Address 6 Root Causes That Get in the Way of Fostering Community Engagement

Diverse group of teachers, parents, and elementary students sit in a discussion circle smiling and laughing.

Enhanced community engagement will strengthen the capacity of families, community members, and school and district staff to create authentic partnerships and initiate difficult conversations necessary to support student success.

– The Community Engagement Initiative


ACTIVITY

Understand the 6 Root Causes That Get in the Way of High-Quality Community Engagement

Each webinar in the provided resource focuses on one of these six causes:

  1. Lack of belief that the system’s success is critically dependent on its relationships with students & families
  2. Lack of belief in students and families as experts
  3. Lack of committed and consistent district & school leaders
  4. Lack of understanding and expertise around highly effective student & family engagement
  5. Lack of inclusivity based on race & culture
  6. Systems/tools are not made to be community-friendly

Reflect on your school’s/district’s standing with each of the six causes

  • What are your strengths in each area?
  • Where is there room for improvement?
    • What are the most urgent priorities to address?
    • What changes will bring the most positive and noticeable improvements?

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During our May Counterpart meetings, we asked folks to share what they have been engaging with recently. Below is a list of all the resources shared by our incredible community, offering a taste of the diverse and inspiring content they’re currently exploring. This list has something for everyone: from thought-provoking articles to captivating podcasts to must-watch documentaries. So, take a peek, pick your poison, and get ready to dive into something fantastic!

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