Parent and Family Engagement Laying the Foundation Partnership District Award 2015 for excellent district leadership on school, family, and community partnerships Presented By: Kathleen Kennedy, Director II State and Federal Programs Alvord Unified School District Presented to: Riverside County Office of Education Family Involvement Network October 2017

We know this to be true… “The level of parent involvement at schools is not determined by parent interest or apathy. It is determined by whether or not appropriate strategies and structures are in place to facilitate the participation of parents.” (Milbrey McLaughlin, Stanford University) Ive never met a parent who didn’t want their child to succeed. … strategies must be put into place to meet the needs of the parens and the students. So what has been done in Alvord?

Family Engagement Toolkit Continuous Improvement through an Equity Lens CA Dept. of Education Critical dimensions of family engagement We will develop a system of meaningful family engagement. AUSD, Strategic Plan Strategy, May 2014

Getting Started on the Alvord Journey Get your house in order Ensure the message by working simultaneously with the support structure.

Establishing the Message Family Engagement Toolkit, APPENDIX C, Tools, p. 51 We will make all families feel welcome We will ensure families are partners in supporting student achievement

Communicating with Administrators District Self-Evaluation Growth 2012-2015 2012 4 years late, we have a channel for effective, two-way communication with our parents 2014 NNPS, Partnership Schools Handbook, 3rd edition, Corwin Press.com Family Engagement Framework, CA Dept. of Education, 2011, 2014

Communicating to Staff District-wide District clerical staff and others Implementing the Welcoming Schools concept At Your Service! Improving Parent Engagement Through Extraordinary Service We need to become savvy about how to build relationships and learn how to nurture growing, evolving things. We need better skills in listening, communicating, and facilitating groups, for these are the talents that build strong communities. - Margaret Wheatley Communicate the message beyond administrators Emphasized internal and external relationships, district role in creating partnerhip, Mimi Badura, RCOE Consultant Staff Development, June 2013 Communicate the message Develop a shared understanding of the goals

Providing Professional Development Principals and School Secretaries Reaching All Families Through Welcoming Schools Nothing is more important to success in schools than the quality of relationships between and among students, staff and parents. James Comer The degree to which a school is welcoming influences the extent to which parents become involved. Judy Carson, CT State Dept. of Education We recognize that this is an area we need to build and support. The first efforts in bridging with parents comes from the clerical staff. Ellen Larson, RCOE Consultant Staff Development, August 2013 Communicate the message Develop a shared understanding of the goals

Family Engagement Toolkit Continuous Improvement through an Equity Lens CA Dept. of Education Critical dimensions of family engagement We will develop a system of meaningful family engagement. AUSD, Strategic Plan Strategy, May 2014

Laying the Foundation Four Important Actions, pp. 10 - 14 Action 1: Establish a District-level family engagement team Family Engagement Coordinator State and Federal Program Staff Site administrators Teachers Parent leaders Community Partners Support Staff Start with volunteer sites and watch the ground swell.

Alvord District Action Team for Partnership, ATP 2014

Families need to see themselves as partners in their children’s education and must construct a role for themselves in their children’s learning … (Partners in Education, U.S. Department of Education, 2013)

Action 2: Discuss Core Beliefs All families want the best for their children We will respect and value the diverse roles of all individuals and their contributions All students will graduate from high school ready for college and career All families want to and can support their children in their schooling Success is our shared responsibility Families and staff should be equal partners High expectations and equitable learning opportunities for all Inclusive and active partnerships Engaged learning strengthens our organization Responsibility for building partnerships rests w/ staff Relationships that foster a culture of trust and integrity We will not allow economic, social and academic barriers to impede the safety and education of our students

Action 3: Agreeing on district vision statement for family engagement Review the research on family engagement Review the current district vision statement Engage in a facilitated discussion about a new vision statement Alvord Unified School District is forging partnerships with parents, students and community in order to: build better, stronger schools develop a culture of meaningful partnerships between parents and staff in support of student learning provide a Welcoming Schools environment for all students and families

