FAMILY EMPOWERMENT
What does a partnership look like?
The SchermCo Foundation was launched in 2020 in order to further invest and support equity in education. We do this by making financial contributions to social-impact organizations and offering our services at a reduced rate, as applicable.
The main focus of the SchermCo Foundation is to provide schools and organizations services related to family engagement and family empowerment.
We piloted our family empowerment initiative through our work and partnership with Movement School Freedom Drive (charter school) and Ashley Park PreK-8 School (district school) during the 2017-18 school year. Since then, we’ve supported more than 30 schools and organizations and more than 20,000 families through our work. Our work has resulted in higher levels of family engagement and empowerment and positive trends in school attendance and academic outcomes. It has allowed schools and organizations to build stronger relationships with families and students while using data to align resources most helpful to families.
We are excited to grow our work to serve more families, students, schools, and communities.
More to do. More to come.®
Since 2016, our team has supported 30+ schools/organizations and 20,000+ families with this data-driven family empowerment approach. This model has resulted in higher levels of family engagement and empowerment and positive trends in school attendance and academic outcomes. It has allowed schools to build stronger relationships with families and students while using data to align resources most helpful to families. The following information outlines the focus areas of this model.
survey administration + data collection
(August - October)
Administer digital and paper surveys to assess families’ needs
Breakdown data and provide recommendations
Present data back to stakeholders
community organizations + connections
(September - May)
Connect families to relevant community organizations through family empowerment events
Focused on supporting families’ upward mobility journeys through financial education, job training/career advancement, and other resources based on their life situations and goals
family support + empowerment
(September - May)
Create a Family Empowerment Committee (FEC) consisting of families, admin, teachers/staff, students, and community leaders to help guide and implement family empowerment work
Host family empowerment events (based on the school’s and families’ preferences)
Events can be customized based on grade level, content, and/or family/student population
DATA-DRIVEN FAMILY EMPOWERMENT (“TRADITIONAL
MODEL”)
students + academic support
(September - May)
When families are supported, they then have additional capacity to help their children, leading to improved educational achievement
Work together with schools toward efforts to decrease chronic absenteeism
Including vaccine clinics, transportation support, and other efforts
Supporting schools with events such as report card pickups and parent-teacher conferences
post survey + data analysis
(April - June)
Collect post-survey data from families
Submit data reports to school and families
Expected outcomes include:
Increased family engagement and empowerment
Increased student attendance
Families feel supported in their financial freedom and economic mobility journeys
school staff + professional development
(August - June)
Facilitate quarterly professional development for staff focused on engaging and empowering families
Access to and collaboration with other SchermCo partner schools and organizations
definitionsand indicators
net promoter score (NPS)
NPS is designed to collect feedback so it can be used to measure customer satisfaction
We utilize this tool to measure both family engagement and empowerment
The NPS reveals how loyal and happy families and students are with their experience at each parter school and/or partner organization
family engagement
Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways and in which families are committed to actively supporting their children's learning and development
Below are indicators that we use to measure success in engagement:
The school has strong communication methods and strategies 1.
a.
The school communicates with families in multiple ways (including providing translated materials in families’ home languages) and makes it easy for families to communicate with teachers and school leaders
b
Families feel informed about what their student is learning in the classroom
c.
Families are confident that they can motivate their students to try hard in school
The school creates a welcoming environment 2.
Families feel that the school is inviting and it is a place where they “belong” a.
b.
Families believe that their ideas are valued at their student’s school and that their involvement with their student’s school is valued
The school connects students and families to community resources that strengthen and support students’ learning and well-being 3
a.
The school connects students and families to expanded learning opportunities and community services
b.
Families believe that if their student’s school cannot help them, they will connect them to someone who can
The school provides resources and opportunities for families to improve their economic well-being and quality of life c
family empowerment
Families are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to engage in effective partnerships that support student achievement and development and school improvement
1
Below are indicators that we use to measure success in empowerment: Families’ knowledge and skills are strengthened to support and extend their student’s learning at home
a.
