DEVELOPING STRONG FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT€¦ · and community engagement NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 2. What is SWIFT? NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 3. SWIFT Handout

DEVELOPING STRONG FAMILY AND

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

LRE Training Module

Office of Special Education Programs

New Jersey Department of Education

2015-2016 School Year

Workshop Goals

• Understand the importance of family and

community partnerships.

• Identify some of the ways in which schools can

partner with families and the community to

enhance school improvement and effectiveness.

• Develop a district action plan to enhance family

and community engagement

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016

2NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016

What is SWIFT?

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SWIFT

Handout


Family & Community Engagement

Why Family & Community Engagement?If NJDOE Then Then Then

Provides training

and technical

assistance on

strategies for

authentic family &

community

engagement

…IEP team meetings

will be more effective

in identifying student

strengths and needs

…student supports at

home and in school

will be seamless and

integrated…an increased

percentage of

students with IEPs

will benefit from

education in

general education

settings for a

greater percentage

of their school day.

…parents and

caregivers will be

more informed and

engaged in their

children’s learning

…IEPs will better

meet students’ needs

and reflect instruction

in the curriculum and

other student

individual needs

…school efforts to

build collaborative

family-school

relationships will

include families of

students with IEPs

…more students and

their

parents/caregivers

will be meaningfully

engaged in IEP

meetings


Agenda

• Families and Educators will work together to understand

how family involvement strengthens the school climate

and culture

• New ways to involve parents in the school culture will be

introduced

• Time to plan together to strengthen family engagement

will be provided

• Parent Advisory Groups will be defined

• Time to plan regarding community partnerships will be

provided


FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

PARTNERSHIPSFacilitator,

Please prepare video:

Http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/video-alleries/?bctid=4076831942001

Handouts – Benefits of Engagement, Resources for Families, Think,

Pair, Share


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The Evidence

• Improved academic

achievement

• Higher grades

• Higher expectations

• Improved skill levels

• Increased enrollment in

higher level programs

• Improved attendance

• Improved social skills

• Improved functional skills

• Improved post-school

outcomes

• Promotes positive behaviors

• Supports a positive approach

and attitude towards school

Research provides evidence that parental and community involvement leads to:


Additional Information

Handout


How Does IDEA

Support Family Involvement?

IDEA ensures that:• Parents can refer their child and request an evaluation.

• A team of qualified professionals and the parents of the child determine the child’s eligibility for special education services.

• Information provided by parents will be considered when evaluating a child for a disability.

• The child’s parents are members of the IEP team.

• Students 14 and older are required members of the IEP team.

• Parents participate in any group that makes decisions on the educational placement of their child.

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Meaningful and Successful

Family and Community Partnerships

Three Key Aspects:

• Relationships that recognize and respect

DIFFERENCES – including differences in

opinions

• Relationships that are built on TRUST

• Partnerships that value COLLABORATION

Mapp (2015)


Meaningful and Successful

Family and Community Partnerships

Because……"It Takes a Village"

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http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/video-galleries/?bctid=4076831942001

It Takes a Village

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Three Key Factors

That Motivate Families

Families [Parents] become more involved

with the school and with their

children’s learning if they:

1. Believe that they are supposed to be involved;

2. Believe that their involvement would make a

difference; and

3. Feel invited by teachers and their children to

be involved.

Adapted from Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey (2005)

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When Schools, Families, and

Community Work Together…

EVERYBODY WINS!• Teachers feel better about teaching.

• Families are more invested in working with schools

to support teaching and learning.

• Parents, teachers, and school leaders

communicate more regularly about student

progress.

• The broader community becomes more invested in

supporting public education.

• And most importantly, students experience greater

success in school.

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16

Strategies for

Reaching All Families


17

ACTIVITY

A Family Gathering

We are having a family gathering.

• How will you reach out to all members of the

family to include them?

• What will you do to make them feel welcome

and part of the family?

• What kinds of things will you do to help them

to feel connected after this event?


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All families…

[Families] WANT to be involved in their children’s

education and school experience - despite their

income level, their educational experience and their

cultural background.


Strategies for Reaching All Families

Address Differences

• What cultures are included in your school family?

• What do you know about family expectations and priorities for their children’s educational needs?

Trust and Collaboration

• What opportunities do

families have to

participate in the school

culture?

• How are you building the

school/family team?

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20

Activity

Think, Pair, and Share

THINK: What reasons might prevent parents from

being involved in their student’s education or school

experience?

