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Understanding Family Engagement
Understanding Family Engagement
Strong family engagement begins with meaningful partnerships between families and schools. For families of multilingual learners, these partnerships are especially important as families and educators work together to support students’ language development, academic learning, and overall success.
Effective family engagement extends beyond individual events, conferences, or school activities. It is an ongoing and reciprocal partnership that develops throughout a student’s educational journey. Strong partnerships are characterized by:
Two-way communication that creates opportunities for families and educators to share information, perspectives, questions, and expertise.
Trust and respect that recognize families as valued partners who bring important knowledge about their children, languages, cultures, experiences, and strengths.
A connection to student learning that helps families understand and contribute to their children's academic and language development.
Shared voice and decision-making that includes families and students in shaping what meaningful engagement looks like within their school community.
Family engagement will not look the same in every school or community. Schools can strengthen their practices by listening to families, learning about the communities they serve, identifying barriers to participation, and creating opportunities for families to contribute in ways that are meaningful and accessible to them.
Informed by WIDA's family engagement research and resources.
Explore WIDA's Family Engagement Resources
Explore WIDA's Family Engagement Resources
The following WIDA resources provide a helpful starting point for schools seeking to better understand family engagement and strengthen partnerships with families of multilingual learners.
Understanding Family Engagement
Understanding Family Engagement
Begin with the foundational question: What do we mean by family engagement? This resource examines family engagement as an ongoing partnership between families and educators and encourages schools to consider how their own students, families, and educators define meaningful engagement within their community. Article linked → HERE
ABCs of Family Engagement
ABCs of Family Engagement
Move from understanding to reflection and practice. WIDA's ABCs provide key considerations schools can use to examine how they build relationships and engage with families of multilingual learners.
Article linked → HERE
Putting Family Engagement into Practice
Putting Family Engagement into Practice
Building strong partnerships with families requires more than inviting families into the school—it involves creating accessible pathways for communication, participation, learning, and shared understanding. The following national resources offer practical guidance, tools, and ideas to help schools strengthen their partnerships with multilingual and immigrant families.
U.S. Department of Education | NCELA
U.S. Department of Education | NCELA
Designed specifically for families of English learners, this toolkit helps families better understand and navigate the U.S. school system. Topics include enrolling and attending school, accessing educational programs and services, participating in extracurricular activities, supporting health and safety, and helping children be successful in school.
Helpful for:
Sharing directly with families and helping school staff anticipate the questions and information families may need.
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education
This resource focuses on supporting immigrant children and families from early childhood through the elementary grades. It offers guidance for educators and schools on welcoming and enrolling immigrant families, supporting children's development, strengthening caregiver engagement, and building staff knowledge and capacity.
Helpful for:
Early learning and elementary educators working to strengthen school practices and partnerships with immigrant families.
TESOL International Association
TESOL International Association
This practical toolkit supports educators in developing stronger connections with families of multilingual learners and the broader community. It includes ideas and examples that schools can adapt to their own context, such as family mentor programs, family learning opportunities, community connections, and locally developed resource guides.
Helpful for:
School teams looking for concrete ideas they can adapt and implement to strengthen family and community engagement.
The Colorín Colorado website has a wealth of resources to support schools in determining ways to best create a culture that is welcoming and understanding of EL families.
Family Engagement Resources Padlet
Additional South Dakota Family Engagement Resources
The South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center (SD SFEC) connects students’ families, educators, and communities. Empowering learners with the support they need to succeed. Their free resources offer training and tools to help everyone work together for student success inside and outside the classroom.
Helpful for: Educators and school teams looking for ready-to-use family engagement activities, communication tools, and resources developed for South Dakota schools and families.
Compass Partners in Learning supports schools in developing meaningful partnerships among families, schools, and communities. Available services include family engagement planning, professional development, family events, family voice initiatives, leadership teams, and customized support for schools and districts.
Helpful for: Districts seeking professional learning, customized family engagement support, or assistance developing schoolwide family engagement practices.
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