When schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but in life. The Arkansas Department of Education recognizes that a child's education benefits from strong, two-way communication, trust, and work
between school-home-community members.
ENGAGEMENT IS EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE. EVERYDAY.
Did you know that EVERYONE plays a role in improving education?
Check out our handy one-pagers, posters, and slides that can help you Plan-Do-Check your engagement work, or share with families and community members the information they need.
Out of that process came the six Essentials you see below. This Toolkit was built to answer the question, "how can we accomplish these Essentials?"
Plain language that avoids jargon, acronyms, and “insider” terms can help support two-way communication. Through language, you can tear down barriers and create a sense of belonging and a welcoming environment.
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It's crucial to forge community-based partnerships to support student achievement and wellness. Partnerships don’t just “happen,” they require agreements and commitments of “time, talent, and treasure.”
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Understand the world of the families that you serve. Notice where your kids live, get to know their needs, challenges, and potential. Work to reduce barriers that may stand in their way and provide resources and support.
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The "leadership and support" essential, according to Arkansans, emphasizes that leaders empower all stakeholders, including students, and that all stakeholders "co-labor" in using data to inform plans of action.
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Innovation is the reminder to evaluate current strategies and apply new approaches; seek to create new opportunities; and share information, innovations and practices freely with other districts.
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Safe and friendly schools are more likely to engage families, community partners, and caregivers in working together for the success of students. Building welcoming spaces and culture is an inside-out job.
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Follow these slides for a quick overview of Family and Community Engagement work in Arkansas, as shown by the DESE Engagement Unit.