PAIR: After a few minutes of brainstorming yourself,

introduce yourself to someone next to you so that you

may share your answers.

SHARE: Take time to listen to one another’s answers.

Discuss and then determine what you agree on. Be

prepared to share out with the group.


Activity: Think, Pair, and Share

Handout

THINK

• What reasons can you think of that might hinder parental involvement?

PAIR

• Share with your partner/s your responses and identify some that you have in common?

SHARE

• Of those that you have in common, identify those reasons that hinder parental involvement that the district may impact? Share ways the district might improve parental involvement by addressing the reason.

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PROMOTING FAMILY

INVOLVEMENTFacilitator,

Please prepare the room with 6 large sheets of chart paper hung on the wall, labeled Parenting, Communicating, Learning at Home, Decision-making, Volunteering, Community

Please create partners – one family member, one educator

If there are more than 12 people in attendance, you might want to hang two sets of papers.

Handout – Epstein Framework

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Schools that Promote

Family InvolvementHave a welcoming atmosphere and school climate

Know how to communicate with diverse families

Offer a variety of ways parents can participate –a continuum of options for parent participation


Family Involvement

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Information Sessions Volunteer

Grandparents Dedicated Dads Saturday Fun Days

25

Schools that Promote

Family Involvement

Accommodate family [parent] work schedules

Collaborate with community leaders and community services

Maintain regular communication with home –family, using a variety of methods


Communication Strategies that

Promote Collaboration

• Parent Ambassadors

• Newsletter or email

• Communicate in multiple languages

• Provide translation services

• Make personal face-to-face contact

• Engage social media

• Offer transportation and child care services

Adapted from “Collaborating For Success” Parent Engagement Toolkit” Michigan

Department of Education (2011)

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Resource for Families

Handout

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28

Collaboration Strategies that

Promote Trust

• Include parents and community members as equal

partners and value their involvement.

• Educate parents about academic standards and

assessments, and student achievement requirements.

• Share decision-making power with parents and the

community.

• Reach out to parents as often as possible to let them know when their child is doing well! Celebrate successes WITH them!


29

Strategies for Promoting

Family Engagement and Involvement

in the IEP Process• Create sustainable processes

• Value diverse input and perspectives

• Avoid the use of “jargon” when discussing the special education

process

• Develop mechanisms for soliciting parent input prior to IEP meetings

• Use student profile tools to encourage parent and student input and

participation in the IEP process

• Empower parents by providing information on special education rules

and processes

• Use person-centered approaches during IEP team meetings

• Pay attention to the physical meeting environment – set the stage for

an open discussion and partnership


Schools that Promote Parent Involvement

• Creating a welcoming school environment

• Engage families in school leadership, planning, and

meaningful volunteer activities.

• Connect students and families to community resources

that strengthen and support students’ learning and well-

being.

Adapted from Ohio Community Collaboration Model for School Improvement (2013)

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Types of Involvement for Comprehensive

Family and Community Partnership

Handout

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 31

1• Parenting (tools and activities to support families)

2• Communicating (information, feedback, and input)

3• Volunteering (opportunities for involvement)

4• Learning at Home (supporting academics and skills

at home)

5• Decision-making (collaborative opportunities and

participation)

6• Collaborating with Community (making needed

connections)

Epstein (2009)

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Parenting

• Information or seminars about health and safety

• Parent Academies on subjects related to ways parents can support learning

•

•

Types of Involvement for

Comprehensive Family and Community

Partnership

Epstein (2009)



Partnership

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Communicating

• Information about standards and assessments

• Back to School Night •

•

Epstein (2009)



Partnership

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Volunteering

• Parents as Chaperones

• Parent as Classroom Helpers

•

•

•

Epstein (2009)


Comprehensive Partnership

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Learning at Home

• Reinforcing of skill or difficult concept

• Homework help

•

•

•

Epstein (2009)



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Decision-making

• Advisory groups

• IEP teams

•

•

•

Epstein (2009)



NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 37

Collaborating with the

Community

• Connections for community support

• Fundraising events

•

•

•

Epstein (2009)

ACTIVITY

Types of Involvement Carousel

Chart paper is hung throughout the room.

• Each table will move from chart to chart.

• At each chart, • Review previous answers

• Add as many ideas that are

different from previous answers

Be prepared to share your ideas• We will be using these ideas to

create individual district plans.

38NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016

Parenting

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Decision-Making

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Communicating

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Learning at Home

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Volunteering

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Collaborating with the Community

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YOUR DISTRICT PLANFacilitator:

Handouts – Action Plan, Current Efforts to Engage

Families

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Handouts

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 46

Enhance/Expand Parent Involvement Goal: (state benefit/ need)

Activity:

Tasks/Action Steps“What will be

done”

Responsibilities“Who Will Do It”

ResourcesFunding, Time, People,

Materials

TimelineBy When-Day/Month

Evidence of Success: Was the activity implemented?

Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In what way(s)?

47

The

1. Evaluate district’s current

needs

2. Generate some ideas for

activities (reference chart

papers hung around the room)

3. Apply criteria

4. Plan activities

A Plan for Increased Family

Engagement


48


Engagement

1. Evaluate district’s current

needs


activities

3. Apply criteria

4. Plan activities


49

Evaluate district’s current needs

• As a team of your colleagues, complete

the “Current Efforts….” worksheet

• Celebrate the things you are doing well!

• Identify areas where you need to develop,

enhance or expand activities that will

involve parents


Current Efforts to Engage Families

Handout

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51

1. Evaluate the current needs of

the district you are in

2. Consider some ideas for new

activities to enhance what you

are already doing

3. Apply criteria

4. Plan activities


Engagement


52

Consider some ideas for new activities

Brainstorm together. Reference the charts around

the room. Use plain white paper.

Think about what aspects of family involvement

you would like to see improve.

Identify the type of involvement (or activity/

initiative ) that will increase involvement in the

areas identified.

Generate potential activities that will help produce

greater family engagement and involvement.

Collect ideas from the posted charts.


53




activities

3. Apply criteria (impact, commitment, do-able)

4. Plan activities


Engagement



Activity:

Tasks/Action Steps

“What will be done”

Responsibilities

“Who Will Do It”

Resources

Funding, Time,

People, Materials

Timeline

By When-

Day/Month


Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In

what way(s)?


55

Apply Criteria

• Discuss each potential activity and how it satisfies the

following criteria:

• IMPACT

• Inclusive – Does the activity address the needs of the families of

students with disabilities?

• Cultural Responsive - Is the activity responsive to the cultures in your

schools and community?

• COMMITMENT

• What kind of commitment would be involved for the success of this

activity? Who would need to be committed in order for this activity to

be successful?

• DOABLE

• Can you realistically accomplish this activity in your district/school?

• Generate a list of those activities that meet the criteria.


56

Plan Activitiesties

• Together work to list activities.

• Sort the activities into two categories.

• Go ahead

• Hold for now

• Identify two or three that you have determine are “Go Ahead” activities.


Potential Activities

Facilitator Led:

• Ask each group to share their

Go Ahead ideas.

• Chart these ideas

• Allow the rest of the group to

comment, discuss new ideas.

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58




activities

3. Apply criteria

4. Plan activities


Engagement


59

Develop a Plan



Activity:

Tasks/Action Steps

“What will be done”

Responsibilities

“Who Will Do It”

Resources

Funding, Time,

People, Materials

Timeline

By When-

Day/Month


Evidence of Success: Has parent involvement improved as a result of this activity? In

what way(s)?


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Implement Plan


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Next Steps for Your District

• Who is coming to the planning meeting?• How will you outreach to ensure that a diversity of parents

are represented?

• What do you want to accomplish?

• Does the meeting promote attendance so that all voices can be heard?• Childcare

• Transportation

• Food

• Translation

• Timing When will you meet?• Daytime? Evening?


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First Step - Planning Meeting• Time

• Schedule a review

• Methodology

• Evaluations after each activity

• Short survey of parents

• Personal phone calls

• Small focus groups

• Suggestion box (real or virtual)


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Schools that Promote Family Involvement

Work to engage families as partners

Plan with flexibility and respect diversity.

Set small doable goals

Regularly access the effects of the involvement using multiple methods.


Parent Advisory Groups

• Each district board of education shall ensure that a

special education parent advisory group is in place in the

district to provide input to the district on issues concerning

students with disabilities.

6A:14-1.2 (b) 14(h)

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Building an Effective Special Education

Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)

• Through the Statewide Technical Assistance and

Resources Team (START) Project, Parent Group

Specialists are available to provide assistance to help

start parent groups for families with students who have

disabilities, and to support existing special education

parent groups.

• Contact the START Project for assistance in starting and

running a parent group. Email:[email protected] or call

973-642-SPAN (ext. 123).