The school gives families useful information to improve the student’s progress and for families to support their student’s learning at home
b.
The school provides workshops for families on academic subjects, study skills, and empowerment classes
2
The school engages families in school planning, leadership, and meaningful volunteer opportunities
a.
The school provides opportunities for families to develop relationships and raise concerns with teachers, school leaders, public officials, business leaders, and community leaders
Families feel empowered to advocate for their student's success
c
b Families engage with the school through event planning, providing input/feedback, advocacy, and/or participation in the Family Empowerment Committee
1 National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group, 2009. Recommendations for Federal Policy.
2 The Center for Family Engagement and Global Family Research Project. Why Family Engagement Matters for Student and School Success.
3 Ohio Department of Education. Guiding Principles for School, Family, and Community Partnerships.
4 Henderson & Mapp, 2002. A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement.
5 National Parent Teacher Association, 2009. PTA National Standards for Family-School Partnerships: An Implementations Guide.
6 Henderson, Mapp, Johnson, & Davies, 2007. Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships.
7 Mapp & Kuttner, 2013. Partners in Education: A Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships.
8 Funkhouser, Gonzalez, & Moles, 1997. Family Involvement in Children's Education, an Idea Book by the US Department of Education.
highlightsfrom
20 partner schools/organizations, 17,991 students & their families served
9,678 attendees at 82 family-focused events
2023-24schoolyear
highlightsfrom
16 partner schools/programs, 12,329 students & their families served
5,000 attendees at 50 family-focused events
4,670 total surveys & exit tickets collected
520 adults took advantage of financial education opportunities
2022-23schoolyear
Average increase of 5.73%
across all school partners
in families strongly agreeing or agreeing with, “The school connects students and families to expanded learning opportunities”
surveycollection
We work with our school and organization partners to collect family-related data. This helps us understand families’ situations, needs, and goals and allows us to collect baseline data on families’ perceptions, engagement, and confidence levels. We always work with our school and organization partners to cater questions focused on their needs.
We work with our school and organization partners to ensure a seamless survey collection process:
Set survey collection goals
Agree on a timeline
Print and collate surveys
Provide digital surveys and QR codes for easy access
Draft language and provide graphics for social media platforms for our school and organization partners to communication with families regarding intention of data collection
Translate all materials into families’ home languages
Work with our school and organization partners to incentivize the survey collection process
dataanalysis
After collecting data, we break them down and provide recommendations for our school and organization partners. The recommendations are key actions that we will implement alongside our school and organization partners.
Family Empowerment Committee(FEC)
We work with our school and organization partners to form a group consisting of parents/caretakers, school staff, students, and other key stakeholders. We like to call the group the “Family Empowerment Committee,” or “FEC” for short; however, we’ve also worked with schools to provide guidance and support for their PTA/PTO group.
Our school and organization partners can expect us to:
Facilitate monthly meetings and scaffold when necessary
Provide family-related data and lead discussions
Dive deeper to understand the specific needs of families
Provide parents and caretakers with leadership opportunities based on their interests
Continue to recruit families to be a part of the group and other familyrelated efforts
The parents/caretakers involved in the FEC (or other parent group we’re supporting) can expect us to:
Feel supported as part of our collaboration efforts
Get connected with leadership development opportunities, such as the Parent Leadership Institute with Innovate Public Schools
In 2023-24:
Supported the formation of four Family Empowerment Committees or parent-focused groups, and continued the work of two parent-focused groups
Facilitated 33 meetings
415 total attendees
In 2022-23:
Supported the formation of three Family Empowerment Committees or parent-focused groups, and continued the work of one parent-focused group
Facilitated 30 meetings
204 total attendees
family-focused events
We connect families to local community organizations and resources focused on their needs and wants, as identified from pre-surveys. We work alongside our school and organization partners to have successful events by doing the following:
Level-set the date, time, location, and focus of the event
Set attendance goals
Utilize the 10x5 communication matrix to provide event details to families
Create an agenda/run of show for the event
Many of our school and organization partners have expressed that we add capacity by doing the following:
Vet local organizations, nonprofits, and vendors to support school events
We have a close-knit relationship with more than 50 nonprofits in Charlotte, North Carolina
Coordinate with local organizations to ensure their attendance at events
If a community organization is not able to attend a resource fair, we work with them to coordinate material dropoff so that families can pick up these resources at the event
Provide the marketing materials for the event and handle RSVP logistics We will conduct personalized phone calls to ensure there’s excitement about the event
Place food orders and provide families with food at events
A majority of family-focused events take place during dinner timethis is a great way to honor families’ attendance
Provide families with Lyft codes to alleviate transportation barriers
Take pictures and videos to document the event
Collect exit tickets at the event (and analyze the data afterward)
We are able to support our school partners monetarily through fundraising efforts. We have a budget of approximately $3,500-$6,000 per school per year for efforts related to family engagement and empowerment - the dollar amount differs based on the scope of work, length of partnership, and contract price.
