engaging parents and community members effectively yrdsb fall school council forum 2009

Engaging Parents and Community Members

Effectively

YRDSB Fall School Council Forum 2009

Background Information

• Parent, Family and Community Engagement refers to the interdependent relationship in partnerships established to support student achievement and social development in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s Parent Involvement Policy


Purpose

The key purpose for parent, family and community engagement is to support students as they progress through school, in collaboration with school staff and the School Plan for Continuous Improvement


Partners

Research clearly shows that good schools become better schools when there is a strong connection with parents. The positive results of a genuine partnership between parents and schools includes improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, better behaviour, and restored confidence among parents in their children’s schooling.

Ontario Ministry of Education website


Twenty-six Tips

From the Ministry of Education….1.The Parent Survey2.The Action Plan3.The School Information Package4.The Meet and Greet Program5.The Bring a Friend Program6.The Welcoming Council


7. The Newcomers Event8. The Childcare Program9. The Translation Service10. The Parent Carpool11. The Off-site/Off-hours Program12. The Showcase Evening13. The School Fair14. The Volunteer Training Program15. The Parent Education Program16. The Welcome Back to School Event


17. The Multicultural Program18. The Bulletin Board19. The School Newsletter and Website20. The School Council Display21. The Direct Mailing Program22. The Parent Contact List23. The Reminder Program24. The Visible Council Member25. The Community Ambassador26. The Recognition Program


Lessons Learned from YRDSB School Councils

– Don’t measure parent engagement by the number of people attending school council meetings

– Look for assets rather than deficits (what strengthsare present in the community?)

- Study your community and school demographics (who are you serving?)

– Survey parents with quick questions at school events, 2-3 times a year


– Use large gatherings to your advantage (eg. School plays, Kindergarten Information nights, Meet the Teacher, University Information nights) , asking 3 simple questions eg. “What questions do you have about how tosupport your child/teenager?” “What’s the best way to get the answers to you – information evenings, website,

newsletters, other…”, “What do you wish you knew moreabout?”

- Involve parents and family members in special events- Consider including food/meals- Share tips for creating successful students


- Consult with Community Resource Facilitators- Talk to identified groups of parents (eg new to the

school/area, from private schools, cultural/religious…) to find out about specific interests and needs

- Vary the styles of delivery (use a multi-media approach to distributing information)


- Engage in questions before answers- Involve parents in the planning and presentations- Follow up with survey results – report on the results and on

subsequent action or non-action and the reasons for this- Consult with community members regarding community

issues and resources


Effective Communication Create an orientation package for new parents (Kindergarten,

new Canadians, ‘move-ins’) about the school, the community, school events, school council and parent engagement opportunities

Partner with administration at parent information sessions (provide a welcome from school council, host an information table, a refreshment stand)

Offer messages to be posted on the display board outside

Encourage parents to ‘bring a neighbour or friend’ to upcoming events


Recognize student achievement at school council meetings, school events (this brings the students’ parents out!)

Partner with secondary school councils (host their meetings at your school, attend their meetings to begin the transition process for grade 8 and future grade 8 students’ parents)

Provide transportation (carpool) Organize interpreters for meetings and events


Translate newsletters Create an information CD/DVD for parents of new students Maintain a notice board near the front entrance Attend sports team events, arts events and be a visible

‘message’ or provide a message to be included in programs

Other ways?


Communicating with the Community

• Create a presentation to be displayed in the hall on a monitor after hours (for ‘permit users’)

• Provide school information packages to local community centres, real estate offices, development sales offices, medical centres

• Provide press releases to the local media• Host community events

• Other ways?


Work with the School Plan

The School Plan for Continuous Improvement provides a good starting point for school council work.


School Council Websites

• School council websites may be linked from the school’s website

• Content must be approved by the school administrator• Accuracy and timeliness are important to readers• Contents might include meeting minutes, Constitution,

membership, links to sites of interest, tips for parents, community features


School Council Newsletters

Best sent with formal school communications (eg. School newsletters, report cards) to ensure that they reach parents

Post extra copies on the School Council noticeboard

Provide extra copies at school events, local community centres…

Provide content which is relevant to the identified interests and questions posed by parents


School Plans for Continuous Improvement

• Based upon the Board’s Plan for Continuous Improvement• Clarifies the school’s work supporting student achievement• Provide three target areas for focused attention:

1. supporting the strengths, needs and interests of each student to improve achievement and success in all subjects and programs;

2. engaging parents, families and communities in collaborative and reciprocal relationships for the purpose of intentionally improving

student achievement and success; and

3. promoting healthy and respectful schools and workplaces


School Councils and School Plans• School Plans for Continuous Improvement (SPCI) provide a great

framework for school council work

• Consider making this the topic of an early school council meeting

• Look for ways in which the school council can work to support a goal expressed in the SPCI (eg literacy scores, graduation rates)

• Consider creating an Action Team which works to improve student achievement by increasing the degree to which parents are involved in their children’s learning at school and at home


Action Teams

• Composition (2-3 teachers, 2-3 family members, 1 administrator, others)– Purpose (review school goals, select, plan,

implement and evaluate family/community involvement activities linked to school goals)

– Decide upon logistics (serves as a sub-committee of School Council, monthly meetings, regular reports)


Epstein’s Model: Six Types of Involvement

Six Types of Involvement• Parenting• Communicating• Volunteering• Learning at home• Decision making• Collaborating with community

This framework can serve to focus Action Team efforts; how can these six types be used to support improved student attendance? Student graduation rates? Literacy scores?


Action Teams

• Select a goal from the SPCI• Describe desired results• How will you measure the results?• Identify specific family and community involvement

activities to support the goal• Organize and schedule family and community

involvement activities to support this goal, using 6 types of involvement

• Publicize the plan


National Network of Partnership Schools

•Established by Joyce Epstein at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland•$100 US fee (paid once; waived once yearly reports are filed)•Newsletter (Type 2)•Promising Practices book annually•Posters (Six Keys)•Technical assistance•Workshops, conferences•www.partnershipschools.org


Thank You

For your interest in supporting students through improved parent engagement.

If you have comments, ideas to share send them to [email protected]


engaging parents and community members effectively yrdsb fall school council forum 2009

Documents

school council meetings

school council display

school plan

school events

school staff

school plays

school demographics

school newsletter