Parent Engagement - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Parent EngagementSlide2

In Africa, the palaver tree is a large tree in whose shade the community gathers as partners with equal power to discuss issues, solve problems and heal itself.

When parents and communities are truly engaged, our schools

can be the palaver tree for NYC neighborhoods.Slide3

“My

personal mission is to make this an

administration that will listen—and

respond—to

parents. I

plan to enhance the Department

of Education’s

Division of Family

and Community Engagement because the relationships we foster in education are crucial. There must be a clear and streamlined method for parents to reach out and speak to the right people fortheir concerns.”

“It’s our goal not just to develop a parent-friendly system, said the Chancellor. “We also want to develop partners.”

"For many years, there's been a disdain for parent involvement, a disdain for PTAs, I believe parents matter and we want to get them involved."Slide4

The Current Opportunity

Family engagement is a top priority for Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina

Chancellor has committed to more parent training workshops, GED and ESL classes, and re-training Parent CoordinatorsMore time for parent engagement in new teachers contract:Teachers now have 40 minutes every week dedicated to engaging parentsSchools now have four parent-teacher conferences every year instead of two (September, November, March and May)Slide5

Parent Engagement

Family engagement is:A shared responsibility in which schools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to engaging families in meaningful ways and families are committed to actively supporting their children’s

learning and development.Continuous across a child’s life- from cradle to career

Carried out

everywhere

that children learn- at home, in school, on the street, in the neighborhood

Source: National PTA, Karen

MappSlide6

What does research say?

Parent and community ties can have a long-term effect on learning outcomes for children and on whole school improvement when combined with other essential supports such as: a positive, student-centered learning culture

high-quality teachingcommunity engagement and partnershipseffective training and supports for

staff

strong principals

(Source: Chicago Consortium on School Research)Slide7

Research

Early Childhood: Children whose parents read to them at home recognize letters of the alphabet and write their names sooner than those whose parents do not.

Elementary: Children whose parents explain educational tasks are more likely to participate in class, seek help from the teacher when needed, and monitor their own work.Middle and High School: Adolescents whose parents monitor their academic and social activities have lower rates of delinquency and higher rates of social competence and academic

growth.Slide8

Black & Latino Students

Low-income African American children whose families participate actively in their elementary school are more likely to complete high schoolLatino youth whose parents provide encouragement and emphasize the value of education as a way out of poverty have higher graduation ratesSlide9

Traditional? Or Transformative?

TRADITIONAL PARENT ENGAGEMENT

TRANSFORMATIVE

PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Parents

are participants and helpers in the plans that the principal and school staff develop

Parents are partners and leaders in

deciding on plans for the school

Communication with parents is passive and impersonal, mainly through fliers and emailsCommunication with parents is active and personal including face-to-face outreach, visiting parents where they are in the neighborhood, phone calls, etc.School sees parents as a problem to be solvedSchool sees parents as problem-solvers with challenges the school facesSlide10

Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family and School Partnerships

Developed by the US Department of Education

School staff and parents both develop skills and capacities to communicate and collaborate effectively so they can better support children and schoolsSchool staff:Honor and recognize families’ wealth of knowledge

Connect family engagement to student learning

Create welcoming, inviting culturesSlide11

Parent Rolesfrom US DOE Framework

Supporters of their children’s learning and development

Encouragers of an achievement identity, a positive self image, and a “can do” spirit in their childrenMonitors of their children’s time, behavior, boundaries, and resources

Models

of lifelong learning and enthusiasm for educationSlide12

Parent Rolesfrom USDOE Framework

Advocates/activists for improved learning opportunities for their children and at their schools

Decision-makers/choosers of educational options for their children, the school, and their communityCollaborators with school staff and other members of the community on issues of school improvement and reformSlide13

Parent Engagement Models and Programs

Parent-Teacher Home Visits (California and nationwide)Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (Arizona and nationwide)

Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA): Parent Mentor Program (Chicago, IllinoisAbriendo Puertas (California)

Achievement for All (UK)

Title I School-Parent Compact Renewal (Connecticut

)Slide14

NYC Parent Engagement Models and Programs

Parent-Teacher Home Visit ProjectPilot program in 6 middle schools (MS 50, MS 57,

Highbridge Green School, IS 217, IS 68, MS 448)Parent-Teacher Home Visits to all incoming 6th gradersPartnerships between schools and community organizations

Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (in planning)

Highbridge

Green School curriculum project

District 17 parent leadership trainingSlide15

Next Steps

We have an opportunity to transform our schools and make NYC a national model for parent engagement under this administrationBut parents must join together to make it happen

Join with CEJ to fight for real parent engagement in your school and citywide!Expand innovative models to your schoolsMake sure schools use their parent engagement time effectively

Build parent leadership citywide