Engagement is a partnership
Decades of research are clear: when families and communities are genuinely engaged, students do better — attendance, grades, behavior and graduation all improve. But real engagement is a two-way partnership, not just fundraising or one-way updates.
What real engagement looks like
Meaningful engagement means welcoming families, listening to them, and working together on their children's learning — not just inviting them to events or asking for money. Schools that see families as partners, and act like it, build the trust that makes everything else easier.
Reaching every family
The families who most need connection are often the hardest to reach — due to work schedules, language, transportation, or past negative experiences with school. Effective schools go to families rather than waiting for families to come to them, and actively remove barriers to participation.
Community partnerships
Schools also partner with the wider community — businesses, nonprofits, libraries, colleges, faith groups and local government — to expand what they can offer students: mentors, internships, resources and wraparound support that no school could provide alone.
Related resources
See the Family & Community Engagement toolkit, School Communications, and For Families.
Frequently asked questions
- Does family engagement really improve outcomes? Yes. Research consistently links genuine family and community engagement to better attendance, grades, behavior and graduation rates.
- What does real engagement look like? A two-way partnership — welcoming families, listening, and working together — not just fundraising or one-way announcements.
- How do schools reach hard-to-reach families? By removing barriers (language, timing, transportation), going to families rather than waiting, and building genuine trust over time.
- Why partner with the wider community? Community partners — businesses, nonprofits, colleges, local government — provide mentors, internships and support that expand what a school can offer students.