Approximately 9 years after founding the Equality Charter School, executive director Caitlin Franco oversaw the school’s expansion to its current capacity of more than 600 middle school and high school students. Over the years, Caitlin Franco has helped curate a welcoming atmosphere at Equality Charter School that encourages parent involvement. Schools that strengthen relationships with their students’ parents and guardians can reap the following benefits: Positive environment: When parents feel accepted, it can lead to school and learning becoming a more central focus in the student’s household. Parents are also more likely to reinforce values and behaviors that contribute to a positive school culture. Improved academics: Engaged parents also tend to communicate more readily with educators and support their children in reaching their learning goals. Parental involvement is also linked with attendance rates, a key factor for academic achievement. Parent representation: While parents are directly impacted by most school policies, their opinions are often missing from essential meetings. Schools should make an effort to include parents in important decisions to ensure that all stakeholders’ needs are considered.

1. C A I T L I N F R A N C O
How Parent Engagement Benefits Schools

2. Introduction
Approximately 9 years after founding the Equality Charter School, executive director
Caitlin Franco oversaw the school’s expansion to its current capacity of more than 600
middle school and high school students. Over the years, Caitlin Franco has helped curate a
welcoming atmosphere at Equality Charter School that encourages parent involvement.

3. Schools that strengthen relationships with their students’ parents and guardians can
reap the following benefits:
Positive environment: When parents feel accepted, it can lead to school and learning
becoming a more central focus in the student’s household. Parents are also more likely
to reinforce values and behaviors that contribute to a positive school culture.

4. Improved academics: Engaged parents also tend to communicate more readily with
educators and support their children in reaching their learning goals. Parental
involvement is also linked with attendance rates, a key factor for academic
achievement.

5. Parent representation: While parents are directly impacted by most school policies,
their opinions are often missing from essential meetings. Schools should make an effort
to include parents in important decisions to ensure that all stakeholders’ needs are
considered.