The Why, What, and How of Effective Family and Community Engagement

Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D.Harvard Graduate School of Education

1

Why is family and community engagement so important to children’s

development and achievement?

Family Engagement

•Faster Literacy Acquisition

The National Center for Family Literacy

Reviewed the scientific literature on parent involvement in the acquisition of reading from

kindergarten to third grade. The analysis used either quasi-experimental or experimental studies using control groups. Their analysis found that parents’

engagement in reading activities has a large effect on children’s reading performance. The mean weighted

effect size of .68 equates to a ten-point gain on a standardized tests.

Family Engagement

•Faster Literacy Acquisition•Higher Grades and Test Scores•Enrollment in higher level programs•Promoted on time and earn more credits•Better social skills and behavior•Adapt better to school and attend regularly•Enroll in post-secondary institutions

Community Engagement

•Upgraded school facilities•Higher quality learning programs•Improved leadership and staffing•Enhanced and expanded social networks•Resources for after-school and family supports•Increased social and political capital•Leadership development of youth and families

Cultivating Effective Engagement

Why has it been difficult to cultivate and sustain effective family and community

engagement initiatives that support student development and achievement?

Cultivating Effective Engagement

The various stakeholders have not had the opportunity to develop the collective capacity

to engage in effective engagement initiatives.

Definition of Capacity

• Connections - social capital, the internal and external relationships and the strength and structure of these connections

• Capabilities - the specific types of human capital, skills, knowledge and know how

• Confidence - the types of individual self-efficacy

• Cognition - beliefs, assumptions, values, and world-views

- Higgins, 2005

Where do we start?

With a Paradigm Shift

From To

Focus on programs Focus on relationships

Deficit-based and adversarial

Asset-based and collaborative

Random acts Systemic

Individual responsibilityCollaborative, shared

responsibility

Compliance drivenLearning and outcomes

driven

Service Developmental

One-time projects Sustained Initiatives

The Bottom Line:

We have to shift from seeing families and the community as part of the problem to an essential part of the solution.

Q and A