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Unlocking the Power of Family and Community Engagement: Here’s the Research and Framework

The Dual Capacity Framework for Family-School Partnerships 2.0, developed by Karen Mapp, is a comprehensive approach to family engagement that emphasizes building the capacity of both families and educators to support student success. The framework in depth consists of four key components.

• The Challenge: This component helps us understand the reasons why educators and families have struggled to build trusting and effective partnerships.
• Essential Conditions:  This component offers research-based guidance for best practices to cultivate and sustain partnerships.
• Policy & Program Goals:  This component highlights the goals and outcomes that should emerge for educators and families when the essential conditions are met.
• Capacity Outcomes: This component shows how improvements in capacity lead to educators and families working in mutually supportive ways, leading to student and school improvements.

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Source: Mapp, K. L. & Bergman, E. (2019). Dual capacity-building framework for family-school partnerships (Version 2). Retrieved from: www.dualcapacity.org 

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Collaboration is vital in our endeavor. California benefits from numerous family and community engagement organizations leading initiatives statewide and nationally. We gratefully acknowledge Heising-Simons and Sobrato Foundations for supporting our mission to enhance family and community engagement in public schools. In addition, the listed organizations demonstrate unwavering dedication to this crucial work. CA FACE eagerly anticipates expanding its network and forming new partnerships. Heartfelt thanks to all partners for their invaluable contributions to California’s family and community engagement landscape.

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The California Department of Education (CDE) serves as the state’s leading authority on education, overseeing the implementation of educational policies and programs to ensure high-quality learning experiences for all students. With a commitment to excellence and equity, the CDE works collaboratively with schools, districts, educators, families, and community partners to support student achievement and success. Through its diverse array of services, resources, and initiatives, the CDE promotes innovation, fosters continuous improvement, and advocates for the needs of California’s diverse student population. From setting academic standards to providing professional development opportunities, the CDE plays a crucial role in shaping the future of education in the state, striving to create equitable and inclusive educational opportunities that prepare students for lifelong success.

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The California Association of Bilingual Educators (CABE) is a leading organization dedicated to promoting bilingualism, biliteracy, and multiculturalism in education. CABE provides advocacy, professional development, and resources to families, educators, administrators, and policymakers to support the needs of English learners and multilingual students. Through its conferences, training programs, and networking opportunities, CABE strives to create inclusive and equitable learning environments where all students can thrive academically and linguistically.

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The California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) consists of K-12 communicators and education leaders across the state dedicated to fostering better public understanding, commitment, and support for education. CalSPRA provides connections, resources, and collaboration to support and inspire school communicators. 

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The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) strives to enhance collaboration between educators and communities to improve student outcomes. Through this initiative, co-administered by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, local educational agencies (LEAs) develop meaningful relationships while engaging with students, families, and community-based organizations. By fostering strong connections between schools and their surrounding communities, the initiative builds authentic partnerships amongst students, families, districts and communities that nurture relationships, build trust, ensure cultural, racial and linguistic equity, and lead to transformative student outcomes.

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The California Family Engagement Network (CAFEN) is a statewide coalition that promotes equitable and culturally responsive family engagement in education, believing that families are essential to student and school success. Through various initiatives, CA-FEN advocates for integrating family engagement best practices into pre-service training for future educators, aligns family engagement systems and stakeholders and shapes family engagement policies and investments at the state and local levels. By uniting diverse nonprofits, government agencies, foundations, and education leaders across California who share a commitment to family engagement, CA-FEN harnesses its collective expertise and resources to transform California’s education system in partnership with empowered families and communities.

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The California State Parent Teacher Association (CAPTA) is a prominent organization committed to advocating for the education, health, and well-being of every child in California. As part of the larger National PTA network, CAPTA provides resources, training, and support to local PTAs across the state, empowering parents and caregivers to become effective advocates for their children’s education. Through its programs and initiatives, CAPTA works to promote family engagement, school improvement, and legislative advocacy, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential

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The National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) is a leading organization dedicated to promoting effective family, school, and community partnerships to support student learning and development. As a non-profit membership-driven organization, NAFSCE provides resources, training, and advocacy to professionals and families alike, emphasizing the importance of collaborative relationships that engage and prioritize families. Through its initiatives and network of members, NAFSCE advances the field of family engagement and champions policies and educator preparation methods that prioritize the role of families in education nationwide.

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The Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) is a renowned national organization dedicated to empowering families as partners in their children’s education. Through workshops, resources, and support, PIQE equips families with the knowledge and skills to become active participants in their children’s academic journey. By fostering strong home-school connections and advocating for equitable education policies, PIQE helps families navigate the education system and support their children’s success in school and beyond.

