Issuu

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 SUMMIT 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. AWARDS LUNCHEON 1:00 P.M. â€“ 3:00 P.M. THE CENTER AT CATHEDRAL PLAZA 555 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012

FamiliesInSchools

@FamsInschools

FamiliesInSchools

Families-In-Schools 1

Elevating our local communities CIT is proud to support organizations that enable our communities to thrive and grow.

WELCOME TO ALLIANCE 2018! United in Action: Building Communities and Schools for All Day after day, breaking news, and headlines highlight the need for more information, connection and action to break down the barriers that divide us and compromise our humanity and sense of hope. This sentiment permeates our school environments that face similarly trying circumstances which threaten our children’s ability to learn, grow and realize their goals and dreams. At this year’s Alliance Summit, we are gathering together as parents, families, educators, administrators, advocates and community partners to be United in Action and combat the forces that stoke fear and recede progress, in our schools and communities. With the theme ‘Building Communities and Schools for All’, this Alliance Summit aims to equip stakeholders who care about the promise of their students with resources, strategies and skills to take to your schools and communities and continue to act to create transformational change. The year’s Alliance Summit is divided into three tracks to focus your learning and resource-gathering: •A dvocates In Action centers on increasing awareness about critical policy issues that affect students and the school system. •K nowledge in Action elevates the practical strategies utilized by student success organizations. •W ellness in Action reminds us of the importance of a holistic approach to children’s well-being to cultivate environments that nurture the mind, body and soul. It is our hope that you leave Alliance with a renewed sense of purpose, energy, and knowledge to sustain you in the continued fight for our students, and communities, and their right to thrive.

Ready. Set. Act!! – Families In Schools

[Parent engagement] is an investment you need to make. This is something I would hope would be your top priority. Certainly in the LCAP, it is now a requirement. We’ve always said we’ve done parent engagement, but it [can be] measured more. [Training for school staff] is something that truly let’s parents know you are serious about investing in them as a partner. – Leticia Marrujo, Program Specialist, Azusa Unified School District

OUR MISSION

HIGHLIGHTS

To involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success.

Families In Schools (FIS) serves low-income communities of color knowing that education remains the single most important opportunity for them. FIS seeks to help parents become knowledgeable and confident advocates for their children’s education, and allies and partners with schools.

OUR WORK •D eveloping and implementing workshops for families on topics ranging from family literacy to college planning and persistence. • T raining school staff on effective parent engagement strategies. •A dvocating for policies that foster parent engagement. •C reating awareness campaigns on key educational issues.

Age/Grade FIS CURRICULAR PROGRAMS

PROGRAM FOCUS

FIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FIS TRAININGS ADVOCACY

Infant –1st Grade Preschool – 3rd READ WITH ME

Family Literacy

READING ROADS

Family Literacy

OUR HISTORY Rigorous research in the 1990s indicated that parent engagement was a key strategy to improve student and school performance. Families In Schools was created in 2000 to focus on family engagement as a critical component of school reform and improved student outcomes, in particular for students from low-income families and communities of color.

Kinder – 5th

5th & 6th

6th - 8th

6th – 9th

8th & 9th

5th – 12th

STEPS TO SUCCESS

TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

GROWTH MINDSET

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE ACADEMY ( College Smarts)

TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE ACADEMY (Money Smarts)

English Elementary to Learner Middle School Reclassification Transition and Social Development

Non-Cognitive Skills for Student Success

College Academic Preparation

Middle School to High School Transition and Social Development

AWA R E N E S S C A M PA I G N S Preschool – High School Family Educational Campaigns

P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T A N D C A PA C I T Y B U I L D I N G Trainings for School and Non-Profit Staff on Family Engagement Best Practices

P O L I C Y A N D FA M I LY L E A D E R S H I P Elevating the Voices of Families & Advancing Policy

College Financial Literacy

12th TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

High School to College Transition, Financial, Social-Emotional and Academic Adjustment

OUR PARENT CURRICULA FIS develops and implements culturally-relevant parent curricular programs, designed to engage families in the education of their children. The programs are focused on critical issues that all parents should know in order to support learning and advocate for their children’s needs, ranging from quality early education, family literacy to college awareness and preparation. FIS can train staff on how to deliver the curricula or one of our certified facilitators can deliver the workshops at the site.

COLLEGE AWARENESS & ACCESS FIS has a three prong approach to college awareness and access. FIS’ vision is to provide both student support services and family engagement support, to ensure students are ready for a post-secondary education. Families In Schools: • Serves as the fiscal agent of the California Student Opportunity Access Program Los Angeles (Cal-SOAP LA). Cal-SOAP is funded by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and is instrumental in raising the achievement levels of elementary and secondary school students from geographic regions with documented low-eligibility or college participation rates. • Provides support to GEAR UP 4 LA, a federally funded program, by providing parent curricula workshops ranging in topics from College Knowledge to Transition to College. GEAR UP implements a cohort model beginning in 6th grade through a student’s first year of college. • Partners with School2Home, an innovative statewide program designed to help close both the achievement gap and the digital divide in California. FIS provides professional development to school staff to ensure that parent engagement is effectively used as a teaching and learning strategy. School2Home is a program of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and is committed to establish “parent friendly” schools.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING FIS provides professional development and capacity building to schools and community organizations on how to authentically partner with parents. FIS offers professional development institutes on three core areas: Parent Engagement Strategies, Welcoming Environment, and Outreach Recruitment and Retention. FIS also offers coaching, webinars, tailored technical assistance and manages professional learning networks to help school staff develop their knowledge, skills, and dispositions on how to authentically work with families.

