The Family
Engagement Planner

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A month-to-month guide full of ideas, templates, and routines that work. 

The Family
Engagement Planner

pink squiggle

A month-to-month guide full of ideas, templates, and routines that work. 

Introduction

Why Family Engagement Matters

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ParentSquare began with a simple, deeply held belief: every family—no matter their schedule, language, or background—deserves to feel connected to their child’s school life.

What started as a grassroots effort in just four local schools has since grown into a platform that supports over 20 million family-teacher connections across the country.

But along the way, I’ve learned something important: technology alone isn’t enough. True family engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention. It takes systems, routines, and a shared commitment to making families feel seen, heard, and valued.

That’s why I started this guide. 

Whether you’re a district leader, a school administrator, or a teacher in the classroom, my hope is that this month-by-month roadmap helps you move beyond one-way updates—and into real, ongoing partnership with the families you serve.

And like ParentSquare itself, this is a living guide—built to evolve with your feedback, questions, and ideas.

Inside, you’ll find templates, tools, and practical ideas—but more than that, you’ll find heart. Because our goal isn’t just to communicate better. It’s to build something better—together.

Let’s begin.

Anupama Vaid signature

Anu Vaid
Founder & President

Have ideas on how we can improve the guide? We’d love your feedback—share with us here.

Introduction

Why Family Engagement Matters

pink squiggle

ParentSquare began with a simple, deeply held belief: every family—no matter their schedule, language, or background—deserves to feel connected to their child’s school life.

What started as a grassroots effort in just four local schools has since grown into a platform that supports over 20 million family-teacher connections across the country.

But along the way, I’ve learned something important: technology alone isn’t enough. True family engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention. It takes systems, routines, and a shared commitment to making families feel seen, heard, and valued.

That’s why I started this guide. 

Whether you’re a district leader, a school administrator, or a teacher in the classroom, my hope is that this month-by-month roadmap helps you move beyond one-way updates—and into real, ongoing partnership with the families you serve.

And like ParentSquare itself, this is a living guide—built to evolve with your feedback, questions, and ideas.

Inside, you’ll find templates, tools, and practical ideas—but more than that, you’ll find heart. Because our goal isn’t just to communicate better. It’s to build something better—together.

Let’s begin.

Anupama Vaid signature

Anu Vaid
Founder & President

Anu on bike

Have ideas on how we can improve the guide? We’d love your feedback—share with us here.

Preparing for the New Year 

The school year doesn’t start in August—preparation, planning, and thoughtful setup need to start much earlier. The summer months are critical to laying the foundation for a successful communication year. By taking action now, you set the stage for a year where communication feels intentional, not reactive.

Your Goal: Set your district and schools up for communication success by cleaning up systems, organizing groups, refreshing templates, and ensuring alignment.

Top 3 Takeaways: 

  1. Create groups that parents can join. Do not send everything to everyone. Set up groups that families can join based on their needs and interests (PTA, Athletics, Clubs, Volunteer Teams, etc.).
  2. Establish Weekly Communication Days. Create a predictable rhythm by assigning specific days for communication, such as “District Tuesdays” and “School Thursdays.”, so families know when to expect important information and look out for the digest that day. 
  3. Encourage Families to Download the App. The mobile app offers the best ParentSquare experience—instant alerts, easy access to posts, messages, calendar events, forms, and more. Promote app downloads early and often.

Ready to dive deeper?

Explore the full chapter for practical checklists, sample posts, templates, and strategies you can share with your team. From cleaning up contact data to launching your first newsletter, this chapter helps you turn summer planning into a school year built on trust and consistency.

Read the full chapter

Available as an interactive or printable PDF.

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Have ideas on how we can improve the guide? 

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We’d love your feedback—share with us here.