Luz de Santana Livres

How can we facilitate collaboration between schools and families for the benefit of all students? The answer lies in leveraging the unique strengths of educators, parents, and caregivers to forge strong partnerships. This guide presents a straightforward strategy for educators to engage parents, particularly those who have been less involved in their children's education. It simplifies complex ideas about civic participation into an easy-to-learn process, equipping parents with two essential skills: asking better questions and effectively participating in key decisions. Drawing from over two decades of research in diverse low- and moderate-income communities, this resource empowers both educators and parents to unite in their shared goal of fostering student success. It features case studies across K-12 settings and addresses challenges such as assisting struggling students, collaborating on IEPs, and communicating with families of English language learners. With its accessible format, practical advice, and real-world examples from schools that have successfully implemented these strategies, this guide is invaluable for everyone involved in education, from the classroom to the central office.