ADVOCACY At the state and local level, Families In Schools works to: 1. Advance high quality learning environments for all children, 2. Increase school options for parents, 3. Strengthen family, community, school partnerships and engagement, and 4. Build leadership capacity of parents. Families In Schools is a key member of several education justice coalitions including LCFF and Equity Coalition, Coalition for Los Angeles Student Success (CLASS), Partnerships for Equitable Access to Public Schools Los Angeles (PEAPS-LA), and Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative (SELA). 5

18 Y E A R S O F F A M I L I E S I N

2000

2001

2002

• LAAMP creates Families In Schools to pursue improved student achievement by engaging families in the education of their children.

• Read with Me/Lea Conmigo is created by FIS to provide books in English and Spanish for family reading and improved reading achievement.

• T he Mother/Daughter College Preparation Program is adapted from the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) and implemented in selected LAUSD schools.

• Blueprints for Parents is made available to FIS by the Go Along Side Foundation to reinforce family values through children’s literature.

• First college conference is held for middle and high school students at Occidental College in partnership with elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley.

2006

2007

2008

• The “Power of Teacher and Parent Partnerships” is developed for selected LAUSD high schools.

• Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú is featured author at the Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair.

• United Way Success by 6 invites FIS to implement parent education in Wilmington which leads to partnerships at Wilmington Middle School and Banning High School.

• A comprehensive partnership with the Lennox School District is launched.

• FIS joins preschool advocates from LA County and Preschool California to promote quality early education and develops The Preschool Experiences We Deserve brochure.

• FIS joins the Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative to help families advocate for quality preschool education for their children.

• FIS invites the Boyle Height Learning Collaborative (BHLC) to merge and promote parent and community based reform efforts in the Roosevelt Family of Schools.

• FIS expands to California’s Central Valley and provides technical assistance to agencies engaged in the Families Improving Education (FIE) initiative.

SCHOOL

Gala

2013

2014

2015

• FIS launches Alliance Summit as a convening of community, parent and policy leaders to discuss pressing issues related to student success.

• FIS creates a toolkit, “A Parent’s Guide to School Funding,” in three languages for parents and nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about California’s Local Control Funding Formula.

• FIS conducts its first Gala Celebration to commemorate our 15 year anniversary.

• FIS mobilizes 200 parents to demand improved parent engagement practices under new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) legislation before State Board of Education in Sacramento and releases Reimagining Parent Engagement in 6 California: Moving from 1.0 to 2.0 report.

• FIS launches three training workshops for school and agency staff on parent engagement best practices.

• The White House recognizes FIS as a “Bright Spot” for its efforts to close the achievement gap for Hispanics.

SCHOOLS MILESTONES To begin a parent engagement program in your community, contact Families In Schools about upcoming facilitator training institutes or schedule your own training.

t Program Engagemen A Parent ls In Schoo of Families

A Parent Engagement Program of Families In Schools

A Paren t Engageme nt Progr of Families am In Schools

How do Transition programs strengthen the capacity of parents? An evaluation of Transition programs, conducted by Dr. William Perez from Claremont College of Education, found “Transition to Middle School” and “Transition to High School” programs to have a significant impact on immigrant parents with low levels of education. The three year evaluation helped to decrease college attendance and financial aid concerns. In addition, Transition programs increased participants:

Families In Schools The mission of Families In Schools (FIS) is to involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success. To learn more about FIS, visit www.familiesinschools.org or call (213) 201-3900.

• Valuing of schooling • College preparation confidence • Parent/child/school communication • College requirement knowledge

For more information, contact: Carolina Hernandez-Malone, Director College Awareness and Preparation Email: chernandez@familiesinschools.org Phone: 213.201.3923 | Fax: 213.484.3845 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700 | Los Angeles, CA 90017

www.familiesinschools.org

2003

2004

2005

• First Million Word Challenge and Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair is held in partnership with the BHLC at Roosevelt High School.

• A Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) is created through support from the US Department of Education to promote family engagement in education.

• “The Schools We Deserve” is developed to advocate for small schools and rigorous collegeprep (A-G) course work.

• Going On To College (GOT College!) is developed to expand the Mother/Daughter program to include young boys and their families.

• The Transition to Middle School and Transition to High School programs are created in partnership with the BHLC.

• FIS joins with United Way, Inner City Struggle, Community Coalition, and other organizations to create the Communities for Educational Equity (CEE).

2009

2010

2011

• Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors joins FIS and expands across California; it becomes the first FIS initiative to expand to other states.

• In partnership with First 5 LA, FIS hosts 550 teachers, parent educators, and early learning leaders at first School Readiness Conference.

• FIS launches Families Improving Education to provide capacity building for nonprofits in the Central Valley and Inland Empire.

• JP Morgan Chase selects FIS to promote college and careers in select LAUSD middle schools in Boyle Heights, Leimert Park, and Baldwin Hills areas.

• FIS develops curriculum in partnership with School2Home to train parents to use technology to improve communication with teachers and school personnel.

• Passport to Success is launched as a public campaign to help families access learning opportunities during the summer.

2016

2017

2018

• In partnership with GEAR UP 4 LA, and PERTS at Stanford, FIS develops and implements Growth Mindset.

