Family Partnership for Equity in Early Childhood Education: A Critical Family-Driven Systems Change Framework

• In Event: Rethinking Community Engagement Across Youth Development

Abstract

Transforming early childhood systems is necessary to remedy disparate educational outcomes. Key to systems transformation is the inclusion of and authentic partnership with families. Using a Community-based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) approach, we engaged in a multi-phased process to develop a family-driven systems-change framework for equity in early childhood. Based on interviews and focus groups with parents and caregivers in one large county, in concert with extensive reviews of national and local best practices on family engagement, four overarching themes emerged, producing a framework for early childhood systems transformation: 1) Building the capacity of systems; 2) Building the capacity of families and communities; 3) Developing trusted partnerships between families, communities, and systems; and, 4) Ensuring sustainable accountable partnerships.

Authors

• Colleen Vesely, George Mason University

• Bethany Lyn Letiecq, George Mason University

• Jihyae Choe, George Mason University

• Elizabeth K. DeMulder, George Mason University

• Flor Philips, Fairfax County Office for Children