Family Engagement Strategies in Early Childhood RIVERSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Joe Nieto: Early Childhood & Family Education Coordinator

Riverside Unified School District K-12 Enrollment = 42,462 students Preschool Enrollment = 900 students (Head Start & State Preschool) 15th Largest District in California

Student Diversity Asian 3.4% African American 7% White 24% Hispanic 60.6% Other 5%

Student Diversity Low Income 64% English Learner 17.2% Reclassified EL 11.8% Foster Youth 1.3% Special Education 2.79% GATE 10%

Why Family Engagement is Important https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9soG1VEmTsw

Recent Email

RUSD Family Resource Center

Parent Institute For Quality Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PROGRAM PIQE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PROGRAM The ECD Program teaches parents how to provide a stimulating home environment that encourages and facilitates early success in school for their Pre-K and Kindergarten children. This program engages parents in activities that stimulate language development and essential pre-reading skills, as well as activities that help recognize the presence of mathematics in everyday life. Parents will understand the importance of an adequate preparation for kindergarten, and how it may impact future academic achievements.

Abriendo Puertas

Opening Doors I am my child’s first teacher Reaching family success My child grows and talks Our health is first Let’s go to school Advocating for our future

Borrego Health Student Health Care Specialist Dental Screenings Health Clinic Referrals

Riverside University Health Systems

FATHER ENGAGEMENT

National Center for Education Statistics “The proportion of children with highly involved fathers is about half of the proportion with highly involved mothers, 27 percent and 56 percent, respectively.”

National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center “Fathers who have positive relationships with their children can have positive effects on their social, cognitive, and academic achievement and their behavior. Children with involved fathers tend to do better in school, have better grades, and are less likely to be expelled and/or repeat grades. For young children, good fathering contributes to emotional development because fathers offer emotional security. Involved fathers also help young children develop their math and verbal skills and develop their curiosity.”

How did RUSD respond to this? Dad’s University Once a month Evenings Led by Joe Nieto and Louie Ortega Male guest speakers Topics relevant to father figures Topics relevant to parents of Preschoolers – Elementary School Family Dinner and Awards in May

The Dad’s University program is open to anyone who is concerned about the education, health and welfare of children and youth. We want Dads….not only biological fathers, but grandfathers, stepdads, adoptive dads, foster dads, uncles, older brothers, male family friends and other male role models.

The Dad’s University Model Balance workshops/speakers with “Daddy and Me” events. Workshops include literacy, mathematics, homework, discipline, men’s health, etc. “Daddy and Me” events include building, math games, rockets, outdoor games, etc.

Goals To involve fathers in the education of their children. Promote positive discipline and participation with their children. The participants will be more willing to participate in PTA, SSC and ELAC at their schools. Encourage fathers to volunteer in the classrooms and at the school sites. When the school calls the home, the phone won’t automatically be passed to the mother. 

Contact Information Joe Nieto 951-352-8290 jnieto@rusd.k12.ca.us Gabriela Alonso 951-328-4003 galonso@rusd.k12.ca.us Louie Ortega 951-328-4003 lortega@rusd.k12.ca.us