• In alliance with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, Families In Schools and Californians for Justice launch a two year, Professional Learning Network, with four school districts in the Central Valley.

• Cal-SOAP is instrumental in improving the flow of information about postsecondary education and financial aid while raising the achievement levels of low-income, elementary and secondary school students from geographic regions with documented low-eligibility or college participation rates, and who are first in their families to attend college.

• Thanks to the Kresge Foundation, FIS develops Transition to College. • Ready Or Not: How California School Districts are Reimagining Parent Engagement in the Era of Local Control Funding Formula.

• Attend & Achieve: FIS launches Attend & Achieve a public awareness campaign to enhance parents’ understanding of the importance of attendance.

2012

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE SUMMIT Now in its sixth year, the Alliance Summit is a convening of community, education, business, and philanthropic leaders to celebrate parents and strengthen partnerships for greater student and school success. We approach our work firmly grounded in the notion that supporting families to be agents of change in their communities is crucial to ensuring students succeed and have a bright future. The goal of the Alliance Summit is to strengthen alliance-building efforts for a common agenda that empowers families and supports student success.

The Alliance Summit creates a space where participants can:

ALLIANCE HOST COMMITTEE 2018 Maria Casillas, Alliance Co-Chair Alejandro Romero, Alliance Co-Chair Agustin Urgiles, CEFT Anthony Chaves, Ed Trust-West Claudia Lima, CIT|OneWest Dra Daisy Alfaro, CSU-LA Antonio Chapa, Board of Supervisors, LA County Efrain Escobedo, California Community Foundation Flora Veronica Stewart, City of Los Angeles (HCID) Gabriela Pilona, Parent Leader Hilda Avila, Parent Leader, PEA Recipient 2017 Hugo Enciso, Parent Leader, PEA Recipient 2017 Karla V. Salazar, Families In Schools, COO Isabel Acosta, Great Public Schools Now Lorena Sanchez, Children’s Defense Fund

• Hear diverse perspectives about effective policies and best practices that address needs of students and families

Madeline Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

• Become familiar with strategies for strengthening school and community partnerships to support high need students and communities

Mike Moultrie, Colonial Life

• Learn how family engagement practices can be embedded into program and advocacy initiatives, locally and statewide • Increase confidence to become champions for authentic parent engagement in their communities 88

FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS TEAM

Mario Ceballos, Kaiser Permanente Maryann Jackmon, Families In Schools, Board Treasurer Maryjane Puffer, The LA Trust Nadine Vasquez, Immaculate Conception School Rafael Gonzalez, First 5 LA Ryan Smith, PEA Recipient 2011 Shamya Ullah, Families In Schools, Board Chair Sonia Navarro, Thrivent Dr. Sylvia Rouseau, Parent Leader, PEA Recipient 2017 Sterling Williams, Los Angeles County Office of Education Vito Borello, NAFSCE Xilonin Cruz Gonzales, Latino School Board Association

THANKS TO THE FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS TEAM!

FIS STAFF

Yicel Paez

Director of School Partnerships

Oscar E. Cruz

Karla V. Salazar Chief Operating Officer

Rachel Gonzalez

Sandy Mendoza

Tina Ochoa

President & CEO

Sheila Mix

Carolina Hernandez-Malone

Cassie Gonzalez

Alison Gonzales

Lupe Miranda

Consultant, Finance & Administration

Senior Consultant

Director of Training & Capacity Building

Director of Advocacy

Communications & Advocacy Manager Programs Coordinator

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Office Manager

FIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shamya Ullah, Board Chair Private Wealth Manager, Morgan Stanley

Cynthia Perez

Community Relations Coordinator

Rocio Pina

Program Manager

Jorge Prado Program Coordinator

Maryann Reyes Jackmon, Treasurer Senior Director, External Relations, The California State University Claudia Lima, Secretary Director of Community Development Lending, CIT Bank Alejandro Romero President & CEO, Parthenon Corporation Arun K. Ramanathan CEO, Pivot Learning Partners

Silvia Torres Program Coordinator

Jeffrey Wiser

Program Manager

FIS EMERITUS BOARD Maria Casillas President (Retired), Families In Schools Jorge Haynes Director of External Relations (Retired), California State University, Office of the Chancellor Sister Jennie Lechtenberg President, Puente Learning Center Sylvia Lopez Ferullo Journalist & News Anchor (Retired), KCAL 9 Gayle Miller President, Anne Klein II (1934- 2015) Evangelina Stockwell, Board Secretary Superintendent (Retired), Los Angeles Unified School District Dr. Darline P. Robles Professor of Clinical Education, USC Rossier School of Education

Virgil Roberts Partner, Bobbitt and Roberts

Cal-SOAP COLLABORATIVE Jose Candelas Program Manager, Cal-SOAP Camella Cooper Program Manager, Cal-SOAP Sandra Valle Program Manager, Cal-SOAP

SELA COLLABORATIVE Wilma Franco SELA Collaborative Director Arabel Hernandez Administrative Assistant Luis Velasquez Communications Director

EVENT COORDINATOR Festive Flair Events

THE CENTER AT CATHEDRAL PLAZA

FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR GRAND BALLROOM AND REGISTRATION

FLOOR

CHAMPION

FIRST FLOOR BREAKOUT ROOMS

AMBASSADOR

ADVOCATE

EDUCATIONAL

FRIEND

PROGRAM AGENDA Live tweet: @FamsInSchools #FISAlliance Live Facebook: #FamiliesInSchools #FISParentEngagement

