By Dr. Deborah Bergeron
In the January 2021 issue of School Administrator magazine, the former director of the Office of Head Start, Dr. Deborah Bergeron, discussed how K–12 school systems could improve family engagement by incorporating lessons learned and best practices from Head Start programs. This blog, adapted from the article, outlines how to incorporate family engagement strategies at all levels of traditional school systems.
Head Start’s driving purpose is school readiness. We couldn’t be successful in our work without help and support from and partnerships with our families. Parent engagement strategies are baked into every part of Head Start program operations and services. I believe everything K–12 school systems need to know about family engagement can be learned at Head Start. The key actions are at the building level, but school system leadership must set the tone and the standards, and provide support to carry them out.
Here are seven ways to incorporate family engagement strategies at all levels of traditional school systems:
- Flip the school model from “school serves child” to “families collaborate with schools”. Allow the school to be a facilitator for building thriving families. The strength you help to build at the family level will follow students long after they leave your school system. For superintendents, this means creating strong relationships with community-based organizations and other social services. This is not just a referral connection. For example, you may find space in your district to house an office for the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program.
- Trust parents to know their children and what is best for them. This requires a sincere belief that parents want for their children what you want for yours. School boards often consist of parents involved in making important school-related decisions. However, they also usually represent your most advantaged families. Administrators can support school-level parent boards to make decisions about curriculum, hiring, and even budgets.
- Train teachers, starting with their higher education field work, to be more comfortable with parents. Teachers should see parent collaboration as a way of supporting the children they serve.
- Empower parents to be their child’s best example. Parents can be your greatest advocate and a child’s most significant influence. Think of this as “power with,” not “power over”.
- Support parents when they need it. Connect them to community resources that can strengthen their families. Your schools can be a hub for the entire community, providing connections to training, employment, and other vital supports.
- Accept families for who they are and strive to find common ground. Always start by getting to know the hopes and dreams they hold for their children. This work will happen at the school level, but school system leadership sets the tone for this approach. Send clear messages that the system’s standard is based on parents being a child’s first and most important teacher.
- Embrace the belief that parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. That doesn’t change when the child turns 5 or 16.
The Office of Head Start is seeking to work with local school districts to redefine family engagement. Learn more about the Collaboration Demonstration Project and how partnering with local Head Start programs can make a difference in K–12 school systems.
Dr. Deborah Bergeron is the former director of the Office of Head Start.