Structured relationship-building teacher home visits have emerged as a promising method to increase parent engagement and improve student outcomes, but there is limited evidence on their effectiveness. The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) partnered with the Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic to rigorously evaluate the impacts…

The "Impacts of Home Visits on Students in District of Columbia Public Schools" study examined the impacts of structured relationship-building teacher home visits conducted in grades 1-5 as part of a family engagement program in the District of Columbia Public Schools. Using a matched comparison group research design, the study measured…

Home visits have a large influence on the academic achievement of students and the relationship between teachers and students. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of home visits on students' academic success and behavior in the classroom. This study investigated the parent involvement of the students who were visited by…

This phenomenological research study examined the impact of family and community engagement and the roles of the parent, school, and the community in the lives of African American students. The purpose of this study was to understand how family and community engagement impacts the achievement of African American students as perceived by parents,…

"Continuous Improvement in High Schools" gives educators and policymakers an accessible, actionable framework to address one of the nation's most important educational priorities: improving high school graduation and postsecondary preparedness rates. Martha Abele Mac Iver and Robert Balfanz, national experts in dropout prevention, apply…

Background/Context: The literature review by Phelps in this special issue highlights the challenges of research-practice partnerships and other forms of insider-outsider collaboration in education. In addition to addressing well-known challenges, this case study article focuses on the full-service community school model as a strategy to address…

This comparative case study investigated how two Title I elementary schools within the same school district implement, promote, and maintain familial/community engagement programs. The district adopted and implemented a family engagement model based on Dr. Karen Mapp's Academic Parent-Teacher Team approach within the Dual Capacity-Building…

The purpose of this study was to assess the increase of Latino parents' confidence in advocating and supporting their child's schooling. The intervention was implemented in six public independent school districts in the Southwest United States. The data was examined through matched pre- and post-surveys (n = 45). Findings are consistent in…

A large body of research suggests that families' engagement in their children's education is a crucial factor in promoting school success for children and youth. Family engagement in school is associated with improved academic achievement and reductions in social and behavioral problems. Research also suggests that collaboration between schools…

This summary report highlights the key findings across all three iterations of the Minnesota Safe Learning Survey. Consistently, all three respondent groups, across all three survey distributions reported concerns about mental health, a message heard far beyond this survey. As time pressed on and educators, students, and families adapted and…

The potential of music-making to foster an individual's social development has been widely explored. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to examine the characteristics of group music-making initiatives aimed at promoting social skills; and (2) to analyse the impact that group music-making initiatives have on people's social development.…

In 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law. The law states that any school that receives Title I funds must inform parents if their child is assigned a teacher for four (4) or more consecutive weeks who has not met applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in…

The importance of a person's belief in their own academic abilities cannot be overstated when it comes to pursuing further education and selecting a career aligned with their studies. This research investigates the influence of family dynamics and background, behavior and values, school experiences and out-of-school experiences on academic…

Culturally Responsive Restorative Practices, an innovative framework intended to counteract discipline disparities and improve school climate and culture, entered year 3 of implementation in 2020-2021. Highlights from ten participating schools included improved perceptions of school climate by students and staff and consistent participation in…

Given the positive influence of school climate on academic outcomes, several districts--including Chicago Public Schools (CPS)--incorporated climate surveys into their accountability systems, to signal the importance of school climate to schools. The "5Essentials" Survey, developed in Chicago, is currently administered to CPS students in…