8:00am

BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION

8:15am

MORNING PLENARY

KEY AIA – Advocates In Action KIA – Knowledge In Action WIA – Wellness In Action

UNITED IN ACTION: BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS FOR ALL

 WELCOME ADDRESS: Michele Siqueiros, President, Campaign for College Opportunity 9:15am

CONCURRENT SESSIONS I

Closing the Opportunity Gap by 2023 | AIA | Advocate

Reading Roads: Guiding Families on the Path to Literacy in the Early Years

| KIA | Educational

The Power of YET: Developing a Growth Mindset in Young Children | WIA | Ambassador

Using Educational Theatre to Engage Parents, Families and Students | WIA | Friend

What is the CA English Learner Roadmap? | KIA | Champion

What Will it Take To Center Race and Relationships in California Schools? | AIA | Ballroom

10:30am

CONCURRENT SESSIONS II

Knowledge is Power: Using Federal and State Data to Enhance Local Education Equity | AIA | Ambassador

❏

Latinos in Tech: Los Trabajos del Futuro | KIA | Advocate

❏

Parent Warriors In Action (Parent Engagement Panel) | KIA | Ballroom

❏

State of Latinx and Blacks in CA Higher Education Campaign for College Opportunity | AIA | Champion

❏

Using Educational Theatre to Engage Parents, Families and Students | WIA | Friend

❏

Where Do I Go From Here? Connecting First Generation Students to College Resources | KIA | Educational

12:00pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS III

❏

Best Start Communities – Co-Leading with Parents and Caregivers | AIA | Educational

❏

Building a Los Angeles Coalition for Equity in Education | AIA | Champion

❏

Digital Equity in Education | KIA | Advocate

❏

Great Gains from Equal Access to Financial Technology | AIA | Ambassador

❏

Transforming Special Education: Advocating for Schools Where All Students Can Thrive | KIA | Friend

1:30pm

EXCELLENCE IN PARENT ENGAGEMENT AWARDS LUNCH

Community Champion Award presented to Weingart Foundation

Gayle Miller Corporate Citizen Award presented to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Michele Siqueiros President, Campaign for College Opportunity

3:00 p.m. AFTERNOON PLENARY | REIMAGINING OUR SCHOOLS

Superintendent Austin Beutner, Los Angeles Unified School District, along with Parent & Student Voices 11

LUNCHEON & AWARDS PROGRAM

OPENING & WELCOME Emcee: Tyler Okeke, LAUSD Student Board Member LUNCH Remarks from: Oscar E. Cruz, Families In Schools President & CEO Remarks from Event Co-Chairs: Maria Casillas & Alejandro Romero

Tyler Okeke

Student Board Member, Los Angeles Unified

AWARDS PRESENTATION Weingart Foundation Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation KEYNOTE ADDRESS Ralph Smith, Managing Director, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading EXCELLENCE IN PARENT ENGAGEMENT AWARDS PRESENTATION Karla V. Salazar, Families In Schools Chief Operating Officer CLOSING REMARKS Oscar E. Cruz, Families In Schools President & CEO

HONORING THE WEINGART FOUNDATION AND THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION

The Weingart Foundation has been a valuable partner in supporting Families In Schoolsâ€™ (FIS) advocacy work and the capacity building of school staff on how to authentically engage parents. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has been a valuable partner to FIS in providing awareness, resources, and tools around family literacy across the county. Thanks to the generous support, dedication, and partnership of both organizations, Families In Schools can implement grade-level reading campaigns and parent leadership programs to elevate the role of families in supporting student achievement. 13

HISTORY OF THE EXCELLENCE IN PARENT ENGAGEMENT AWARDS Families In Schools established the Excellence in Parent Engagement Award in 2010 to honor the legacy and leadership of Maria Casillas, our founding President. A life-long educator, Maria Casillas is an exemplary role-model and advocate for parent engagement who led Families In Schools from 2000 – 2010. Inspired by Maria Casillas, the Excellence in Parent Engagement Award recognizes community leaders who make a significant impact in promoting policies or implementing programs that value parents as their child’s first teacher and create opportunities for all parents to support their child’s education.

Every year, community members nominate leaders for this award to recognize their extraordinary achievement in: • Advocating for policies that foster parent engagement for underserved families to support their children’s education • Promoting and implementing programs that help parents develop their knowledge and skills on how to support their children’s education at home and at school • Demonstrating leadership, innovation, and collaboration in elevating the voices of parents in schools and communities These impressive leaders work tirelessly every day to be powerful champions for parents and families throughout our state. They are critical in forging the path for collaboration, partnership, and alliance building needed to support lifelong student success in all of our communities.

2018 EXCELLENCE IN PARENT ENGAGEMENT AWARDEES The Excellence in Parent Engagement Award recognizes the extraordinary achievements of community leaders who successfully promote and implement policies or best practices that facilitate opportunities for underserved families to guide, monitor and support their children’s education. We congratulate this year’s recipients.

Betsy Nikolchev

Nasario Vasquez Jr.

