2019 Every Child Counts Symposium

Creating inviting and welcoming school environments is essential for all school communities. Under LCAP, many school districts have added or strengthened parent engagement strategies. Traditional parent engagement strategies have involved “getting parents through the door.” Many parents and guardians from diverse backgrounds, however, have expressed concern that they do not feel welcome or comfortable in the school setting. Almost all teachers and administrators want to involve families in schools, but many have not been trained or prepared to build positive and productive partnerships with families from diverse cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities. Amid advances in technology, schools have opportunities to connect with parents and guardians in ways that did not exist ten years ago. This workshop will present innovative programs and strategies to increase parent engagement, with emphasis on meaningful engagement and empowerment of families of color.