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.
Successes and challenges (2 min)
Funded by Nellie Mae Foundation and the Flamboyan Foundation

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

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

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

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 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 academic year
Our Name
1647 is named for the year the Massachusetts legislature declared that the education of children is a community responsibility, effectively creating the first public school districts in North America.

14. Why Home Visits?
1647 identified the following which resonate deeply with Milton Public Schools core values:
All Parents Care 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.
1647 is named for the year the Massachusetts legislature declared that the education of children is a community responsibility, effectively creating the first public school districts in North America.

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?