Angélica Murillo

Ms. Nikolchev has spent her entire career engaging families in their children’s learning. For the past eight years, she has done this through the Family Engagement Institute (FEI), which runs a familyfocused summer readiness program for entering kindergarteners called Stretch to Kindergarten (STK), and dual-capacity building workshops for families and educators in three different school districts, among other activities. Ms. Nikolchev policy is to only partner with schools that accept shared responsibility for family engagement through willingness to offer professional development in addition to parent workshops. FEI is seated at a community college, such that parents in the program have access not only to non-credit workshops taught by faculty, but also a pathway to college for themselves. Ms. Nikolchev lives and breathes equity, mentoring first generation college goers through internships at FEl and STK, supporting undocumented families and communities through events and honest conversations, and recognized recently when she received the California Community Colleges prestigious Rice Diversity and Equity Award for providing educational opportunities to underserved, low-income families.

Mr. Vasquez has been the Parent Engagement Specialist at Alliance Collins Family High School for the past three years. During that time Mr. Vasquez has played an integral role in building and maintaining highly effective partnerships between parents and school. He possesses comprehensive expertise in designing impressive parent engagement opportunities through the use of workshops, town hall meetings, and volunteer opportunities.

Ms. Murillo is a strong community advocate in the area of education. She is a mother of three children who all attend Long Beach Unified School District schools. She is not a salaried advocate. She advocates on her own time, and has developed adept skills over the years by doing advocacy for her own children.

Mr. Vasquez has worked tirelessly to create and sustain a program that is inclusive of all parents despite socioeconomic status, language ability, race, etc. He strives to ensure that parents not only feel welcomed but also feel like active participants in their child’s education. Mr. Vasquez has created a space that allows parents to become informed, share their voice, and participate in decision making process. Throughout the school year, he facilitates multiple parent events that allows them to build their skills on how to support their child’s high school education, as well giving them the necessary tools to support parents with seeing their child to and through college. Over time, Mr. Vasquez has become a confidant, an advocate, and a mentor to many parents.

Over the years she has used a mix of relationship building, advocacy, and community organizing to hold schools accountable to a quality education for children. As her children grew, her skills grew, and she moved “from me to we” by working closely with Building Healthy Communities Long Beach and Best Start initiatives to also grow parent advocacy. Last year Angelica self-organized a group of Spanish-speaking parents from her son’s school. This group of parents supports one another by attending and hosting “know-yourrights” trainings in the community, and attending school and district meetings with one another to stand together for children (especially schools with high concentrations of low income and English Learner students). Whether it be a local school site meeting, or district school board meeting -- you will usually find Angelica present elevating the parent voice. Angelica serves as an advisor to the Building Healthy Communities: Long Beach parent workgroup.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS UNITED IN ACTION: BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS FOR ALL

This year’s theme inspires us to be agents of change, compelled by our shared belief that when we act in unison, we have the power to strengthen our schools, our communities, and our civic society. We seek to change the corrosive environment that thrives on fear, distrust, and divisiveness. As agents of change, the current political environment does NOT portray the principles of the democratic society we have sought to invigorate and protect. United in Action we will learn together, we will organize, and we will work to ensure healthy families, good schools, and enriched communities. Ralph Smith is the managing director for the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, an effort to increase rates of third-grade reading proficiency for children from lowincome families that includes a network of more than 390 communities, representing 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada – with 4,100 local organizations and more than 520 state and local funders (including 191 United Ways).

Ralph Smith

Managing Director, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Previously, Smith taught Corporations and Securities Law and Education Law and Policy as a member of the Law Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania for two decades, during which he also served as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer for the School District of Philadelphia and as a senior advisor to Philadelphia’s mayor on children and family policy. Smith led efforts to design and implement the school district’s landmark voluntary desegregation plan, negotiate some of the nation’s first education reform-driven teacher and contracts, and develop Children Achieving, a district-wide blueprint supported by the Annenberg Challenge. Smith is the founding director of both the National Center of Fathers and Families and the Philadelphia Children’s Network, and a national leader of the Responsible Fatherhood movement.

Tyler Okeke

Student Board Member, LAUSD

Hi! My name is Tyler Okeke and I am a senior at Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in Wilmington, CA. I share my birthday with the United States (July 4th) and I am the son of Nigerian immigrants who came to this country in pursuit of an equal chance at success. I currently serve as the Student Member of the Board of Education because I have visionary ideas for how the district can better serve all students. In this role, I fight with everything I have to make sure that I represent each of my classmates to the best of my ability, and that the district is up to par, efficient, and accountable. I have fought for fairer dress codes that do not oversexualize the female body, I have fought against large classes that are dangerous to the success of students and even led a campaign to pre-register/register LAUSD students to vote. Furthermore, my presence on social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) allow me to be readily available to my constituents, which allows them to voice their concerns and suggestions. I work tirelessly to amplify the ideas of my classmates and make sure that they are heard by the Board. My experiences in student government, debating education policy on the debate team, lobbying in the California Youth Government Program, and serving as an intern for a California Assemblyman has prepared me for the LAUSD Student Board Member role, and I take on this role with great honor and respect for the responsibility it requires.

AFTERNOON PLENARY: REIMAGINING OUR SCHOOLS

3 P.M. – 4 P.M. | BALLROOM

The stories and shared experiences of our storytellers will illustrate what elements need to be transformed in order to reimagine our schools and prepare our students and society for the future. MODERATOR:

Layla Avila, CEO/Executive Director, Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC)

STORYTELLERS:

Superintendent Austin Beutner, Los Angeles Unified Evelyn Alemán, LA Unified Parent Talauna Jones, Parent, Best Start Metro L.A. Student Members, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Austin Beutner was named Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District in May 2018. Mr. Beutner is a civic leader, philanthropist, public servant and business executive who has worked for the last decade to make Los Angeles a stronger community. During this time, he has served as First Deputy Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Co-Chair of the LA 2020 Commission and the L.A. Unified Advisory Task Force and founded Vision To Learn.