The Parent Organization Network (PON) is a space where parent leaders and family-serving organizations connect with advocates, educators and policy makers to transform themselves and our school systems to improve student outcomes. PON melds individual wisdom and resources into a robust network that connects families and students to services and peers who support them in navigating the often-complex education system. Through its network and partnerships, PON identifies needs and engages in research projects, develops capacity-building initiatives, and develops advocacy campaigns to remove barriers that hinder student success, family engagement or conversely strengthen the practice of family or community engagement in schools. PON amplifies the voices of parents and caregivers, fostering meaningful partnerships that support student success and holistic development.

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Seeds of Partnership is an innovative initiative focused on cultivating strong collaborations between schools, families, and communities to foster success for students with disabilities. Seeds of Partnership provides resources, training, and guidance to establish effective partnerships and increase knowledge and awareness in areas of family support and engagement, youth leadership/self-advocacy, early learning, alternate dispute resolution, improvement monitoring, and more that supports educators and families to enhance students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. Seeds of Partnership provides statewide support and coordinated technical assistance to the California Family Empowerment Centers. By sowing the seeds of collaboration, this initiative aims to cultivate vibrant ecosystems where all members are included and thrive.

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OUR FUNDERS 

• Heising-Simons Foundation 
• Sobrato Philanthropies

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CA FACE Initiative Newsletter Archive & Fact Sheet

• Archived Newsletters
• Fact Sheet, downloadable file
• MTSS Professional Learning Institute Network Hour Participating Partners 07/17/24

US Department of Education

• Raise the Bar: Resources for Parents and Families

Community Engagement Resources

• Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) – California Collaboration for Educational Excellence (CCEE)

National Family Engagement Organizations

• Family Engagement Lab Toolkits
  • School leaders can explore the action planning toolkit here 
  • Teachers can access the communication resources here.
• LearningHeroes
• National Association for Family School and Community Engagement
• National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
• National Education Association

Articles 

• Embracing a New Normal: Toward a More Liberatory Approach to Family Engagement
• Family Engagement: Authentically Integrating Essential Competencies
• Joining Together to Create a Bold Vision for Next Generation Family Engagement
• Understanding the Connection between Family School Engagement and Education System Transformation
• Should Working With Families Be a Core Skill for Teachers? (article published by Education Week)

Toolkits, Frameworks, Standards

• Dr. Karen Mapp, Founder of the Dual Capacity Framework
• Dual Capacity Framework (2.0)
• Family Engagement Toolkit Continuous Improvement through an Equity Lens 
• Family Engagement Framework – A Tool for California School Districts
• Joyce Epstein – Six Types of Involvement
• National PTA – National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

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The purpose of the newsletter is to showcase and amplify stories, as well as highlight best practices, in authentic and meaningful family and community engagement initiatives occurring statewide. Content submitted must be in alignment with the mission, goals, and guiding framework of the CA FACE Initiative, with a focus on:

• Increasing Awareness: Promoting family engagement resources and best practices to a wider audience.
• Advocacy: Supporting culturally responsive family engagement policies and practices.
• Access: Facilitating access to evidence-based family engagement resources and support mechanisms.

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Accepted Content Types: We welcome submissions in various formats, including but not limited to:

• Articles
• Case Studies
• Success Stories
• Best Practices
• Resources: Such as toolkits, guides, and relevant materials.
• Events: Including workshops, conferences, and other relevant gatherings.

Please use this submission form to submit your content for review and consideration. See the submission schedule here. Click here to review the policy for newsletter submissions. The CDE Foundation is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  Newsletter submissions will be reviewed and prioritized keeping in mind the cultural and linguistic diversity of families and communities.

Family and Community Engagement News

Your trusted hub for family and community engagement news, expert insights, and practical tips.

Our team will be posting new stories weekly! Click on the banner below or here to read them. Interested in submitting content for our newsletter? Share your story here. The purpose of our newsroom is to showcase and amplify stories, as well as highlight best practices, in authentic and meaningful family and community engagement initiatives occurring statewide.

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The CA FACE team is led by CDE Foundation staff and is supported by a dynamic group of statewide partners. Please reach out to Lisa Borrego, Senior Director or Diana Meza, Associate Director for any partnership questions or additional resources related to the CA FACE mission. Read our team’s full bios on the CDE Foundation staff page.

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Interested in submitting content for our newsletter? Share your story. The purpose of the newsletter is to showcase and amplify stories, as well as highlight best practices, in authentic and meaningful family and community engagement initiatives occurring statewide.