Emerging Idea: Parent University-Enhancing Family Engagement by Empowering Families 

Authors: Dr. Andrea James

In education, we tend to do what is known as the “Streetlight Effect,” which refers to a parable about how we tend to seek solutions in familiar and comfortable places and miss the real solution and the opportunity to enact real change. Historically, and still evident in educational practice today, it seems that we can be misguided or choose to ignore what could truly contribute to student success and not only aid student success but sustain it. In this case, we look at building unity between home, school, and community. A plethora of research supports the connection between home and school and how it leads to student success. We see this data throughout suburban areas and areas with high parent and family support and engagement. 

It has been recognized that the higher performing schools generally have a higher level of parent involvement. In many low-performing schools, parent knowledge is somewhat limited and parent involvement is relatively low, which has a negative impact on student achievement. It is a strong possibility that the negative educational experiences of parental figures contribute to the lack of student engagement, or that parental figures simply lack basic understanding of the educational process. Also, parents with limited or negative educational experiences are not as likely to become engaged parents who actively advocate for their children throughout the educational process. (Adams et al., 2010, p.2) 

This isn’t news to anyone in education, but it begs the question, what are we doing about it in the inner-city, knowing we have a deficit in family support and engagement? What does family involvement or engagement look like in inner-city or urban areas? Is it happening within the inner-city schools as much as we would like, or need to see student growth and success? If we want to improve family engagement within inner-city schools, we need to focus on providing more opportunities, knowledge, and access for families within the inner city, and one way to do this is by implementing a parent education program. Specifically, I developed Parent University, a multi-week workshop that uses our current curriculum, teachers/staff, and technology to teach and give our families the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to aid their student’s success. 

How to? What it is?

Parent University is a four–six-week workshop that uses our current curriculum, teachers/staff, and technology to teach and give our families the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to aid their student’s success. Parent University is designed to address attendance, behavior, academics, social and emotional learning, and more. 

Parent University will be a five-week workshop that meets once a week via Zoom for an hour. On the night of Parent University, we provide dinner through food deliveries to each family’s home sponsored by the district. The families log in online through Zoom and are greeted by the Parent University team, which is composed of teachers, staff, and sometimes even administrators who are passionate about family engagement.

Although we offer parenting classes in some schools, Parent University is different because it enhances family engagement. Family engagement isn't just about having events where we invite families. Deep engagement is when the families are knowledgeable, confident, and engrossed in their child's education and well-being, and that's what Parent University seeks to support. Parent University not only gives parenting tips and strategies, but it gives families a real look at what happens in the school and equips them with the knowledge and resources to assist in their child's learning. Parent University doesn't stop there; it always connects families with community resources to assist with each family's individual growth because we know our families must be supported to support our students. These community resources include higher education, housing, food assistance, and more. Parent University wants to empower our families so we will one day have a self-sufficient and thriving community.

Identified Context

I hold multiple leadership positions, which gives me influence in multiple committees throughout the school and district. I am currently the Family Engagement Chair for the school, School Based Equity Coordinator, and Social Studies Chair. With these titles, I can truly implement new innovative strategies to help support our families and enhance family engagement. I will be able to infuse new programs and events for families as a Family Engagement Chair. Becoming a Family Engagement Chair is a new position available by the district to help the school enhance family engagement by having a committee that focuses on family engagement exclusively. 

How to get started? What to do?

The next steps are the following:

• Create a syllabus or outline of the multi-week workshops (collaborating with a mentor)
  • This syllabus will include information families have identified as a need and information they would like to learn more about, such as our reading and math curriculum, managing behaviors, understanding IEPs and report cards, and more. Each week, a different topic(s) will be taught and discussed to empower and enlighten our families.
• Organizing funding and partnerships 
  • I will collaborate with district officials and community partners to help fund Parent University.
• Create slide presentations for each week
  • To align with the week's topic, I will create slide presentations to present via Zoom during Parent University. 
• Create resources that align with each week
  • Next, I will create a binder of resources for each family participating in Parent University that aligns with each weekly topic.
• Market Parent University 
  • Next, I will send flyers, emails, and text alerts to all families within the inner city schools to register for Parent University. I will also use social media and go to community establishments to post flyers and information to market Parent University.
• Recruit teachers and staff members to be a part of the Parent University Team
  • I will email all teachers and staff within the inner city schools to see if they are interested in getting paid to facilitate a breakout room during Parent University. 
• Train the teachers and staff on facilitating break-out rooms
  • I will hold weekly meetings to give the teachers and staff the information and material to facilitate a breakout room for Parent University. 
• Collaborate, plan, and provide a curriculum night for Parent University Culminating Activity 
  • Collaborate with the Parent University team, families, staff, and administrators to plan and implement a curriculum night to recognize our families that completed the program, as well as culminating activity that brings what we have been learning to live. 