Superintendent Austin Beutner Los Angeles Unified

As First Deputy Mayor, he oversaw the policy and operations of 13 City departments, including Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Departments of Planning, Building and Safety, Housing and Homeless Services. Also serving as Chief Executive for Economic and Business Policy – the City’s “jobs czar” – he worked to reinvigorate the job market, streamline the permitting process and make the city more business-friendly. At the invitation of then-Superintendent Michelle King, Mr. Beutner, together with Laphonza Butler, created the L.A. Unified Advisory Task Force. The panel of civic, education, labor and business leaders has provided recommendations to the District on equity, workforce, budget, student attendance, transparency and accountability, and the District’s real-estate holdings. The LA 2020 Commission, chaired by Mickey Kantor, provided recommendations to the Los Angeles City Council President on how to make Los Angeles City Hall transparent and accountable, to stabilize the City’s budget and to stimulate the economy and create more jobs throughout Southern California.

Layla Avila serves as CEO/Executive Director of Education Leaders of Color. Along with Kaya Henderson and Aimée Eubanks Davis, Layla convened eighteen prominent African-American and Latino education leaders to discuss whether a new entity of education leaders of color was necessary to expand the faces, voices and emphases of education efforts and build the bridges needed to sustain and expand its success. This group became EdLoC’s Leadership Committee.

Layla Avila

CEO/Executive Director, Education Leaders of Color

Previously, as Executive Vice President, Layla led TNTP’s efforts to broaden TNTP’s impact through strategic partnerships. She also served as Chief of Staff for CEO Dan Weisberg, and oversaw TNTP’s new business development and federal grant strategy, external research and evaluation, and organizational accountability. Layla also oversaw all of TNTP’s work to recruit and train new teachers where TNTP’s Teaching Fellows Programs pioneered new ways of preparing teachers to be effective in the classroom.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS I

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Closing the Opportunity Gap by 2023 | AIA | Advocate Moderator: Adrián Sandoval, National PSP Director, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Panel: Linda Vasquez, Senior Public Affairs Director, The Campaign for College Opportunity; Jennifer Cano, Director of Education Programs and Policy, United Way of Greater Los Angeles; Monica Garcia, Board President, LAUSD WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: In June 2018, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education passed the resolution “Realizing the Promise for All: Close the Gap by 2023!” The resolution focuses on providing meaningful choices to LAUSD students upon graduation and the tools to be effectively prepared for college, career, and life. This session will explore the opportunities and potential successes of the resolution to ensure that all students have access to quality teachers and schools, so they can graduate college-and-career ready.

Reading Roads: Guiding Families on the Path to Literacy in the Early Years | KIA | Educational Presented by: Rachel Gonzalez, Director of Training and Capacity Building, Families In Schools (FIS); Sherry Hampton, Training Consultant, Families In Schools (FIS) WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Based on popular education, Families In Schools’ Reading Roads curriculum consists of lessons connected to themes including family, culture, community, etc. This interactive session will pull from the curriculum and provide participants with strategies to support parents/guardians in conducting literacy activities at home and strengthen their skills and confidence to support their child’s literacy development. This session is intended for school and agency staff that serve parents and students in Kindergarten-3rd grade, or parents of Kindergarten-3rd graders.

The Power of YET: Developing a Growth Mindset in Young Children | WIA | Ambassador Presented by: Wendolly Lemus, Parent and Consumer Education Coordinator, Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles; Diana Careaga, Senior Program Officer, First 5 LA WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: There is power in the word “YET”. A child who has not yet learned something, but continues to try, demonstrates persistence. This concept of the word “yet” is at the core of a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset helps children understand that the mistakes and failures in life are opportunities to learn new skills and be successful the next time around. This workshop will focus on the importance of developing a growth mindset in preschool aged children. Through interactive discussions and an exploration of resources, attendees will learn how to promote emotional resilience in our youngest learners.

Using Educational Theatre to Engage Parents, Families and Students | WIA | Friend Presented by: Karla Melendez, Manager of Family Programs, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Educational Theatre; Gerry Farrell, Director, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Educational Theatre WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: In this session, we will share examples of our live theatrical presentations created for students, parents and families on the topics of healthy eating active living, literacy promotion and stress management. We will also discuss best practices and lessons learned from touring our programs, engaging families and working with schools. For over 30 years, Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Educational Theatre has inspired children, teens and adults to make informed decisions about their health and build stronger communities.

What is the CA English Learner Roadmap? | KIA | Champion Moderator: Carrie Hahnel, Interim Co-Executive Director, The Education Trust—West Panelists: Cynthia Vásquez Petitt, Deputy Director, California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE); Dr. Barbara Flores, San Bernardino City USD School Board Member & President of California Latino School Board Association (CLSBA); Aurea Montes Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Community Coalition; WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: The California English Learner Roadmap is a new, revolutionary policy that guides how English learners across the state should be served in our schools. With The Education Trust—West’s recent poll showing that the vast majority of California’s parents of color believe in the value of multilingualism and highly trained teachers to meet the needs of English learners, now is the time for leaders and advocates at all levels to work together toward systems and practices that will better support English learners. Come learn about the English Learner Roadmap and hear, from leaders working at different levels of the education system, how practitioners and advocates can bring the Roadmap to life and ensure our English learners have access to the quality programs and practices they deserve.

