The <\/span>TalkingPoints Benchmark Survey<\/b><\/a>, conducted in partnership with <\/span>Edge Research<\/b>, gathered insights from nearly <\/span>700 educators and administrators<\/b> to better understand the state of family engagement in schools today. The findings reveal <\/span>major gaps in engagement practices, opportunities for improvement, and the increasing role of digital tools in strengthening school-family partnerships<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n While <\/span>family engagement is widely recognized as important<\/b>, very few educators <\/span>rate their district\u2019s current efforts as highly effective<\/b>. Less than <\/span>half of the respondents<\/b> described their engagement strategies as even “very good,” revealing a <\/span>significant opportunity for districts to improve their approach<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n One district administrator emphasized the need for a mindset shift, stating:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMost districts see family engagement as a goal or a box to check off. We need to shift to family engagement as a strategy to reach all of the academic and other outcomes we care about.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n To move from “checking the box” to truly strategic engagement, schools must adopt clear, consistent, and research-backed engagement methods that empower both educators and families. For more information on how family engagement can impact student outcomes, see this<\/span> study<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the <\/span>key takeaways from the survey<\/b> is that <\/span>accessibility is crucial<\/b> to effective engagement. Educators agree that engagement must be easy and clear for both families and teachers. This means:<\/span><\/p>\n A teacher shared this challenge:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDistrict officials do not fully understand the importance of improving family engagement and increasing the usage of tools teachers have found successful. They tend to rely on communicating via email, even though parents rarely check or do not have email.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Digital family engagement platforms<\/b> like <\/span>TalkingPoints<\/b> help bridge these communication gaps<\/span><\/a> by providing <\/span>multilingual, two-way messaging tools<\/b> that reach families in the way that works best for them.<\/span><\/p>\n Although in-person communication remains highly valued, digital tools are becoming increasingly essential for overcoming barriers such as:<\/span><\/p>\n The survey also found that <\/span>hybrid engagement approaches (in-person + digital)<\/b> lead to <\/span>higher participation rates<\/b> in school events and ongoing family involvement.<\/span><\/p>\n One district administrator described a key breakthrough in their district:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe major shift we made was seeing families as experts and collaborating with them as equal partners. This helped us overcome gaps created by different languages, lack of communication, and lack of trust.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Digital platforms <\/span>enhance\u2014not replace\u2014personal relationships<\/b> by making consistent communication and family engagement easier.<\/span><\/p>\n Even though educators <\/span>recognize the importance of family engagement<\/b>, they often <\/span>lack the time, training, and leadership support<\/b> needed to implement effective practices.<\/span><\/p>\n A teacher explained the issue bluntly:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTeachers may think that communicating with non-English-speaking families is someone else\u2019s job (such as the EL teacher or bilingual assistant).\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n To solve this, districts must provide:<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>TalkingPoints Benchmark Survey<\/b><\/a> makes one thing clear: <\/span>Family engagement is a game-changer for student success, but districts need a more intentional approach<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n By making family engagement a <\/span>strategic priority<\/b>, districts can unlock their <\/span>full potential<\/b> to improve student outcomes including attendance, academics, and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n To learn more about our <\/span>Universal Family Engagement platform<\/b> and <\/span>effective family engagement strategies<\/b>, visit<\/span> TalkingPoints<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nEducators see the potential\u2014But engagement efforts fall short<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nMaking engagement more accessible for all families<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThe growing role of digital engagement<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAddressing key barriers: Time, training and leadership<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nMoving forward: A more strategic approach to family engagement<\/b><\/h2>\n
How Schools Can Take Action Now<\/b><\/h3>\n
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