A document outlines 4 principles for improving family-school relationships: 1) Commit to building relationships with all parents, including those unable to visit school, through regular communication and online resources. 2) Plan all family-school activities to maximize student learning through experiential opportunities like technology nights and college application events. 3) Include children as active participants in conferences and interactions to foster their role. 4) Design events for parents to be fully participating decision-makers rather than just audiences, such as taking on classroom volunteer roles. Following these 4 principles will enhance relationships between families, schools, and communities.

1. INVOLVEMENT
BETWEEN PARENTS,
FAMILIES, AND
SCHOOLS

2. DEVELOPED 4 PRINCIPALS FOR
CHANGING FAMILY–SCHOOL RELATIONS

3. THE SCHOOL MUST COMMIT TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH ALL PARENTS WHETHER OR NOT THE PARENTS CAN
COME TO SCHOOL

4. PRINCIPLE 1 COMMITMENT
• SOME PARENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF WORK OR
FAMILY DEMANDS
• THE SCHOOL STAFF SIGNALS THEIR BELIEF THAT THESE PARENTS STILL CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR CHILD’S LEARNING BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE MEANS
TO UNDERSTAND AND KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SCHOOL
• (E.G., THROUGH USE OF SUMMARY LETTERS DESCRIBING AN EVENT THEY MISSED,
REGULAR NEWSLETTERS, FREQUENT COMMUNICATION FROM TEACHERS,
UPDATED WEBSITE, HOMEWORK ACCESSIBLE TO PARENTS, ONLINE RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, ROBO CALLS WITH SCHOOL UPDATES, )

6. THE SCHOOL STAFF MUST USE THE FAMILY–SCHOOL
RELATIONSHIP TO MEET SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL GOALS, SOLVE
PROBLEMS, AND CELEBRATE THE CHILDREN AND THEIR
ACHIEVEMENTS.

7. PRINCIPLE 2 MAXIMIZE STUDENT LEARNING
• A SECOND PRINCIPLE IS THAT ALL FAMILY–SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED TO MAXIMIZE STUDENT
LEARNING.
• TO DO THIS, THE STAFF EXAMINES THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE (E.G.,
CURRICULUM, ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AFTER-
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION PROGRAMS, HEALTH PROGRAMS) TO DESIGN
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL STAFF TO EXPERIENCE EACH OTHER DIFFERENTLY.
• (E.G WEEKLY TECHNOLOGY DAYS WHERE PARENTS CAN COME AND ACCESS SCHOOL COMPUTERS,
FAMILY STEM AND MATH NIGHTS, STUDENT WAX MUSEUM, COLLEGE APPLICATION & SCHOLARSHIP
MARATHONS)

9. THE CHILD IS INCLUDED AS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN
VIRTUALLY ALL FAMILY–SCHOOL INTERACTIONS

10. PRINCIPLE 3 CHILD IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATE
• THIRD PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE CHILD IS INCLUDED AS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN VIRTUALLY ALL
FAMILY–SCHOOL INTERACTIONS.
• TO DO THIS, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE TAUGHT TO FUNCTION AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN
FAMILY–TEACHER CONFERENCE (EG. STUDENT LED PARENT CONFERENCES).

12. PARENTS SHOULD BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ALL FAMILY–
SCHOOL EVENTS, NOT AS AN AUDIENCE, BUT AS FULL
PARTICIPANTS

13. PRINCIPLE 4 ACTIVELY INVOLVED
PARENTS
• A FOURTH PRINCIPLE IS THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ALL FAMILY–SCHOOL
EVENTS, NOT AS AN AUDIENCE, BUT AS FULL PARTICIPANTS.
• FAMILY–SCHOOL EVENTS ARE DESIGNED TO UNDERSCORE THE ROLE OF PARENTS AS ACTIVE CO-
DECISION-MAKERS AND ILLUSTRATE THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE—PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND
STUDENTS—HAS A JOB TO DO TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.
• PARENTS CAN PLAY ACTIVE ROLES WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND AT SCHOOL EVENTS (E.G CLASSROOM
VOLUNTEER, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PERSON, SCHOOL CHAPERONE, UNIFORM COORDINATOR,
MENTOR, MATERIAL RESOURCE COORDINATOR, SCHOOL PROMOTIONAL/RECRUITMENT TEAM
MEMBER, AUDIENCE MEMBER, SCIENCE FAIR JUDGE)

15. THESE 4 PRINCIPLES WILL ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FAMILIES AND
SCHOOL COMMUNITY