Schools that Create Community: 5 Powerful Ways to Engage Families
Education doesn’t happen in isolation. Students thrive when schools create community with families and work together to support their learning and well-being. A strong family-school partnership creates a foundation for academic success, social-emotional growth, and a sense of belonging for every student.
But fostering meaningful family engagement takes intentional strategies. Schools must go beyond traditional parent-teacher conferences and actively create community through ongoing, inclusive relationships that empower families as true partners in education.
Here’s how schools can strengthen family and community engagement in a way that benefits students, educators, and families alike.
1. Building Trust Through Open Communication
The first step to creating community in schools is through strong family-school partnerships with clear, consistent, and transparent communication. Schools that prioritize open dialogue and collaboration create community where families feel informed about their child’s education and comfortable reaching out to teachers and school leaders.
Ways Schools Can Improve Communication:
- Multiple Channels – Use email, texts, phone calls, newsletters, and social media to reach families in ways that work for them.
- Two-Way Conversations – Move beyond one-way announcements and create opportunities for families to share feedback, concerns, and ideas.
- Cultural & Language Inclusion – Provide translation services and multilingual resources to ensure that all families feel included.
- Proactive, Not Just Reactive – Communicate regularly, not just when there’s a problem. Celebrate student achievements, share classroom updates, and invite families to be part of the learning process.
Action Step: Develop a Family Communication Plan that outlines how and when teachers and administrators will engage with families throughout the year to strengthen connections and create community in the school.
2. Welcoming Families Into the School Community
Families who feel connected to the school are more likely to engage in their child’s education. Schools that create community foster an environment where parents and caregivers feel valued, included, and empowered as active partners in their child’s learning journey. When schools intentionally create community, they strengthen trust, improve student outcomes, and build a more supportive and collaborative school culture.
Ways to Foster Family Involvement:
- Open-Door Culture – Encourage parents to visit classrooms, volunteer, and participate in school events.
- Flexible Engagement Opportunities – Offer virtual meetings, evening events, and weekend activities to accommodate families with different work schedules.
- Parent Leadership Roles – Create family advisory councils or involve parents in decision-making committees.
- Personalized Welcome for New Families – Assign staff or parent mentors to help new families navigate the school system and feel part of the community.
Action Step: Host a Family Engagement Night at the start of each school year where families meet teachers, tour the school, and learn how they can get involved. These efforts help create community by making families feel like valued members of the school’s culture and success.
3. Supporting Student Success Together
Families want their children to succeed but may not always know how to support learning at home. Schools can create community by providing parents with the resources and strategies they need to reinforce classroom learning, ensuring students receive well-rounded academic and emotional support.
How Schools Can Support Learning at Home:
- Family Workshops – Offer training on literacy strategies, math skills, college readiness, and technology use.
- Homework Help & Study Tips – Provide guides, online resources, and after-school tutoring for families to support students outside of school.
- Learning Through Everyday Activities – Encourage parents to use daily routines (cooking, shopping, storytelling) as learning moments.
- Recognizing Parent Efforts – Celebrate and appreciate families for their involvement in their child’s education.
Action Step: Develop a monthly resource newsletter with home learning activities, study tips, and parenting strategies that foster student success and further create community between families and schools.
By equipping parents with the right tools, schools can strengthen family involvement, bridge learning gaps, and create community where every student has the support they need to thrive.
4. Embracing Diversity & Inclusion
Schools serve diverse families with unique backgrounds, cultures, and experiences—which is why it’s critical to create community by fostering meaningful family connections. A strong family engagement strategy should respect, honor, and celebrate this diversity, ensuring that all families feel valued and included.
Ways to Create Inclusive Family Engagement:
- Culturally Responsive Events – Host multicultural celebrations, bilingual book fairs, and community heritage nights.
- Representation in School Leadership – Ensure PTAs, school boards, and parent groups reflect the school’s diversity.
- Accessible School Materials – Translate newsletters, report cards, and announcements into multiple languages.
- Respect for Different Family Structures – Recognize that students may have non-traditional family structures and create policies that honor all caregivers.
Action Step: Conduct a family engagement survey to understand what different families need and how they prefer to connect with the school. This feedback will help schools create community by tailoring engagement efforts to meet families where they are.
By embracing inclusivity, schools can create community where every student and family feels welcomed, respected, and actively involved in their child’s education.
5. Create Community through Partnerships
Schools don’t have to do everything alone—building strong connections with local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations is key to creating community and ensuring students and families receive the support they need. When schools foster these partnerships, they expand resources, provide essential services, and enhance student learning experiences.
Ways Schools Can Leverage Community Resources:
- After-School & Enrichment Programs – Partner with libraries, museums, and youth organizations to provide additional learning opportunities.
- Health & Social Services – Collaborate with local health clinics, counseling centers, and food pantries to support student and family well-being.
- Internship & Career Exploration – Connect high school students with businesses and professionals for mentorship and job-shadowing opportunities.
- Faith-Based & Cultural Organizations – Work with faith groups, immigrant services, and cultural centers to strengthen support networks.
Action Step: Create a Community Resource Map that highlights local organizations offering academic enrichment, student support services, and family engagement programs to further create community within the school.
By fostering these connections, schools can create community that not only enhances student success but also strengthens relationships between educators, families, and local organizations.
The Power of Family-School Partnerships
When schools create community that works alongside the families they serve, students gain access to a stronger support system, experience improved academic outcomes, and develop a deeper sense of belonging. Family-school partnerships are essential in fostering a thriving school community, where families and educators collaborate to support student success. By prioritizing family engagement in education, schools ensure that learning extends beyond the classroom and into the home.
Key Takeaways for Schools:
- Strong communication builds trust and encourages family participation.
- Welcoming environments help parents feel like true partners in education.
- Providing learning resources empowers families to support students at home.
- Inclusive engagement respects diverse family backgrounds and needs.
- Community partnerships expand support for students beyond the classroom.
Family engagement in education isn’t a one-time event—it’s a continuous, collaborative effort that strengthens the entire school community, creating an environment where students, families, and educators thrive together.
How PRACTICE Can Help
At PRACTICE, we support schools creating community by building stronger family-school partnerships, providing tutoring and enrichment programs, and fostering equitable learning environments.
Get in touch with our team to explore how we can help your school engage families, empower students, and establish lasting community connections.
Stronger partnerships. Brighter futures.
When schools and families work together, students thrive. We help build meaningful family-school connections that support every child’s success.
Let’s strengthen the partnership—get started today!
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The PRACTICE Difference
PRACTICE partners with Title I K-12 schools to close learning gaps, boost math and reading proficiency, and increase graduation rates. Since 2010, we’ve empowered over 100,000 low-income students through evidence-based tutoring, program support, and user-friendly gradebook software. PRACTICE is committed to enriching urban education by tailoring solutions to meet each school’s needs, supporting both students and teachers along the way. We’re more than just educators; we’re dedicated champions for every child’s success.