why is family involvement important in a students' education?
- According to IDEA 2006, families have specific rights when it comes to participation in their child's education:
- The right to participate in meetings related to the evaluation, identification, and educational placement of the student
- The right to participate in meetings related to the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
- The right to be included in any meeting held to decide whether their child is a "child with a disability" and meets eligibility criteria for special education and related services
- The right to be included on any team that makes placement decisions for their child or that develops, reviews, and revises an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for their child
- The right to consent to the school providing special education services.
- In order to completely understand student learning and make the effective decisions for an English Learner, it is important to involve families in their child's education.
what are ways you can involve families into a students' education?
- Hold meetings for parents to explain how parent involvement is carried out in the school
- Encourage parents to continue using their home language in the home and read to their children in their own language
- Provide translators who can bridge any cultural gaps for parent meetings and school events
- Share beliefs and expectations with families as equal partners with shared responsibility regarding their students
- Communicate creatively and clearly
- Pursue joint "professional development" where families, educators, and community resources learn together
- Host small gatherings with families and students
- Explore ways for families to participate in and provide feedback on homework and projects
- Identify cultural and language liaisons
The IrIS Center
- Respecting Families from Different Cultures - this resource provides ways to respect those families that may be from a different culture.
- Cultural and Linguistic Differences: What Teachers Should Know - This Module examines the ways in which culture influences the daily interactions that occur across all classrooms and provides practice for enhancing culturally responsive teaching.
- Promoting Family Involvement- The provided table outlines a few of the challenges associated with involving families and provides appropriate ways to respond.
common challenges of involving families
- Limited time to build trust, relationships, and ongoing two-way communication
- Limited skills and knowledge in how to partner
- Parents fear of inadequacy, conflict, or "reliving" negative experiences
- Cultural and linguistic differences between families and schools
- Lack of clearly stated partnering beliefs, expectations of shared responsibility, and role descriptions