Building partnerships with families can be a challenge, especially in ethnically diverse classrooms. In this article, the authors describe how to create such partnerships with three kinds of classroom events: community-building events that deepen social relationships and make families feel welcome; curriculum showcase events that give families a…

The purpose of this article is to explore family-oriented partnership models to engage families of young children with disabilities in inclusive programmes. Family engagement is important for the education of children of all ages, but it is especially critical for the success of young children with disabilities in inclusive settings. However, the…

The purpose of this article is to advance the importance and value of participant-oriented research (POR) at research universities. We highlight a case study of community collaboration as it relates to a strengths-based educational model for students with autism. This evidence-based program's success centers on the inclusion of students, parents,…

This report describes the implementation efforts of the first grantees under the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) and how they aligned with program priorities. Begun in 2018, SFEC is one of the key U.S. Department of Education programs designed to address disparities in family engagement in schools. The program provides grants to…

This volume serves as a companion to the "Lessons from the First Statewide Family Engagement Centers: Alignment with Federal Priorities and Factors Influencing Implementation" report. The report focuses on the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) program and provides insights into its implementation and alignment with federal…

A secret sauce for family and community engagement emerged as a result of a technical assistance project that supported Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grantees in California. Power-sharing, communication, creativity, and continuous recommitment to families were key ingredients of that sauce. When these were present, programs were able to…

Early childhood educators teach children with a variety of ability levels. Children ages birth to five who exhibit characteristics of a developmental delay, disability, or a health condition that may affect typical development and learning may receive early intervention (EI) services as detailed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act…

Family engagement is crucial to academic achievement. However, family engagement practices in schools are inequitable and do not reach Families of Color. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed both further inequities in education and an undoubtedly critical need to partner with all families for student success. This improvement science initiative was…

This document provides the data collection instruments for the full report, "Lessons from the First Statewide Family Engagement Centers: Alignment with Federal Priorities and Factors Influencing Implementation." The report describes the implementation efforts of the first grantees under the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) and…

Every family deserves access to the information they need to understand the quality of their community's schools and to make the best decision about their child's education. School report cards are the primary way that states communicate the information that families want and need about schools, but too often, the report cards are more focused on…

In a collaborative partnership between a public school district in the northeast United States and university faculty, social-emotional/behavioral (SEB) screening was implemented across the district at three elementary schools serving students in kindergarten through second grade. Although both parents and teachers served as informants in SEB…

Although family engagement has long been associated with positive outcomes, it is not easy to establish, particularly in urban classrooms. Teachers whose ethnic and social-economic statuses differ from that of the typical urban family may be unaware of how to build and sustain those relationships. When teachers do attempt to involve families, it…

The Coalition for Community Schools (Coalition), as an alliance of national, state and local partners that advocate for community schools, wanted to provide support and a space for community school leaders to share their challenges and successes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning March 17, 2020 through the present, the Coalition conducted…

The field of early childhood education supports the notions that early childhood programs need the active support of families and that the school and the home are the most critical environments impacting children's development (Mart, Dusenbury, & Weissberg, 2011). The vast majority of state standards do not align with family involvement…

This article examines the leadership roles and practices of community school coordinators (CSCs) in three full-service community schools (FSCSs). FSCSs are designed to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of historically underserved students through expanded learning opportunities, integrated service provision, family engagement, and…