Download: MAEC’s Elements of Family Engagement
Download: MAEC’s Elements of Family Engagement
MAEC is proud to share our definition of family engagement. This milestone was made possible with the support of community members, practitioners, and team leaders from Maine, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, working in collaboration with the MAEC team. These voices came together to shape language that reflects real experiences and shared hopes.
Family engagement is a collaborative partnership among schools, families, and communities that embraces diverse strengths, cultures, and experiences to create a supportive environment where every student can thrive. Successful family engagement connects these three essential pieces:
Affirming the role of families as partners
Schools must offer opportunities, communication, and support for families to advocate for all children. Families, in turn, can more effectively advocate and collaborate with school communities to create inclusive learning environments by contributing their unique strengths and cultural knowledge. This approach builds a school community that values and includes every family’s input.
Enriching learning and well-being
Schools facilitate families’ roles as advocates for their children’s learning. This ensures that families are equipped to support their children’s academic and emotional success.
Strengthening community relationships
Family engagement collaboration happens when all members of a school community, including organizations that support families, work together to continuously seek understanding, give respect, and share responsibility and support for student well-being and development. This collaboration creates a strong support network for families and student success.
Download the worksheet and reach out to MAEC to learn how we can partner with your school or district to strengthen family engagement.