eventexemplar
Flyers were created and shared with families. In this instance, the “save the date” was sent to families as early as October 2023. When it got closer to the event, families got additional details and information regarding the event, such as the specific organizations that would be in attendance.
A logistics email was sent to community partners the week of the event. This allowed community organizations to better prepare for the event.
resourcefair
Photos, attendance information, and quotes were shared with community organizations who participated in the event.
Not only was exit ticket data broken down for the school with recommendations provided, but the school also received a list of community organizations that were in attendance along with contact information. This is pivitol in ensuring the school shares community resources with families.
eventexemplar
Communication regarding the event was provided to families in their home languages.
workforce developmentevent
We breakdown exit ticket information within one week after an event and provide data to our school/organization partner.
eventexemplar
In connection to Hispanic and Latino families, we ensured the food at the event to be familiar to most Latino families, and the performances and organizations present were relevant to their needs and interests.
Another connection to Hispanic and Latino families is seen through the Loteria (interactive checklist) used throughout the event. Loteria is a household family game.
supporting Hispanic &Latinofamilies
The event proved successful, school staff also expressed that they’ve seen a record number of Hispanic and Latino families attend the event.
We provide professional development sessions focused on family engagement and empowerment, focused on research and proven best practices in family engagement and family empowerment.
Sessions can be provided for the whole staff or select staff. We will work with each school or organization to develop, implement, and analyze a staff survey to understand the needs of staff. A sample of topics are below:
Partnership Mindset
Digging Into Family Data
Positive Communication: Strategies and Systems
Inviting Parents and Caretakers to Engage
Community Partnerships and Resources
Delivering Great Customer Service
Elevating Connections with Non-English-Speaking Families
Professional development sessions are 60-90 minutes, and can be virtual or in-person.
FAMILY EMPOWERMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS
Here are some positive feedback from teachers from our professional development sessions:
“Reading and talking on the survey results that reflect the family expectations from our school. The ways that we can use [this] for family empowerment.”
I love the communication log and the calling prompt. it's very helpful.”
I like the Family Contact Tracker spreadsheet. It has some good conversation starters and topics to discuss with families.”
We work with schools, school districts, and organizations to create a toolkit by creating and curating resources focused on family engagement and empowerment based on the needs of students, families, and staff.
discovery
Create and distribute a survey to identified stakeholders to gather their insights regarding current family engagement and empowerment efforts
Identify necessary stakeholders and conduct one-on-one conversations and/or focus groups to understand their hopes, desires, and vision for the future of family engagement efforts at the school, school district, or organization
research + marke
Asset mapping family engagement and empowerment efforts at 2-3 similar schools, school districts, or organizations
Speaking with external stakeholders to understand their approach and strategies related to family engagement and empowerment
Conduct research to identify and integrate emerging strategies and best practices for the toolkit
FAMILY EMPOWERMENT TOOLKIT CREATIONS
strategy creation + toolkit
Use key findings and insights to build a toolkit specifically focused on:
Evidence-based frameworks relevant to family engagement, empowerment, and the demographics of the school, school district, or organization
Best practices in measuring and monitoring effectiveness at the school or organization level
Best practices in measuring and monitoring effectiveness at the school district level, if applicable
Best practices for admin, teachers, and staff to build relationships and empower families
Best practices to overcome issues of equity, inclusion, cultural humility, and potentially other barriers to building empowering relationships with families
implementation support
Present the toolkit to stakeholders
Create a “user guide” for the toolkit
Meetings to discuss updates and how the toolkit is being used on a practical level
testimonials
The organization provided valuable resources and activities that were useful, engaging, exciting, and convenient for my family. Each effort gave me a sense that the organization researched the needs of the community and provided accordingly; I appreciated that.
