Engaging Families in the High School Transition: First-Year Findings From a Continuous Improvement Initiative

• In Event: 68.044 - Family Engagement During Transitions to Secondary and Postsecondary Educational Settings

Abstract

This study focuses on one district’s process of continuous improvement in family engagement. In particular, the improvement effort addresses the point at which family engagement tends to decline precipitously and students are particularly vulnerable -- the transition into high school. In this paper we report on first-year implementation progress and issues surrounding the initiative. In particular, we focus on describing 1) the variation in schools’ family engagement activities and participation in cycles of inquiry, 2) the challenges identified by schools to implementing the family engagement approach and cycles of inquiry; and 3) the learning that occurred for both the participating schools and the district-university partnership team through the continuous improvement process.

Authors

• Martha Abele Mac Iver, Johns Hopkins University

• Steven B. Sheldon, Johns Hopkins University

• Joyce L. Epstein, Johns Hopkins University

• Eric P Rice, Johns Hopkins University

• Douglas J. Mac Iver, Johns Hopkins University

• Adie Simmons, Seattle Public Schools

• Samantha W. Bindman, foundry10

• Bernardo Ruiz, Seattle Public Schools