Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Family Engagement

    Posted 02-11-2020 10:47 AM
    ​What does your family engagement look like in your program? How do you involve them is school decisions regarding curriculum, behaviors, events, etc?

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    Heather Ha
    PPPIF Facilitator
    Program Manager
    CHI St. Joseph Children's Health
    Lancaster, PA
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  • 2.  RE: Family Engagement

    Posted 02-12-2020 11:17 AM
    Hi Heather, I am the Program Coordinator at a the CSULA Lab school. We serve students, faculty, staff and the community. We have a parent advisory committee (PAC) that meets monthly to connect, share their thoughts and plan fundraising and family events. PAC votes on a board of directors and we have a teacher representative and an admin member attend each meeting. PAC is not involved in decision making but we do take their suggestions into consideration. We also put out annual parent surveys to receive feedback on the program and encourage families to sign up for parent participation (bi-annually); this ranges from a classroom donation to coming in to read to the children or carry out an activity. e.g. In the past we had a parent who was a professional dancer who came in to lead the children through cultural song and dance. We really make sure to get to know our families and encourage them to share their interests and talents with us whenever possible. 

    With that said, family involvement is still somewhat of a struggle and we often see the same families participating. However, being open and flexible to work with their availability does help.

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    Vanessa Winn
    Anna Bing Arnold Children's Center
    Alhambra CA
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  • 3.  RE: Family Engagement

    Posted 02-12-2020 11:41 AM
    We are a parent participation preschool, so family engagement is inherent in our program.  Curriculum decisions are made by our staff but our parent board steers other decisions in our school (i.e. what fence to purchase for our front yard, what financial aid policy we set, what events we put on, etc) with our staff serving in an advisory capacity.  Parents work one day a week in the classroom (at least), help us maintain the beauty and safety of our school, and drive fundraising for our program.  They also have support jobs in our school which include everything from leading tours to sanitizing toys.  We have monthly parent education meetings that families attend and we have class meetings a couple of times a year during which we discuss our children's behavior, positive discipline, and other topics that help our school and our families thrive.

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    Sherrie Rose Mayle
    Director/Teacher
    Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
    Campbell, CA
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  • 4.  RE: Family Engagement

    Posted 02-13-2020 10:43 AM
    Hi Heather,
    We are a Parent Cooperative Preschool so parent participation is a requirement of enrollment. We have a membership commitment form that lists all of their parent duties as part of our cooperative preschool. We still struggle with holding a few of them to their commitment's but have found that being very clear and giving them alternative options has helped.
    We have a Board of Directors that plans events, oversees the financial decisions and assists with program curriculum and behavior concerns. The board is compromised of parent members that have or have had children in the school. The Administrator and teachers are the ones that decide on curriculum and when behavior concerns need to rise to the Board level. The Board feels that they should leave it to the professionals and assist when conflicts arise. The Board approves the curriculum and behavior policy at the beginning of the school year.
    Hope this information gives you some more insight into different programs and policies.

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    Amanda Anders
    Administrator
    Racine Cooperative Preschool
    Mt Pleasant WI
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