Purpose / Mission
The mission of the Bay Area Family Engagement Work Group is to bring together local education, family engagement, and racial justice organizations across the Bay Area to develop (1) regional standards and measures for Transformative Family Engagement (TFE) in Bay Area school districts, and (2) a regional report card that regularly measures Bay Area school district progress toward TFE. The Work Group seeks to build the capacity of Bay Area school districts to implement TFE practices that build the dual capacity of families and educators to engage in meaningful relationships and shared decision-making that help improve student learning experiences and outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color. The efforts of the work group are guided by a racial justice and organizing framework aimed at interrupting structural racism and inequity in schools and districts by engaging the expertise of students and their families in school and district improvement.
(Working) Definition of Transformative Family Engagement (TFE)
Transformative Family Engagement (TFE) is the practice of centering students, families and educators as co-leaders of systemic change and continuous improvement in schools and districts for the purpose of generating equitable student learning experiences and outcomes . TFE learns from the expert knowledge and lived experiences of students and their families to interrupt systemic racism and other systemic oppression in schools and districts. TFE requires dual learning and shared responsibility and power among families and educators, and prioritizes student success and happiness in school regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability or income.
Guiding Principles
The Work Group is guided by the following principles:
- Students and their families have the expertise to influence change in their own schools and communities.
- We must build dual capacity of families and educators for family engagement to transform student learning experiences and outcomes.
- The U.S. education system was built on and continues to withhold racist structures and policies that negatively impact low income families and families of color. While we believe family engagement must reach all families, the focus of our work is on building school and district capacity for transformative family engagement that improves public education experiences for low income families and families of color.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Work Group is to develop a set of regional standards and measures that support Transformative Family Engagement in Bay Area schools and districts. The Work Group aims to build the capacity of Bay Area school districts to implement TFE practices that build the dual capacity of families and educators to engage in meaningful relationships and shared decision-making that help improve student learning experiences and outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color.
To get more involved in the Work Group, email info at bayareaplan dot org