What Will it Take To Center Race and Relationships in California Schools? | AIA | Ballroom

Presented by: Norma Rodriguez, Organizing and Policy Director, Californians for Justice; Kelly Chinchilla, Alumna, Californians for Justice WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Californians for Justice will introduce their Relationship Centered Schools Campaign which aims to integrate social, emotional learning into the culture of schools by focusing on racial equity and student voice. This session will give participants an opportunity to reflect on what more is possible in schools to advance racial justice by providing a framework to assess schools’ SELrelated practices on three levels: internalized, interpersonal, and institutional.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS II

10:30 AM – 11:30 PM

Knowledge is Power: Using Federal and State Data to Enhance Local Education Equity | AIA | Ambassador Presented by: Irene Rocha Rivera, Education Justice Advocate, ACLU of Southern California; Amir Whitaker, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Southern California WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This session provides an overview and demonstration of ACLU of Southern California’s new interactive education equity tool and a brief introduction to the ACLU of California’s Education Equity Project. The data dashboard simplifies and contextualizes education equity issues in relation to school funding. It allows the public to compare their school and district to state and/or national averages in more than ten areas. These areas include access to teachers, counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, art education, and college prep course work, as well as referrals to law enforcement and other school discipline data. Lastly, the tool highlights the problematic trend with the 1.8 million of California’s students attending schools with reported sworn law enforcement but no counselor, psychologist, social worker, or nurse. This is roughly 30% of California’s students. Come learn how to use this federally-reported data for your local education equity campaigns!

Latinos in Tech: Sus Hijos y Los Trabajos del Futuro | KIA | Advocate Presented by: Oscar Menjivar, CEO and Founder, TXT: Teens Exploring Technology WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Como preparar a sus hijos para que tengan trabajos que todavia no existen. Sus hijospueden ganar desde $80,000 hasta $500,000 al ano. Esta es una charla para descutir como comensar a preparar a los muchachos hoy. Como latinos tinen las herramientas y como aplicarlas a el futuro. No deje que su hijo/hija se quede atras.

Parent Warriors In Action (Parent Engagement Panel) | KIA | Ballroom Presented by: MODERATOR - Daisy D. Alfaro, Ph.D., Educational Consultant Panelists: Erica Vilardi, Parent Warrior; Hilda Avila, Parent Warrior; Hugo Enciso, Parent Warrior; Meshell Baylor, Parent Warrior WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Historically, parents have been asked to assume roles that range from fundraising, volunteering, and attending parent-teacher conferences.“Parent Warriors” however, are redefining and renegotiating these roles to build authentic partnerships with schools. A panel discussion of four parent warriors will share their inspiration to initiate a journey that has challenged the status quo by supporting not only their child’s success, but help move schools and other parents to listen and

authentically work together for the success of all students. Learn how these Parent Warriors are disrupting historical practices and how you too can engage in their vision of building meaningful relationships and collaborations that effect change to better support students, parents, and schools.

State of Latinx and Blacks in CA Higher Education Campaign for College Opportunity | AIA | Champion Presented by: Audrey Dow, Senior Vice President, Campaign for College Opportunity WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: The future of California and its economy will rise or fall on the educational success of students of color. Today, students of color represent nearly 70% of all students enrolled in college in California. As more Latino and Black students are going to college, too few are earning college degrees. The Campaign for College Opportunity will preview findings from two new reports on the State of Higher Education for Blacks and Latinx in California and discuss policy and practice recommendations for improving student success by focusing on what the state, colleges and universities can do to remove barriers.

Where Do I Go From Here? Connecting First Generation Students to College Resources | KIA | Educational Presented by: Sandra Valle, Program Manager, Cal-SOAP LA; Camella Cooper, Program Manager, Cal-SOAP LA; Jose Candelas, Program Manager, Cal-SOAP LA WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Join us to learn how high school students can begin preparing to fulfill their post-secondary goals. We will discuss financial aid opportunities as well as college resources available to first generation students. A panel of current college students will discuss their experiences navigating higher education. 19

CONCURRENT SESSIONS III

est Start Communities – Co-Leading with B Parents and Caregivers: Bringing About Policy and Systems Change | AIA | Educational Presented by: Joaquin Macias, Senior Program Officer, First 5 LA; Joaquin Calderon, Senior Program Officer, First 5 LA WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: First 5 LA recognizes that an important part of all children’s success in life comes with increased parental involvement and an increased knowledge of early childhood well-being systems. First 5 LA also recognizes that the leadership and involvement of parents and caregivers working with community organizations and local systems to influence decision makers is critical to neighborhood and community change. Often times, however, community change efforts overlook the important “on the ground” interactive and equity practices that impact the success of these efforts. This session will focus on what are the tangible, practical and equitable ways for community organizations and local systems (i.e., municipalities, public agencies, schools, etc.) to co-lead community, policy and system change efforts in collaboration and partnership with parents and caregivers.

Building a Los Angeles Coalition for Equity in Education | AIA | Champion Presented by: Myrna Castrejon, Executive Director, Great Public Schools Now WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Come learn how to engage in advocacy, how to build coalitions and partnerships, and the skills needed to support an agenda for the children of Los Angeles.