Plan for Improvement

Educating and embracing our families will make our students more successful. Families must be included in the educational process; they are a missing link in the inner-city voice on student success! Parent University will provide knowledge, resources, and opportunities to our families.

• Research Base

  Citations

• Impact

  What are the impacts of family engagement for families? (Tab this section)

  Ten out of fifteen participants stated that a major impact of family engagement is the forming of connections among the families, teachers, and staff. Participants stated that forming relationships is important because it makes it easier for teachers to reach out to families and families to reach out to teachers; easier to have conversations, even the harder ones. Participant 6 stated, “When the students see their parents bond with you then they are more likely to bond with you too.”

  Three out of fifteen participants stated that engaged families get access to more support. Participants indicated that they could get assistance with technology and knowledgeable resources within the school and community. Participant 1 stated, “I was able to learn more about what my child is learning and systems in the school.” Participant 11 stated that I learned behavioral strategies to assist me with behaviors at home.” Two out of fifteen participants stated that student engagement has a major impact on families supporting their children at home. Participants stated that when they are engaged in their child’s learning and knowledgeable, it helps them to feel confident in helping with homework at home.

  How would you describe Parent University and its impact?

  Eight out of the fifteen participants stated that Parent University could be described as a way for families to learn what's happening and coming up in the school and understand their child’s life without having to be there every day. Participants expressed that Parent University is an excellent program that gives valuable information, engages families, and provides a fun learning experience that is easily accessible. Some examples that were given were families were able to discuss and understand day-to-day life in the school setting, discuss ways to improve the school and learn techniques, strategies, and resources to support their child at home. Participants stated that Parent University impacts were more family engagement, and families had more knowledge and confidence. Participants implied that they felt empowered due to participating in Parent University, which helped with their perspective on their child’s educational experience. Some examples were families stating they were more confident, knowledgeable and created community connections for self-improvement. 

  Five out of the fifteen participants stated that Parent University is a program that creates connections and interactions between home and school that are more intentional because the families are more knowledgeable. Some examples were stronger connections and relationships with families, teachers, and staff, updated and relevant information to keep families current, and all stakeholders involved expressing a greater appreciation and understanding for one another. Participant 3 stated, "Parent University is like a PTO but more intense, getting the families with the teachers and staff on a personal and professional level, and it gets the entire family involved.” Ten out of the fifteen mentioned that Parent University offers pizza, which they expressed was a great incentive. Participant 12 stated, “Parent University is a win-win situation, they give you a free meal, and you can learn more to help your child.” 

  Pie charts

  Parent Survey Likert Before After Scale Distributions

  Figure 3

  Before and After Results

  Note.Families' knowledge of what their students will learn in school increased from 20% to 66.7%. Before Parent University 46.6% reported that they knew “nothing” and “very little” quite a bit” and “very knowledgeable” about what their child is learning.

  Note.Families expressed that their opportunities to influence what happens in school increased from 26.7% to 53.3%. Before Parent University, 46.7% of families expressed that they did not have opportunities for influence. After Parent University, 13.3% expressed that they do not have opportunities to influence. 

  Note.The graph above 26.7% reported that before Parent University, they were “very knowledgeable” on how to get involved or engaged within the school setting and culture. After Parent University, 66.7% reported that they were “very knowledgeable” on how to be involved and make improvements within the school. 

  Note. Families' confidence and ability to support their children increased from 46.7% to 60.2%.  According to the graphs above, the confidence level within the families due to Parent University had a major increase. 

  Note. The graphs above, the knowledge of community resources and connections increased from 33.3% to 86.7% due to the influence of Parent University. Participants reported in this graph that before Parent University, 13.3% didn’t know of the community resources or possess community connections; after Parent University, that percentage was eliminated.

  Note. According to the graph above, it was reported that the families were empowered individually by gaining leadership skills through Parent University. With an increase from 20% who felt that their district supported their leadership skills and abilities to 42.9 % feeling that the district helps support and develop their leadership skills.