Background
The Promise of Parent Engagement Under LCFF
When California Governor Jerry Brown signed the LCFF into law in 2013, he elevated parent engagement to a legal requirement as well as one of the eight statewide education priorities in the LCFF.
priorities into their budget decisions.
Unfortunately, parent engagement in California has lacked rigor and authenticity for far too long. Few, if any, school districts have developed successful and sustainable ways of bridging the gap between the home and the classroom. This has contributed to sluggish student achievement growth, particularly among high-need student populations. With the passage of LCFF, California finds itself at a new crossroads. School district leaders have a precious opportunity to reimagine parent engagement – from the way schools interact with parents on a day-today basis to how district officials incorporate parents’
In 2013, we issued the report Reimagining Parent Engagement in California: Moving from 1.0 to 2.0. That report painted a picture of authentic parent engagement using the voices and input from parents and community organizations. This report takes the next step by looking at the inner workings of districts as they try to meet the expectations of LCFF. It aims to answer the question: Is California seizing the moment? First, we interviewed thirty school district personnel – superintendents, school board members, parent engagement directors, and other key administrators – from fourteen urban and rural school districts, large and small, across the state. We wanted them to speak
PARENT INVOLVEMENT OR PARENT ENGAGEMENT – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Families In Schools defines parent involvement as actions taken by parents to support their child’s education at home and at school; while parent engagement refers to actions taken by schools to make it as easy as possible for parents to get involved in the school and in the process. Though the state uses the term involvement, the intention of LCFF is clear: to ensure that districts are proactively engaging parents, developing powerful partnerships between parents, educators, and administrators.
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Ready or Not: How California School Districts are Reimagining Parent Engagement in the Era of Local Control Funding Formula