Digital Equity in Education | KIA | Advocate Presented by: Paulina Sanchez, Program Manager, human-I-T; Emma Hernandez, Program Director & Digital Literacy/Robotics Instructor, Southeast Community Development Corporation; Susan Walters, Senior V.P., California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Whether in the classroom or at home, students need Internet to excel. Learn how to find low cost Internet options as well as where to find affordable computers for your home and family.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Great Gains from Equal Access to Financial Technology | AIA | Ambassador Presented by: Mercedes Garcia, Vice President of Community Relations, Global Policy Affairs, MasterCard WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Every year, the Latino community spends an estimated $17 billion on fees and interest associated with alternative financial services. That’s $17 billion dollars that could be put to better use like paying for health care, education, saving for retirement, or starting a small business. Electronic payment technology helps you keep your hard-earned money where it should be—with you. Technology can enable you to directly deposit your paychecks, eliminate excessive fees and interest payments and help you manage your finances with mobile and online tools that also protect you from fraud. Simply put, electronic payment technology helps you and your whole community. During this session, you’ll learn more about this technology and how to make it work for you.

Transforming Special Education: Advocating for Schools Where All Students Can Thrive | KIA | Friend Presented by: Jeimee Estrada, Regional VP, Innovate Public Schools; Thomas Maffai, Director of Research and Policy, Innovate Public Schools WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: In this workshop participants will learn how to advocate for changes to policies and practices in order to benefit students with disabilities in their local school or district. Participants will review research-backed best practices, case studies, school profiles, and share their own personal experiences to explore what it takes to fight for systemic change in special education. Participants will leave the session with an advocacy tool that includes concrete “look-fors” at the district and school level to pinpoint exactly how their school system is falling short, and more importantly, how to demand more.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! PRESENTING

CHAMPION

ADVOCATE

AMBASSADOR

EDUCATIONAL

FRIEND

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT

Stay in touch with Families In Schools to learn other ways we can work together to empower families and support student success. Visit our website to access highlights, resources, bios, and presentations shared during todayâ€™s summit: www.familiesinschools.org/alliance2018 Follow us, and share what you learned throughout the day. FamiliesInSchools @FamsInschools FamiliesInSchools Families-In-Schools #FISAlliance

#FisParentEngagement

THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH

FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS AND CONGRATULATES THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENT

THE WEINGART FOUNDATION

What we do:

A program of the California Student Aid Commission

Cal-SOAP is instrumental in improving the flow of information about postsecondary education and financial aid while raising the achievement levels of students historically underrepresented in higher education.

Schools we serve:

Cal- SOAP helps students with: All College Applications FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application College & Career Planning College Visits Tutoring O n e - o n - O n e A c a d e m i c A d v is i n g Transcript Review College Workshops for Families

Community Partners

Belmont High School Blair High School Crenshaw STEMM Dorsey High School El Monte High School Huntington Park High School Jordan Starr High School John Muir High School Mountain View High School Roybal Learning Center South East High School

Families In Schools (Fiscal Agent) Partnership for LA Schools The Campaign for College Opportunity Princeton Review The L.A Trust for Children's Health Pasadena Tournament of Roses Master Your Card Oportunidad Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Post-secondary Partners East LA College Pasadena City College UCLA

Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation are proud to support

Families in Schools on the occasion of the

2018 Alliance Summit

THERE IS POWER IN EVERY

G.I.R.L.

(Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)â„¢

Unleash it at Girl Scouts.

Join today at girlscoutsLA.org | 213-213-0123 801 S. Grand Ave., Ste. 300, Los Angeles, CA 90017 26

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By strengthening families, we prepare kids to succeed in school and in life.

First 5 LA works in partnership with others to strengthen families, communities, and support systems for all children in LA County. Learn more at First5LA.org 29

Great Public Schools Now is proud to support Families in Schools and its mission of engaging parents and giving all students a fair chance at a great education.

Congratulations to all of today's Parent Engagement Award winners for the amazing work that they do! To find out more about Great Public Schools Now, follow us on Facebook by going to facebook.com/Greatschoolsla and clicking the "like" button.

Escuelas Públicas de Calidad Ya se enorgullece en apoyar a Familles in Schools y su mission de trabajar junto con las familias para dar a todos los estudiantes la oportunidad más justa para que obtengan la mejor educación.

Felicidades a los padres que hoy recibieron premios por su participación por el gran trabajo que siempre hacen! Para conocer más acerca de Escuelas Públicas de Calidad Ya, síguenos en facebook.com/buenasescuelas y haz clic en "Me Gusta".

C A L I F O R N I A

S T A T E

U N I V E R S I T Y,

L O S

A N G E L E S

San Diego Area South County Regional Education Center National City, CA 91950 Schedule: 8:30 am â€“ 4:30 pm, breakfast and lunch are included.

For more information please contact Lupe Miranda, Training Coordinator at (213) 201-3905 or gmiranda@familiesinschools.org.

Salutes Families in Schools for

United In Action: Building Communities and Schools for All

And Congratulates All Awardees

The California Emerging Technology Fund supports the School2Home program which works to close the achievement gap and the Digital Divide. For affordable Internet service at home call toll‐free 844.841.4636.

(213) 201-3900 | 1545 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 700 | Los Angeles, CA 90017 | www.familiesinschools.org FamiliesInSchools

@FamsInSchools

FamiliesInSchools

Families-In-Schools

Alliance 2018 Summit & Parent Engagement Awards