Engage Families Throughout the Enrollment and Transition Process
RATIONALE
Families need to be heard in this critical time and need spaces to be partners in the entry/re-entry process. We know that when parents send their child to Pre-K, in particular, this is a much more emotional decision than when they send their child to school to begin any other grade level. The transition to Pre-K is representative of a broader transition that young children undertake at this age from the more dependent toddlerhood years to a period of greater independence. This growth and change is scary for many parents, and we must recognize that this is especially the case now after many young children have spent so much time at home over the past year. Additionally, some parents struggle to make this transition because they feel it challenges their identities as their child’s first teacher. In light of this, we must validate these aspects of parents’ identities and acknowledge the emotional complexities of Pre-K enrollment in order to best serve families. To do so we must engage families and build trust throughout the process and offer the information necessary for parents to make logical decisions that will support their children’s healthy and prosocial development.
“Now more than ever it is time to extend outreach beyond students to involve, inform, encourage, and support our learners’ families. With parents and caregivers [having stepped] in as “co-teachers” in many cases to guide remote and hybrid learning, developing strong relationships with them makes it easier to understand what they need to best support their child at home. This will also help them view you as an invested partner in their child’s success.”
Venola Mason
This sentiment shared here has been important not only throughout the past year with virtual school but will continue to be so in the upcoming school year as well.
CONCRETE STRATEGIES
DISTRICT-LEVEL
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Make a Plan to Engage Parents Throughout the Enrollment Process
Create a protocol for continuing engagement with families from the first touchpoint through the first day of school (and beyond) informed by cross-departmental collaboration with Family and Community Engagement, Early Childhood, and Communications Departments.
Devote staff to helping families navigate every part of the enrollment process, including reaching out to the families that start the process or express interest but do not complete it.
Consider ways to engage families throughout the summer and create spaces for families to bring their questions, concerns, and voices to the conversation.
Consider having a parent/trusted adult stay with the student for half of the first day of school. Then consider a phase-in schedule for the first few days of school including extending drop-off time for the parent/trusted adult to join the student in morning routines for the first 30-45 minutes.
2. Create Connections
Find ways to connect families to the voices of the teacher and school leaders who will be caring for their children.
Provide professional development and training to educators on best practices for connecting with families.
Consider having teachers conduct home visits or have children meet their teacher virtually during the summer.
