School Improvement with Parent and Family Engagement

Overview

Welcome to the Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) resource page for all things involving parent, family, and community engagement specific to school improvement programs and special education.

The U.S. Department of Education defines family engagement as "the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring that families play an integral role in assisting their student's learning; that families are encouraged to be actively involved in their student's education at school; that families are full partners in their student's education and are included, as appropriate, in decision making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their student.

Dr. Karen Mapp, leading researcher in family and community engagement, has defined family engagement as the “full, equal, and equitable partnership among families, educators, and community partners to promote [students'] learning and development from birth through college and career.” You can learn more about family engagement by reviewing the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement’s Core Competencies.

At USBE, it is envisioned that local education agencies (LEAs) will shift from involving parent and families to engaging and ultimately empowering them. We hold an understanding rooted in consistent research that demonstrates how evidence-based, intentional, and high-quality family engagement is crucial for the educational success and overall development of students including higher academic outcomes, higher rates of school attendance, and for LEAs the benefit of higher teacher satisfaction and lower rates of disciplinary interventions for students.

Current school improvement, parent and family engagement projects with the USBE: