2019 VTPBIS Forum Bonnie Poe VT PBIS State Team Member Chris Dodge, Fletcher Elementary School Principal Cathy Newton, Ottauquechee School Principal

What’s your personal learning goal for this session? Think about: What will you be able to implement? How will you know you’re implementing it well? How will your most vulnerable students benefit? How will you/your team sustain what you’re implementing?

Family Engagement Agenda: Participation: Please ask questions; be concise --- we only have 90 minutes. Who is here? Brief history and research 2 Exemplar School presentations Resources Participants share Parents who do not work in a school system. Teachers (classroom, support, interventionists, guidance, unified arts, support teachers) Para educators Board members Principals Central Office administrators

In the last decade we have gone from Parent Involvement to Brief History… In the last decade we have gone from Parent Involvement to Family Engagement and Partnerships Parents are no longer the sole providers of children. Chris will address this in his presentation IMPORTANT: know diff between Involvement and Engagement to INVOLVE means to enfold or envelope ENGAGE means to come together and interlock. Simply put: parent involvement is more often a “doing to” telling parents what they should be doing --- schools leading with their mouth – identifying projects, needs and telling parents how they can contribute parent engagement is a “doing with” - schools lead with their ears – they listen to what parents think, dream, worry about. Goal is to gain partners and not serve them. Parent involvement still good --- research says any kind of increased interest and support can help. But engagement produces even better results for all stakeholders!

Research says: Children with engaged parents are more likely to: Earn higher grades or test scores Graduate from high school and attend post-secondary education Develop self-confidence and motivation in the classroom Have better social skills and classroom behavior Have better attendance Understand the importance of education

Research continued: They are also less likely to: Have low self-esteem Need redirection in the classroom Develop behavioral issues * https://www.waterford.org/education/how-parent-involvment-leads-to-student-success/

So, WHY is it so hard to engage families if we know it is incredibly important? We will hopefully, address this with the next 2 presentations from our EXEMPLAR Schools.

Chris Dodge Principal, Fletcher Elementary School

Family Engagement in P.B.I.S. Annual P.B.I.S. Forum October 10, 2019 Chris Dodge, Principal Fletcher Elementary School

Family Engagement vs. Parent Engagement: Words Matter In 2009, 40% of children in the U.S. lived in a family configuration other than a two- parent household. Over the last two decades, we’ve seen a 64% increase in the number of children living with a grandparent. Families come in all shapes and sizes. What are other examples?

Adults Other Than Parents Often Play A Key Role in the Life of a Child Adults Other Than Parents Often Play A Key Role in the Life of a Child. Who Are Some of Those Adults? Grandparents Aunts, Uncles, Cousins Significant Others, Step Parents Mentors Guardian ad Litem Friends, Neighbors Who else?

What’s the takeaway? Using the word “parent” immediately discounts many of the adults in a child’s life and significantly limits our ability to engage with some key stakeholders.

Why is family engagement with school and P.B.I.S. important? Children whose families emphasize and model the importance of hard work and learning (both academic and social-emotional-behavioral) are far more likely to develop the skills, habits and Growth Mindset required to achieve higher education, career and life goals.

Questions to Consider: What are the barriers to family engagement? Personal Experiences with School / Comfort Schedules Transportation Internet Access Finances Literacy / Access to Information What else? It is essential to know the specific barriers in your school.

Questions to Consider: How are you providing multiple access points? On-Location / Off-Location School Hours / Non-School Hours High-Risk / Low-Risk Technology-Based / Non-Technology Based Cost / No Cost Capitalize on Expertise What else?

Questions to Consider: How do we gather information about barriers and access points? Surveys (Handout) Conversations SAS/TFI Data What else?

Questions to Consider: How do you make families aware of opportunities to engage? Specific, in-person on telephone invitations Website, Social Media School/Community Newsletter, Newspaper, Radio Letters, Flyers, Posters, Mailings What else?

What’s the takeaway? Research tells us that some adults may need as many as 21 invitations before they consider engaging in their child’s school.

Stickers, Sticker, Stickers ... One of my favorite strategies: Sticker every Student with announcements and opportunities!

Other Fletcher Strategies: Morning P.B.I.S. Committee (Selection Process) Leadership Team (What gets discussed at each?) P.B.I.S. Letter with Tokens (August, Vacations) Tokening at Open House and Other Events Breakfast / Lunch Tickets, Field Trips Whole-School Celebrations and Gatherings P.B.I.S. Flyer

Questions and Comments

Insert Cathy Newton’s SPARK

Family Engagement Resources: www.pbisvermont.org/training-resources/family- engagement/ http://www.pbisvermont.org/evaluations/family- engagement-survey/ Beyond the Bake Sale Henderson, Mapp, Johnson, Davies http://laspdg.org/files/book%20study1.pdf (chapters 4-8 only)

Example of school newsletter that highlights PBIS in it each month and celebrates the positives.

Please share a Family Engagement topic that you implemented at your school.