Bridging the Family-School Engagement Gap
Essential Tips for Effective Family Engagement
The heart of a thriving educational community is the partnership between schools and families. With the invaluable insights gained from vibrant conversations with 128 families across 14 districts, Contigo Ed is excited to share strategies that emerged. These gems of wisdom are part of our collaborative Phase I consultation services we offer to districts.
Breaking Down Language Barriers: The Importance of Spanish Translation
Effective communication is inclusive communication. For many Texas families, English isn’t the primary language spoken at home. Through our interviews, most Spanish-speaking parents explained that it’s crucial for information provided by schools to be available in Spanish too. This thoughtful feature ensures that every parent has the opportunity to engage fully with their child’s college and career exploration journey.
“I feel like so many other Spanish-speaking parents feel the same way, we feel ignored and we don’t have the information necessary to help our students…Sometimes when a document with information is sent home, it’s also sent in Spanish, but other times it isn’t, so not all the information is provided to us”
“There needs to be direct outreach to immigrant parents about this class. They need to inform these parents so that these parents can push their children…Truthfully, English is a huge barrier, a huge huge barrier. We’re embarrassed that we may not understand anything. ”
Respecting Family Schedules
In today’s fast-paced world, every minute is precious, especially for hard-working parents. To better align with the schedules of those who work, many parents often suggest that schools host parent meetings later in the day, such as 6 pm, when they are more likely to be available.This considerate approach to scheduling reflects a school’s respect for parents’ time and commitment to facilitate their involvement. Introducing online options such as Zoom meetings and their recordings can also enhance accessibility and allow parents to engage with the material on their time. This flexibility provides parents with options to stay informed and connected.
“Getting cooperation from parents is super difficult, but we have to try. Offer more meetings because there are going to be parents who are going to be interested, there are going to be kids who are going to drag their parents there. Even if you get 50% of those parents, it’s a win. ”
Streamlining Access to College and Career Information
The road from high school to higher education or career paths is a significant one, and guidance through this process is invaluable for families. Clear, consistent, and easily accessible information is crucial for smoothing this path. Whether informing through text messaging applications, dedicated online resources, or paper flyers, parents ask that this guidance is clearly marked, current, and comprehensive. Parents have voiced a preference for tools like checklists and emphasized the importance of receiving the same detailed information that their students are given at school.
“Sometimes people don’t know about parent meetings. I think parents need more of an education. The school may be educating the students, but it’s not getting to the parents.”
“Even though we’ve had parent meetings, I sometimes feel like they don’t explain everything completely. So we’ll be talking about how he needs to enroll in certain classes, but when we look at his information, it may not be up to date or we can’t find the website to access information.”
“Probably looking at the school website, because just trying to navigate it is difficult. Finding out what’s on the calendar as far as what meetings they’re having. It was a little difficult at first. Now I get text messages and emails. But for me to go in to the school website to actually look, sometimes I have to call the school to get the information…I’ll go in there and look for a calendar of events or what’s going on if they have any news for the seniors. If they have [any information] it’s for last year or the year before.”
Clarity in Communication Channels
Sometimes, parents like to seek more specific advice or information about their child’s college and career plans. The clarity in who to contact within the school is just as important as the information itself. By crafting clear protocols for communication and designating approachable points of contact such as counselors, teachers, or administrative staff, schools can alleviate the guesswork for parents and create a more inviting atmosphere for dialogue. By creating an environment where questions are welcomed, parents can feel comfortable reaching out, knowing their questions will be met with genuine support and guidance.
“When my daughter went to apply for college, we had someone at the school who helped her with the FAFSA…Well, the counselor we were assigned, they helped us. She told us to fill out certain things. This is the first time I learned about the process.”
“So I would go and ask one of the other counselors or the person who was in charge. They were always available to ask questions, so that helped us as parents.”
At Contigo Ed, we aspire to bring schools and families together in the endeavor of shaping bright futures. By embracing these strategies, districts can demonstrate their commitment to their families’ needs.
