Indicator: School-family engagement

Definition

There are effective partnerships between schools and families, such that parents have access to school systems and are meaningfully included in school processes and student learning.

RECOMMENDED METRIC(S)

Pre-K: Percentage of families and percentage of teachers or caregivers reporting positive relationship quality with one another, using a tool such as the Family and Provider/Teacher Relationship Quality (FPTRQ) parent survey 

K–12: Mean scores on family surveys, such as the Panorama Family-School Relationships Survey  or CORE Districts School Culture & Climate Survey parent assessment of school-community engagement

Type(s) of Data Needed

Surveys

Why it matters

School outreach to and engagement with families provides benefits to students academically and socially, both in short-term school success and long-term outcomes, such as high school graduation and college enrollment. Although family engagement is widely understood to be key to students’ educational success, not all schools successfully build a culture that welcomes and engages all families, and especially families of color. For example, an analysis of parent survey data in California found that perceptions of how well the school encouraged parental involvement were significantly lower among Indigenous parents compared to other groups. Research suggests that school-family engagement is influenced by factors that disproportionately affect families of color, such as parents’ work schedules, transportation, child care needs, and differences in cultural norms.

What to know about measurement

We recommend surveying families to measure their perceptions of school-family engagement. Several survey tools exist to measure this indicator and related constructs. We have identified and suggested tools with an evidence base; however, others may also be appropriate. For example, the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center offers a database of standardized measures related to family engagement efforts and effects and the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments offers a survey item bank to measure various aspects of school climate, including parent engagement. Although family engagement can also be measured using teacher surveys—for example, using the Involved Families component of the UChicago 5Essentials Survey—we emphasize the importance of elevating families’ voices in measuring this indicator. School climate surveys, which at least 13 states implement, typically include instruments for students, staff, and families.

As with all surveys, data users should pay attention to response rates in interpreting and reporting school climate survey data. For instance, the California Department of Education recommends a minimum response rate of 70 percent for students and staff and 25 percent for parents.  The Georgia Department of Education requires a 75 percent response rate for students and staff, and at least 15 parent surveys for reporting purposes. The thresholds used are lower for parent surveys because response rates among parents tend to be significantly lower than for students and staff, who take the surveys during school hours. However, efforts to boost parent response rates would help ensure the resulting data are valid and representative of all families. (For best practices to boost school survey response rates, see Panorama Education.)

Source frameworks

This indicator appeared in 10 source frameworks reviewed for this report. Our proposed approach to measuring family engagement is consistent with recommendations by StriveTogether, CORE Districts, and the National Research Council.

References

The framework's recommendations are based on syntheses of existing research. Please see the framework report for a list of works cited.