clear two-way communication systems.

What role do families play in supporting their children's learning?

Families play a key role by being the first educators of their children, assisting with learning both inside and outside of school, and creating a supportive home environment that encourages academic success.

How can schools encourage families to volunteer and support school activities?

Schools can encourage volunteerism by recruiting widely, offering flexible volunteer schedules, providing training, and recognizing the contributions of volunteers. This ensures that families, including working parents, can participate.

Why is it important to involve families in decision-making at school?

Involving families in decision-making ensures that they have a voice in the education process and can advocate for their children. It also helps create a more inclusive school environment where decisions reflect the diverse needs of all students.

What are some ways schools can help families support their children's learning at home?

Schools can design interactive activities for students to do at home, organize curriculum-related homework assignments, and provide resources to help families understand the curriculum. This encourages parental involvement and helps students succeed academically.

How can schools build stronger partnerships with the community?

Schools can build stronger partnerships by collaborating with community groups, businesses, and non-government agencies, providing families with information about local programs, and ensuring that all families have equal access to community services.