ENGAGING ELL PARENTS

PARENT INVOLVEMENT & STUDENT SUCCESS

• More parent involvement = higher levels of student achievement (Jeynes, 2005)
• Effect the same across racial & ethnic groups
• Involvement = support at home & programs that engage parents at school

WHY REACH OUT TO ELL PARENTS?

• ELLs = fastest growing group of students in American public schools, comprising 9.3% or about 4.5 million. In seven states, 10% or higher are ELL (Breiseth, 2015)
• Studies show that parents with English as second language are less likely to attend school events, join committees, or volunteer (Child Data Bank, 2013)
• Harder to reach because of: language & cultural barriers; logistical issues like childcare, transportation, and long work days; and perception that they're not welcome at school

HOW TO CONNECT

CHANGE PERCEPTIONS FROM THE START

• Create a welcoming environment with evidence of families' home cultures
• Provide a home-school liaison or coordinator
• Use technology (Class Dojo, Google translate) to send newsletter in native language
• Have bilingual parents be ambassadors or "Bridge Parents' to newcomer families; brainstorm best ways to reach out
• Set up a multilingual homework help line
• Flip the script: ask parents how they prefer to be contacted and activities most likely to bring them to school

MEETINGS: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

• Deal with logistics: modify meeting times to accommodate work schedules; help arrange transportation and provide childcare
• Encourage teacher home-visits if possible
• Face-to-face classroom meetings: provide a bullet point summary beforehand so that parents know what to expect
• Provide interpreter, if needed; use bilingual staff as resource
• Acknowledge culture & invite extended family
• Meet families in community centers or gathering places outside of school for better comfort and rapport
• Offer suggestions to help parents support kids' learning at home

KEEPING PARENTS INVOLVED

MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION

• Multimedia monthly newsletter -- use visuals and video to show students' progress
• Use apps like Remind to send native language notifications or Class Dojo's "Class Story" feature that translates into 30+ languages
• Two-way street: invite parents to volunteer, observe, & to share their cultures or skill-sets
• Provide specific ways parents can help students' progress at home -- checking homework, reading together
• Bring parents in to help with specific projects -- room redesign or community garden -- to build rapport

SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY CENTERS

• Support family literacy by partnering with the district to offer community education
• Offer free space in school to community organizations that provide resources
• Invite community members to talk to ELL parents about important services
• Intercambio: conversation/language exchanges between ELL & non-ELL parents

A STEP FURTHER: PARENT-LED EFFORTS

• Parents advocate for themselves and each other by initiating groups that provide education & resources
• Examples: Intergenerational Literacy Project, Proyecto de Literatura Infantil, Comite de Padres Latinos, Migrant Education Project
• Success story: Parent Institute for Quality Education -- 9-week parent-involvement education program; helped raise rates of graduation & college enrollment in various districts in California
• Serve as bridge to community organizations, training for self-advocacy, and network for involvement in schools

THANK YOU