Turning Your Vision Into Action: STRENGTHENING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT Help Your School. Let You Voice Be Heard. The School District of Philadelphia Office of Family and Community Engagement www.philasd.org/sac | sac@philasd.org | (215) 400-4180 Help Your School. Let You Voice Be Heard. The School District of Philadelphia Office of Family and Community Engagement www.philasd.org/sac | sac@philasd.org | (215) 400-4180

Discussion 1 Why do you want to be involved in your student’s school? 2 What sort of challenges might schools have with creating positive, engaging atmospheres? 3 What barriers might keep some families from being engaged in their child’s school? In the SAC?

VIDEO: “My Daddy is a Liar” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O15dxrBNuAQ

Training Objectives 1 Understand the difference between family engagement and family involvement. 2 Become familiar with the Dual-Capacity Framework. Develop strategies to bring people who accurately represent your school community to come to your SAC meetings...and keep them coming back! 3

Family Involvement? Family Engagement?

What’s the Difference? Family Involvement Family Engagement One-way information-sharing Top-down approach Irregular meetings/events Family Engagement Two-way conversations Treating families as partners in education Regular, sustained contact

Family Engagement as a Strategy for School Improvement Dr. Karen Mapp: Family Engagement as a Strategy for School Improvement Open Door School Fortress School Come-if-we-Call School Partnership School Dr. Karen Mapp Building capacity of families and school-based professional staff to create a collaborative partnership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvqGmThFYHg

Dual-Capacity Framework Commitment to Family Engagement should be a high priority Professional development creates effective partnerships Understand that families are co-creators of effective school systems

Outreach & Engagement Recruiting participants Getting people excited to get involved ENGAGEMENT Keeping people motivated Sustaining participation

Outreach & Engagement Basics Know the community Meet the people where they are Become a familiar face in the community: build relationships with face-to-face interactions

Outreach & Engagement Basics Be consistent Create a structure for your group that is easy to follow and easy to participate in Meetings should be regular and easy to remember (day, time, location) Relentless engagement and outreach!

Outreach & Engagement Basics Everybody has a purpose! Keep a positive open mind—everybody has something to offer Is there someone who tends to shy away from conversation? Have them contribute elsewhere each week! Maintain the sign-in sheet Make nametags for attendees Set up the technology

Brainstorm Engagement Strategies! Write your recruitment slogan (see worksheet) Example: “Help your school. Let your voice be heard.” Brainstorm recruitment and engagement activities (see handout)