Connected Family Learning: An Equity-Centered Family Engagement Model

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eight
  In Roundtable Session: Equity-Centered Considerations When Partnering With Diverse Communities (Table 18)

Abstract

Research demonstrates that family engagement is a key to unlock educational resources and opportunities for youth. However, U.S. educational systems have a problematic history with family engagement, especially for parents of color, immigrants, and multilingual parents, setting up systemic challenges for families who need this access most. We have conceptualized a framework for connecting family, school, and community contexts, called Connected Family Learning (see Figure 1, below). This paper seeks to present this framework and illustrate its use through four case studies as vignettes, demonstrating how Connected Family Learning can be a theoretical and practical tool for surfacing the characteristics of equitable family engagement, and how researchers might work alongside practitioners to engage families in education for stronger communities.

Authors

• Andrea Vaughan, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Juana M. Abarca, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Nathaniel Cha, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Ceily Moore, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Evelyn M. Pollins, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author