--Lisa Divers, Parent, Ridge Road Middle School
SchermCo has been an integral partner in supporting our school's family-focused event planning, an area that has been a significant challenge for us. They strategically helped us think through our ideas and provided valuable perspectives that we hadn't considered before. Their support in engaging parents based on their needs and preferences has been remarkable. SchermCo's assistance with our Open House was particularly impactful. They helped us start the year strongly by creating posters and ensuring information was visible to all families, fostering a truly family-oriented environment. This effort contributed to a noticeable increase in attendance at family events throughout the year compared to the previous year. One of the highlights was having over 200 people attend our curriculum night in the fall. Moreover, SchermCo laid a foundational block by planning and executing our Family Wellness Night, which supported our families' mental and physical wellness needs—two of the highest priorities for our parent and student population. Overall, SchermCo's involvement has been instrumental in making our school a welcoming and supportive community for all families.
--Dr Travares Hicks, Principal, Julius L Chambers High School
SchermCo's support has been transformative for our family engagement and empowerment initiatives. Their efforts have not only doubled but likely tripled the participation of parents and community stakeholders in our school activities. This partnership has significantly enhanced the engagement and knowledge of our parents and caretakers, providing them with ways to support their children's academic success and become more involved and influential within our school and community. I've witnessed a remarkable shift in our families' engagement. Our families are not only participating in social activities, but are feeling truly empowered to take an active role in their children's education. The SchermCo team has been incredibly hands-on and proactive in strategically planning and executing initiatives. They are truly the boots on the ground, making a tangible difference in our school community.
--Dr
Nathan Currie, Principal, Bruns Avenue Elementary School
Because of SchermCo and their active engagement with our parents group, we were able to attend a Parent Leadership Training that taught parents how to advocate for children. We were also provided with free and deeply discounted community resources each month- accessible resources like homeownership workshops, financial literacy workshops, estate planning services, free summer camp opportunities, free wireless internet services, free health and wellness resources, etc. Those resources were so impactful that the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg chose SchermCo’s community resource newsletters to distribute to their 400+ members and to the community at large.
--Keiba Young, Parent Leader
SchermCo has been an invaluable partner in enhancing family engagement and empowerment at both Wilson STEM Academy and Governors' Village STEM Academy. During their time at Wilson, SchermCo supported us in building capacity to engage and empower families through initiatives like Open House and STEM Nights, creating a parent/caretaker advocacy group, supporting multilingual family nights, and providing our front office staff with professional development sessions. Their efforts armed our team with strategies to effectively work with our diverse families. SchermCo's role as a strategic thought partner and logistical support has been crucial. They facilitated family surveys to ensure our decisions were informed, and connected us with community partners based on the specific needs and wants of our families. Witnessing the tangible benefits and impact of their work at Wilson inspired me to bring SchermCo to Governors' Village. At Governors' Village, SchermCo has elevated our PTA and significantly contributed to our community. They have supported our monthly multilingual family nights, ensuring these events serve as platforms for networking and empowerment. Their assistance with STEM and curriculum nights has been pivotal, and the creation of weekly family newsletters has provided real-time information that empowers families to advocate for their children. Families have shared that they are now much more informed than in the past, thanks to SchermCo's efforts. Their alignment with our school's "one connected village" model has ensured that families feel truly integrated into our school community. SchermCo has consistently gone above and beyond to enhance family engagement and empowerment, making a lasting impact on our school environment.
--Jeff Cook, Principal, Governors’ Village STEM Academy