Action 4: Reviewing district & school family engagement policies “…establish the agency’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family involvement” ESSA, Section 1116(2) Determine a District definition of “meaningful” AUSD: partnerships that connect parents & families to the academic process Board polices and Administrative regulations Parent Involvement and Volunteer Policies Title 1 Compacts Committee bylaws Carry the message to all parent groups

Dr. Joyce Epstein, PhD, 2015 “Alvord Unified School District is applying research-based approaches to help schools become welcoming places that engage parents in ways that improve student attendance, attitudes, behavior, graduation rates, achievement, health and post-secondary plans.” Dr. Joyce Epstein, PhD, 2015 Dr. Epstein earned her doctorate in sociology from Johns Hopkins University where she serves as the principal research scientist, the Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships and director of the National Network of Partnership Schools.

Through ATP teams, we are building on activities that were already in place, and connecting parent participation to programs that contribute to student success and are central to school improvement.

The Mission of the Parent Engagement Office (Established 2012) The Alvord Unified School District is forging partnerships with parents, students and the community for better, stronger schools. Five Goals: Objective: To create a District culture where parents and staff engage in meaningful partnerships in support of our students To strengthen community partnerships To develop family engagement leaders To increase two-way communication To assist parents in supporting children in the educational process To increase student achievement The mission and objective are clearly communicated on our letterhead, in our newsletters, at meetings.

Communicating the Message To the community Communicate the message

Communicating with Our Schools PELI Curriculum Presentation Modules 2012-2015 14 elementary and 4 middle schools trained 2016 3 comprehensive high schools Goals: to design a program of primary parents to reach out to preschool, and a special ed program to reach out to parents of special ed students Promising Partnership Practices, NNPS, Johns Hopkins ,2013 (p. 103) This is our current structure. While there are many out there, this is the one are using. Provide resources Provide a strong rationale Involve school leaders as active participants Built on Dr. Epstein’s Six Types of Parent Involvement Communicate the message Provide unifying professional development

Communicating with Our Families Action Teams for Partnership, ATP teams A system for meaningful family engagement Communication is the bridge, the linkage between the program and the stakeholder. Required at all sites elemt – middle school. Write goals that connect to school plans Distribute leadership Implement the structure with fidelity

Communicating for a Shared Understanding Integrating Site Programs SSC, ELAC, PTA, Parent University, Other Parent Groups PBIS Intervention Develop a shared understanding of the goals

Integrating District and City Programs Health Services Child Nutrition Services Grants: NEOP, Healthier Generation We Fit PBIS Pyramid Services: Triple P Parenting DLAC , ELAC, SSC SMARTRiverside Riverside Mayor and City Council Services

Supporting the Schools, Developing the Vision Sustainable programs need strong District leadership, opportunities for sharing and feedback. Provide recognition, celebrate

The effectiveness of parent engagement programs depend on our responses to stake holder needs: Choose a communication approach that opens rather then blocks a two-way conversation, that helps the audience explore the situation, and generate options for change. (Harvard Family Research Project) The vision is accomplished one piece at a time when structures are in place to provide a vehicle for the work. A process, a system, a structure is needed to turn the talk into action..We must build a system around what we value Foothill Elementary School ATP Team, 2015 Norte Vista High School Padres Unidos, 2014

National Network of Partnership Schools District Membership, 2012-present Arizona (2) Wells (2) La Granada (2) Terrace (2) Promenade (2) Stokoe (1) Valley View (1) Twinhill (1) RMK (1) Foothill (1) Collett ((1) Alvord School District Recognized by NNPS for Promising Practices Publication: La Granada School – 2015 Community Promenade School – 2015 Mathematics Parent Engagement Office – 2015 District Practices – Community Parent Engagement Office – 2014 District Practices – Communication Parent Engagement Office – 2013 District Practices – Parent Education

The Reason We Do This Work