Family Engagement

The Department of Community & Family Engagement at Covington Independent Public Schools is dedicated to 1.) fostering strong partnerships with community organizations to offer a variety of family engagement events and programs aimed at supporting student achievement and providing leadership opportunities for families and 2.) building strong relationships with families by actively involving them in their child’s learning and development, providing support services, and creating a collaborative environment where families feel empowered to contribute to their child’s success.

Within Covington Schools, family engagement is defined as the percentage of students with at least one adult who attends a district-sponsored event during the school year. To better serve the diverse needs of families, events are categorized into the following classifications:

• Informative: Events designed to raise awareness and foster relationships between families and the school.

• Collaborative: Activities where parents, students, and teachers work together to build stronger connections and strengthen relationships.

• Instructive: Educational workshops and presentations aimed at enhancing learning for students and families.

• Interactive: Events that invite families to participate together in celebrating special occasions or holidays.

• Observation: Events where parents and family members observe significant milestones or achievements in their children’s lives.

• Empowerment: Opportunities for parents to take on leadership roles, serve in a decision-making capacity, and advocate for their children and the school community.

These diverse offerings ensure that all families have opportunities to engage meaningfully with the school and support their children's success.

Family engagement is a shared responsibility among families, schools, and the broader community. It is a continuous, two-way process that begins in early childhood and extends through a student’s entire K–12 educational journey. When families and schools work together as partners, children benefit academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our school district is committed to fostering strong, meaningful partnerships with families. We view caregivers not just as supporters, but as essential collaborators in shaping each student’s learning experience and overall success. This partnership is built on open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals.

District and school staff strive to implement equitable policies, programs, and practices that actively involve families and communities in the educational process. This includes providing opportunities for families to engage in decision-making, offering resources and support tailored to diverse needs, and creating welcoming environments where all voices are valued.

By nurturing these partnerships, the district works to strengthen community engagement, promote student achievement, and ensure that every child has the support needed to reach their full potential. Family engagement is a cornerstone of student success and a foundation for lifelong learning.

Decades of research demonstrate that when families are engaged in their children’s education, students experience meaningful and lasting benefits. Strong family–school partnerships contribute to improved academic performance, healthier development, and increased long-term success.

Family engagement supports student learning by promoting:

• Higher academic achievement, including stronger grades, improved attendance, and higher graduation and college-going rates.

• Faster literacy growth, especially in the early grades, where family involvement strengthens young learners’ work habits and foundational reading skills.

• Improved school engagement, with students more motivated and connected to their learning.

Engaged families also help foster students’ overall well-being:

• Stronger social–emotional development, including better behavior, task focus, and social skills.

• Lower risk behaviors, particularly during adolescence, along with greater academic motivation.

• Greater impact for at-risk students, with research showing even stronger benefits for English learners and students from low-income or historically underserved communities.

Together, these outcomes underscore a clear message: when families and schools work as partners, students thrive.