Family Engagement
Description
Family engagement refers to the intentional, meaningful collaboration between schools and families to support student learning, behavior, and well-being. When families are actively involved in their children’s education, students are more likely to attend school regularly, achieve academically, and demonstrate positive behavior.
At PaTTAN, we believe strong family-school partnerships are essential for creating inclusive, supportive environments where every student can thrive. Effective family engagement strengthens the foundation of MTSS and PBIS frameworks and supports a whole-child approach to education.
Why is it important:
- Improves Student Outcomes: Research consistently shows that students with engaged families have better academic performance, improved behavior, and higher graduation rates.
- Builds Trust: Strong relationships between families and schools foster mutual respect, communication, and shared responsibility.
- Strengthens Tiered Supports: Family voice is critical in developing effective Tier I strategies and designing individualized Tier II or III supports.
- Promotes Equity: Engaging all families, especially those historically marginalized, helps schools respond to diverse needs and reduce opportunity gaps.
- Supports Social-Emotional Growth: When families reinforce positive behavior and coping strategies at home, students are more likely to generalize skills across settings.
Critical Features:
- Two-Way Communication: Ongoing dialogue that is timely, accessible, and culturally responsive—not just one-way updates or notifications.
- Respect and Cultural Responsiveness: Practices that honor families’ values, languages, experiences, and contributions.
- Shared Decision-Making: Families are invited to collaborate on school policies, supports, and individual student plans.
- Capacity Building: Schools support families in understanding systems, navigating supports, and building advocacy skills.
- Consistency Across Tiers: Engagement practices are embedded in Tier I (schoolwide), Tier II (targeted), and Tier III (intensive) interventions.
- Welcoming Environments: Families feel valued, heard, and included in the life of the school community.
Implementation Tips:
Additional Resources