Family Engagement Institute
EDUCATION IS OPPORTUNITY
Family Engagement Institute “One of the most powerful but neglected supports for children’s learning and development is family involvement, both in and out of school. Over 40 years of steadily accumulating evidence show that family involvement is one of the strongest predictors of children’s school success.” Reframing Family Involvement in Education: Supporting Families to Support Educational Equity, Equity Matters; Teachers College, Columbia University; Heather B. Weiss, Suzanne M. Bouffard, Beatrice L. Bridglall, Edmund W. Gordon
All families dream about raising healthy, successful children but not all families have equal access to the systems of support that turn the dream into reality. – FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INSTITUTE, FOOTHILL COLLEGE
Purpose | The Family Engagement Institute (FEI) works to close the opportunity gap by providing educational opportunities for underserved families with children, birth through adolescence. The purpose of FEI is to strengthen the capacity of families, schools and communities to build engagement strategies to ensure the success of all students. FEI promotes equity and access to quality education and supports the Completion Agenda for families at every stage of their education – early childhood through college. Need | Children need strong families, quality schools, and supportive communities to realize their potential. At FEI we believe families are essential in changing these numbers: • Just 40% of 3-4 year old children of low-income in California attend preschool • Children of low income enter Kindergarten 12-14 months behind in pre-reading and language skills • Over half of California’s 2nd and 3rd graders are not proficient in English Language and 40% are not proficient in math – Latino students achieve proficiency at a rate of 33% points less than white students • 62% of California’s 8th graders are enrolled in Algebra I and 46% scored proficient or above with only 29% of African American and 35% Latino students • In 2010, 31% of Latino students and 40% of African American students did not graduate high school compared to 11% of their white counterparts • In 2009, 41% of 25-34 year olds across the US attained an associate degree or higher with 69% of Asians, 49% of whites, 29% of African-American, and 19% of Latinos
What is family engagement?
Family Engagement | Family Engagement is a shared responsibility among families, schools, and communities in which schools and community organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways and families are committed to actively supporting their children’s learning and development. We value the influence of family on a child’s well-being and are committed to all families being informed and engaged as powerful advocates for their children. FEI Framework of Family Engagement Indicators: • Knowledge • Awareness of Values and Culture • Connection To Community • Confidence
• Leadership and Advocacy • Commitment to Next Steps
Guiding Principles Accessibility: We make our programs accessible by removing barriers to create an equitable learning environment for all. Excellence: We assess our programs and seek best practices to ensure quality educational experiences. Collaboration: We build strong partnerships among families, schools, and community organizations to leverage resources and develop creative solutions. Responsive: We work with our partners to create strategic site-specific solutions for families, schools and community organizations. Programs FEI works in partnership with Foothill College to provide affordable and accessible continued educational opportunities that are developmentally, culturally and linguistically responsive for: Families | FEI provides Family Workshop Series in the program areas of: • Parenting – Strong Start • Stretch To Kindergarten • Family Literacy • Fatherhood/ Male Involvement • Healthy Choices • Family Learning Labs – Computer, Math and Science • Pathways to College
Educators | FEI provides Professional Development in Family Engagement in the areas of: • Strategic Planning and Implementation • Cultural Competency • Dual Language Learners • Early Math
BY THE NUMBERS – 2012 •
•
FEI enrolled 1370 Family Workshop participants and 352 Educator Workshop participants. Demographics of families served: 91% Latino; 2% Asian/Pacific Islander; 1% African American; 2% White; 4% unknown
Community FEI influences policy by increasing knowledge and awareness of family engagement to local and national stakeholders
PA R T N E R S S E R V E D – 2 0 1 2 • • • • •
East Side Union School District Mountain View Whisman School District Ravenswood City School District Santa Clara County Office of Education — Head Start Sunnyvale School District
Family Engagement Institute | Foothill College | 4000 Middlefield Road, Suite I, Palo Alto, CA 94303-4761 650-949-6984 | www.foothill.edu/fei/ This program is a partnership with Foothill College and is made possible in part by foundation grants.
