Two Generations of Success Family Engagement in Full Service Community Schools Coalition for Community Schools April, 2010

Overview of FSCS in Providence A two-generation strategy focused on academic success All services based in schools Implemented in 3 elementary schools, 3 more are online in September Core Components: –Family Literacy classes –Wraparound Case Management –Before and After-school programs and summer –Family Engagement Initiatives –Health and Wellness services –Early childhood programming

Why Family Engagement? Parental involvement impacts academic achievement Literacy level of mom is an indicator of academic success of child Stability in home, reduced mobility a factor in school success Early local results indicate family engagement an indicator of low absenteeism

Our Expectations Higher levels of sustained participation by families in school and out Family literacy will increase Parent’s skills in communication; interaction with child’s school will improve Absenteeism will decrease Improved health and well-being School climate will improve

The Framework – UEP Evaluation Study Participation –Outcomes for individual students Engagement –Outcomes for school Advocacy –Outcomes for all students, extending to community

Tools for Planning Based on Project Objectives and 3 areas of competency, each school must formulate a Family Engagement Plan (see attached).

FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOL INTEGRATION GRID Child Education Theme: _Print Concepts _(identified by 1 st grade teachers) Month of: _January________School: _Robert Bailey_____ Family Education Theme: _Reading Routines__________________________ Child Education Academic Enrichment Family Literacy Behavioral Supports Health and Wellness Family Engagement Print Concepts Connection between letters on a page and sounds. Connections between pictures/illustration s with development of story Understanding mechanics of a book for example; how to turn pages, what is the cover, how to hold a book. Using fingers or other markers to guide reading or listening. Understanding what a title, author and conclusion to a story are. Connecting story to real life experiences Using KidsLit curriculum, after school counselors use center based instruction to observe reading habits of children and guide them to use strategies for connecting to print. Public Library staff conduct surveys of reading routines in enrichment class. Create incentive program for establishing a reading routine and create visuals of their perfect reading routine. Parent Time – 1/15 “Introducing Print Concepts”, F.L. Instructor helps parents understand explicit instruction for young children in how to create connections between physical aspects of printed word and development of comprehension Parent Time – 1/22 “Establishing a Reading Routine”, 1 st grade teacher conducts a lesson in how to establish an engaging reading routine with multiple suggestions for times, materials and strategies. Parents generate a plan for establishing a routine. At Family Success Team meetings, parents will be asked whether they have a regular reading routine in the home and whether they would like support during Case Management to establish one. Literacy coach will be available to consult during a home visit on the issue. As part of the initial azssessment for new Case Management referrals, reading routine questions will be asked along with the NCFAS to determine family well being scores. During Parent Times, Family Engagement Event, KidsLit Centers, Library Enrichment and First Grade reading circles books on Nutrition and Wellness will be featured as part of the lessons on Print Concepts and Reading Routines. A Reading List will be available for parents in their Parent Newsletter with grade-level books with Nutrition and Wellness themes. Literacy Night – 2/14, Mother Goose Storyteller will use Big Books to model effective strategies for Print awareness. Parents will be introduced to incentive program by Public Library Staff and encouraged to help their children create their perfect reading routine.

Other Strategies Family Engagement Teams Family Engagement Specialists Working with District Parent Engagement Office POP Plan Hiring parents as staff Family Literacy as a strategy not just a program

Program Offerings – School Based Participation (monthly) –Farmer’s markets –Academic events –Health fairs –Family programs (Play and Learn, Fam Lit, Case Management, etc.) Engagement –PTO academies –Volunteering in classrooms –University leadership classes for parents at school Advocacy –Family Friendly Walk-through –SIT involvement, drafting of school plans –Providence Educational Excellence Coalition

Program Offerings – Home Based Home visits –Parents as Teachers –Community Health Workers –Family Service Care Coordination –Even Start visits Interactive Literacy activities –Literacy bags –Reading routines –Family assignments

Results from First Year In a school of 350 students, 353 adult family members have attended family engagement events 707 adult family members have attended school- based Family Engagement Events 89% of parents who participate in our parenting education classes significantly improve in their capacity to support their child’s academic performance as measured by the Parenting Education Profile

Results from First Year Children whose parents participated in Family Literacy classes had a 96% attendance rate. Their chronic absenteeism rate was less than 2% (school average 16%).

Results from First Year 69% of students in wraparound service coordination saw a significant increase in their scores on the North Carolina Family Assets Survey (NCFAS). The chart below depicts the growth of families from areas of deficit to areas of strength. Family Assessment Scale

UEP Evaluation Study What went right in Year One –Effective recruitment and support of parent participation –High levels of satisfaction and interest in programs What needs to change –Parents not fully aware of programs and resources –Name and mission of initiative not well known –Communication needs to take multiple forms and lots of reinforcement