• http://www.spanadvocacy.org

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 66

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.spanadvocacy.org/

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS

IN YOUR COMMUNITYFacilitator:

Please prepare videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvngdbG0g4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO2dZsshoMg

Handout: Community Partnerships

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Benefits of Community Partnerships

• Enables the school to obtain the needed resources and supports

• Expands students’ learning opportunities outside of school (e.g. after-school, service learning, Community-Based Instruction, Structured Learning Experiences)

• Enables families to gain access to multiple sources of support

• Allows community to participate in school’s decision making processes

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Benefits of Community Partnerships

• Increased volunteerism at the school/district

• Increased access to community experts and learning

experiences (e.g. police, drug free programs, college

related opportunities)

• Strengthens families

• Facilitates cost sharing

• Enables accountability

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Community Connections

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvngdbG0g4

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 70

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvngdbG0g4

Examples of Community Partners Include

the Following:

• Colleges and college based student organizations

• Local church groups and other religious groups

• County and local agencies such as: Public Health and Local Government

• Employers and employment organizations

• Non-Governmental Organizations

• Local community groups

• Alumni

• Companies and Businesses

• Volunteer groups

• Other…

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Impact of School &

Community Partnerships• Upgraded school facilities

• Improved school leadership and staffing

• Higher quality learning programs for students

• New resources and programs to improve teaching and curriculum

• Resources for after-school programs and family supports

• Increased social and political capital of participants

Adapted from Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D. Deputy Superintendent, Boston Public Schools

(2002)

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ACTIVITY

Connecting with My Local Community

Adapted from The Power of Family School Community Partnerships: A Training Resource

Manual, National Education Association

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 73

ACTIVITY

My Community Eco-MapIn your community, think about the local organizations and

partnerships that affect your school and the type of

relationship your school has with each:

strong and supportive, weak or stressful

1. Complete the Ecomap.

2. Jot down some ideas of how your school

a. Enhance the relationships that you identified as

strong and supportive.

b. Strengthen the relationships you identified as

weak or stressful.

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Connecting With Community Handout

EcoMap

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 75

Family, School, and Community

Partnerships

Building Partnerships

Defining Collaborative Goals

Improving Education for all students

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Considerations:Differences, Trust, Collaboration

Building Strong Family and Community

Engagement

Dr. Karen Mapp,

Director, Harvard

University

Education Policy

and Management

Program on the

Recipe for School

Improvement

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 77



Family [Parent] Involvement

• A recipe

• Practice for everybody

• Shared power

• Instructional guidance

• Student center

• Parent/community ties

• Staff – flour

• Family Engagement - Baking powder

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 78

Next Steps

Today: You have defined new activities for families

You have defined community outreach

What are your next steps?

• Build better family and community partnerships

• 2015-2016 school year

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 79

The Role of the School Leader in


•Define vision and clear goals with

regard to school partnerships.

•Have effective administrative

structures to ensure efficient and

effective programs.

•Establish regular and meaningful two-

way communication with partners.

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 80



•Engage a broad base of partners.

•Respect position and feelings of

partners in decision making.

• Identify and use community

resources and services to

strengthen school, family and

student learning and development.

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 81



• Include parents in decisions and develop

parent leaders and representatives.

• Welcome, value, and recruit parental

support, and assistance in school activities.

• Have open days to create awareness about

what the school does.

• Promote and foster parental skills.

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References

• Epstein, Joyce, et al. School Family and Community

Partnerships Your Handbook for Action Thousand Oaks,

CA. Corwin Press, 2002.

• Hendersen, Anne, Mapp, Karen, Johnson, Vivian, Davies,

Don. Beyond the Bake Sale An Essential Guide to Family-

School Partnerships New York, The New Press, 2007.

• Spradley, Pat (2015, 24 February) Parent Engagement on

Rise as Priority for Schools, Districts Ed Week

http://leaders.edweek.org

• National Network of Partnership Schools; John Hopkins

University, 2006

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LRC Central200 Riverview Plaza

Trenton

LRC South at EIRCSouth Jersey Tech Park107 Gilbreth Parkway

Mullica Hill

LRC North Satellite104 American Road

Morris Plains

LRC North7 Glenwood Avenue

East Orange

The LRC provides:Professional Development & Consultation ServicesTechnical assistance to teachers, administrators, and parents of students with disabilities

Web-based instructional resources

Resources Circulation Services

Production Services

Van Outreach

New Jersey Department of Education

Office of Special Education programs

Learning Resource Center Network

NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 85

Documents

DEVELOPING STRONG FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT€¦ · and community engagement NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 2. What is SWIFT? NJDOE OSEP 2015-2016 3. SWIFT Handout