Family Engagement Institute “One of the most powerful but neglected supports for children’s learning and development is family involvement, both in and out of school. Over 40 years of steadily accumulating evidence show that family involvement is one of the strongest predictors of children’s school success.” Reframing Family Involvement in Education: Supporting Families to Support Educational Equity, Equity Matters; Teachers College, Columbia University; Heather B. Weiss, Suzanne M. Bouffard, Beatrice L. Bridglall, Edmund W. Gordon
All families dream about raising healthy, successful children but not all families have equal access to the systems of support that turn the dream into reality. – FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INSTITUTE, FOOTHILL COLLEGE
Purpose | The Family Engagement Institute (FEI) works to close the opportunity gap by providing educational opportunities for underserved families with children, birth through adolescence. The purpose of FEI is to strengthen the capacity of families, schools and communities to build engagement strategies to ensure the success of all students. FEI promotes equity and access to quality education and supports the Completion Agenda for families at every stage of their education – early childhood through college. Need | Children need strong families, quality schools, and supportive communities to realize their potential. At FEI we believe families are essential in changing these numbers: • Just 40% of 3-4 year old children of low-income in California attend preschool • Children of low income enter Kindergarten 12-14 months behind in pre-reading and language skills • Over half of California’s 2nd and 3rd graders are not proficient in English Language and 40% are not proficient in math – Latino students achieve proficiency at a rate of 33% points less than white students • 62% of California’s 8th graders are enrolled in Algebra I and 46% scored proficient or above with only 29% of African American and 35% Latino students • In 2010, 31% of Latino students and 40% of African American students did not graduate high school compared to 11% of their white counterparts • In 2009, 41% of 25-34 year olds across the US attained an associate degree or higher with 69% of Asians, 49% of whites, 29% of African-American, and 19% of Latinos
What is family engagement?
Family Engagement | Family Engagement is a shared responsibility among families, schools, and communities in which schools and community organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways and families are committed to actively supporting their children’s learning and development. We value the influence of family on a child’s well-being and are committed to all families being informed and engaged as powerful advocates for their children. FEI Framework of Family Engagement Indicators: • Knowledge • Awareness of Values and Culture • Connection To Community • Confidence
• Leadership and Advocacy • Commitment to Next Steps
Guiding Principles Accessibility: We make our programs accessible by removing barriers to create an equitable learning environment for all. Excellence: We assess our programs and seek best practices to ensure quality educational experiences. Collaboration: We build strong partnerships among families, schools, and community organizations to leverage resources and develop creative solutions. Responsive: We work with our partners to create strategic site-specific solutions for families, schools and community organizations. Programs FEI works in partnership with Foothill College to provide affordable and accessible continued educational opportunities that are developmentally, culturally and linguistically responsive for: Families | FEI provides Family Workshop Series in the program areas of: • Parenting – Strong Start • Stretch To Kindergarten • Family Literacy • Fatherhood/ Male Involvement • Healthy Choices • Family Learning Labs – Computer, Math and Science • Pathways to College
Educators | FEI provides Professional Development in Family Engagement in the areas of: • Strategic Planning and Implementation • Cultural Competency • Dual Language Learners • Early Math
BY THE NUMBERS – 2012 •
•
FEI enrolled 1370 Family Workshop participants and 352 Educator Workshop participants. Demographics of families served: 91% Latino; 2% Asian/Pacific Islander; 1% African American; 2% White; 4% unknown
Community FEI influences policy by increasing knowledge and awareness of family engagement to local and national stakeholders
PA R T N E R S S E R V E D – 2 0 1 2 • • • • •
East Side Union School District Mountain View Whisman School District Ravenswood City School District Santa Clara County Office of Education — Head Start Sunnyvale School District
Family Engagement Institute | Foothill College | 4000 Middlefield Road, Suite I, Palo Alto, CA 94303-4761 650-949-6984 | www.foothill.edu/fei/ This program is a partnership with Foothill College and is made possible in part by foundation grants.
