Community involvement in schools creates a two-way collaborative process between schools and their communities that foster meaningful partnerships and create a positive impact on the educational experience. In today’s interconnected world, schools have a tremendous opportunity to tap into the power of community engagement. When schools actively involve the local community in their educational endeavors, a supportive network is formed that benefits students, teachers, families, and the community as a whole.
Furthermore, public schools depend on taxpayer dollars to function and many taxpayers no longer or never had children in the local school system. How you reach them to share your stories and ensure their continued support is challenging, but essential.
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of community engagement and share effective strategies that schools can implement.
Recognize the value of community engagement for success
Community engagement goes beyond fundraising or occasional involvement in school events. It is about building authentic relationships and collaborative partnerships that contribute to the overall success of the school community. Engaging the community brings a wealth of resources, expertise and diverse perspectives that enrich educational experiences, inspire students and foster a sense of belonging. By recognizing and valuing the community as an essential educational partner, schools can leverage its collective strengths to create a thriving learning environment. Community involvement makes your school an attractive place to work, supporting your recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, a strong sense of community can make uncomfortable situations like bond measures and tax increase referendums run smoother.
Develop open lines of communication using multiple channels
Effective communication is the foundation of community involvement. Schools should establish clear and consistent channels of communication with the community. Utilize newsletters, websites, social media platforms and community bulletin boards to share important updates, achievements and upcoming events. Actively seek input and feedback from community members through surveys, forums or community meetings. By fostering open lines of communication, schools demonstrate transparency, build trust and engage the community in the decision-making process.
ParentSquare offers many avenues for community engagement through their Community Groups features. Community Groups allow members of the community to sign up for specific types of communication related to their interests and group affiliations. Districts use these for alumni, boosters, bond measures, foundations, events or any other need.
Create collaborative partnerships for unique opportunities
Collaborating with community organizations, local businesses and service providers creates a powerful network of support for schools. Reach out to community centers, libraries, museums and nonprofit organizations to explore partnerships that align with educational objectives. These partnerships can offer unique learning opportunities such as mentorship programs, internships, workshops, guest speakers, or access to specialized resources. By fostering collaborative partnerships, schools broaden the educational experiences of their students and strengthen ties with the community.
PRO TIP! Make sure you’re sharing these partnerships with feature stories and photos in newsletters, and photos and videos on social media. Tag the social media pages of these partners and include links to their websites in your newsletter to help ensure a mutually beneficial partnership.
Engage extended families to foster support systems
Families are an integral part of the school community, and their engagement is crucial for student success. Go beyond involving parents and guardians in decision-making processes through parent-teacher associations, advisory committees, or regular parent meetings. Encourage extended families to participate in school activities, volunteer programs, and education workshops. Provide opportunities for grandparents, aunts and uncles to share their skills, knowledge and cultural diversity within the school. By engaging extended families as partners, schools create a supportive and inclusive environment where families are actively invested in their child’s education.
ParentSquare provides a way to see engagement levels across schools and the district with in-depth reporting and analytics. This allows administrators to easily measure and improve engagement with visual reports on parent/guardian reach, participation and engagement to continuously increase reach with all parents and students.
Organize service-learning and community projects for broader learning
Integrating service-learning initiatives and community projects into the curriculum allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world contexts while making a positive impact on the community. Collaborate with local organizations or community groups to identify meaningful projects that align with curriculum objectives. These projects could involve environmental conservation, social justice, community outreach, or local problem-solving. Engaging students in service-learning cultivates empathy, civic responsibility, and a sense of purpose while strengthening ties between the school and the community.
PRO TIP! Many people that don’t have school-aged children think that schools no longer share real-world skills with students. Share these projects with feature stories and photos in newsletters, and photos and videos on social media to show the amazing things students are doing in your community!
Celebrate community and cultural diversity to promote inclusion
Embracing and celebrating the rich diversity within the community fosters inclusivity and understanding. Organize multicultural events, heritage celebrations, or cultural exchanges that showcase the traditions, languages and customs of the community. Encourage community members to share their expertise, stories, and experiences with students. By celebrating diversity, schools create an environment that values and respects the varied backgrounds and perspectives of their students and community.
Reaching families from all different backgrounds and communicating in different languages is made much easier with two-way translation in over 100 languages available in ParentSquare. Language settings can be based on SIS settings or users can set it up within ParentSquare. They also have the ability to choose automatic or manual translations for mass alerts, posts, forms, permission slips.
Use storytelling to get in front of your community audience
Show your community the amazing things that are happening in your classrooms each day with newsletters, social media, mailers and even local news outlets. The key is to seek out the stories in your district, schools and classrooms that capture the emotion you want to convey. Tell the stories of your students and staff, sharing their accomplishments and emphasizing the positive relationships. You know your audience best and spending a little time thinking about their interests, concerns and passions will benefit you greatly.
PRO TIP! The most successful stories are going to be the ones centered around topics that are important to your audience. If you’re trying to reach your high school parents and guardians, for example, you may want to find a strong story about a student that utilized your district’s services to better prepare for a career after graduation. For elementary families, a story featuring a fun STEM or art class project could be impactful. Consider sharing popular school happenings in your athletics and creative arts departments, like performances, recitals, plays and concerts.
Community engagement is a powerful catalyst for school success and student achievement. By implementing these strategies, schools can forge strong connections with their community. These partnerships not only enhance the educational experience, but provide layers of support for the school or district.
ParentSquare is here to help you in all of your community involvement goals. Learn more about these features and many more by booking a demo today!
