What are some practical ways for schools to increase parent and family involvement?
Schools can increase parent and family involvement by: • Providing teachers with information and supports on how to better communicate with and involve families; allowing teachers the time to have phone conversations or face-to-face communication with families. • Developing a phone network or chain of volunteer families who can call each other. Families respond better to direct contact. • Developing a short survey to ask families what kind of events and activities they want to participate in, as well as what they see lacking for their child and family as part of the school community; development of multiple ways that families can actively participate, based on feedback. Some schools plan annual day-long retreats that include families, teachers, administrators, and others. • Inviting families to visit and create a classroom environment that welcomes them and helps them to feel comfortable. • Creating family centers within the school (a place for families to go and have a cup of coffee,
