IowaParents.org | Best Practices, Best Bets

What

	Web Links
	The Iowa Department of Education Information on the continuum of scientifically based research.
	A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement
	A New Wave of Evidence Family And Community Engagement Self-Assessment

The Iowa Parent Information Resource Center has begun the organization of research in increasing student achievement through effective parent and family engagement. This information is provided to you for your consideration as you look at programs, strategies, and tools to facilitate the collaboration of parents, families, and educators in increasing student achievement. Our goal is not to recommend but to provide you with the information so that you can make quality decisions that impact your students and community.

The Iowa Parent Information Resource Center does not recommend the adoption of any program, strategy, practice or routine reviewed on this site. Information on this site should be viewed as information for use by collaborative teams of educators and parents as they consider programs and opportunities for effective engagement of parents and families to increase student achievement and success.

So What

		As you think about the engagement of parents and families in your school, you will want to determine first what your student needs are based on data you have collected. You will then want to review and identify the research studies which provide evidence that particular practices in parent/family engagement have had an effect on student achievement. When compared to your classroom/building data, you should then be able to match the area of need to potential programs, resources, and/or professional development opportunities in parent/family engagement.
		Parents/Families should ask their school...
		How am I presently engaged in my student’s learning at school? At home? What does the research say about effective involvement of parents and families with students of my children’s age? Are there specific programs or strategies that can be most effective? How might I share this information with the teacher/principal of my children? With other parents?
		Teachers/Caregivers and Administrators should ask...
		What do our data tell us about the present engagement of parents and families as we work to increase student achievement? In my classroom? In our building? What does the research say about effective involvement of parents and families with students of grade levels I/we serve? Are there specific programs or strategies that can be most effective in my classroom/school? How might I share this information with my parents and families? Other members of our staff? The principal?

Now What

Consider doing the following in regard to scientifically based research in parent and family engagement.

Parents/Families should...

	Resources
	REACH Summaries of Research

	Web Links
	Iowa Area Eduation Agencies
	School Administrators or Iowa
	Iowa Teaching Standards and Criteria

Seek out information about the best practices in being involved at school.
Talk regularly with your children’s teachers and principal about being involved with your students’ learning.
Promote the involvement of other parents and families in their children’s education.

Teachers/Caregivers and Administrators should...

Review regularly what best practices are in engaging parents and families in increasing student achievement.
Review your building’s/classroom’s data regarding the engagement of parents and families in order to determine the needs of your building/classroom.
Contact your AEA, the School Administrators of Iowa, or the Iowa Parent Information Resource Centerfor opportunities to learn more about best practices in parent and family engagement.
Tie your discussions and expectations of parent and family engagement to the Iowa Teaching Standards and Criteria.
Talk regularly with your colleagues/staff about effective strategies for parent and family engagement.
Teachers/Caregivers: Include strategies in your professional growth plan and advocate for strategies in your building action plan that increase practices in parent and family engagement that impact student achievement.
Principals: Include strategies in your building action plan that increases your practices in parent and family engagement that impacts student achievement.

Supporting Weblinks

Quicklinks

What

So What

Now What

Essential Learnings

Programs and Interventions that engage families in supporting their children’s learning at home are linked to higher student achievement.
The continuity of family involvement at home appears to have a protective effect on children as they progress through our complex education system
Families of all cultural backgrounds, education, and income levels encourage their children, talk with them about school...
Parent and community involvement that is linked to student learning has a great effect on achievement than more general forms of involvement...
Programs that successfully connect with families and community invite involvement, are welcoming, and address specific needs of parents and community.
Parent involvement programs that are effective in engaging diverse families recognize, respect, and address cultural and class differences.

Grades

Birth to 5
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Elementary
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Middle School
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High School