The templates below support communication strategies to build authentic partnership between educators and families with high-impact tutoring. Because every district and program has their own unique branding, color schemes, and images, we recommend you use the language in these documents as a starting point to develop communications materials for your context.
NSSA extends our gratitude to all who contributed to the toolkit. We are especially grateful to Brittany Miller, Jennifer Moore, and Theo Shaw. We also appreciate the following individuals for engaging in interviews, and the families and parent leaders affiliated with Innovate Public Schools and Parent Shield for sharing their expertise, assisting us to craft accessible tools for families and parents.
Key Contributors
For districts seeking ideas to build families’ understanding of their child’s education progress, Broad Street Elementary in Butler, PA provides an excellent example. Families and educators came together for an event called “Data with a Twist,” that demonstrates how educational innovation and community partnership can support student learning.
Columbus City Schools’ (CCS) Office of Engagement supercharged their high-impact tutoring program, building strong partnerships with families and setting students up for success. How did they do it? Through these 3 key structures:
Below are inspiring stories of how districts partnered with families to understand their academic needs, and how parents successfully advocated for high-impact tutoring locally in their own communities.
Effective communication of students' academic progress to families is essential for their understanding and support. Translating grades and assessments into clear, comprehensible information allows families to better assist their children academically. Families desire actionable advice to support their child's learning at home and celebrate their achievements. High-impact tutoring is an effective strategy for addressing students' learning needs and can be part of a collaborative effort with parents and caregivers to support students.
Many families want high-quality tutoring for their kids, but they don't always know what's available or what it costs. We have heard from other parents that they want to understand what tutoring options are out there. To do this, we recommend using simple language, sharing information using existing relationships, explaining the costs, highlighting the benefits, and using different ways to spread the word. Here are what strategies we’ve heard to overcome barriers to communication.
Empowering families to advocate for high-impact tutoring begins with early and meaningful collaboration. Engage families from the very start, involving them in planning and program design. However, districts can cultivate authentic partnerships, grounded in trust and a deep understanding of families' experiences at any point in the process. Effective programs maintain continuous engagement with families, actively soliciting their input and providing the necessary support to strengthen their advocacy efforts.
Desde NSSA e Innovate extendemos nuestra gratitud a todos aquellos que contribuyeron con esta herramienta. Agradecemos a las siguientes personas por participar en las entrevistas, y a las familias y padres líderes asociados con Innovate Public Schools y Parent Shield por compartir su experiencia y por ayudarnos a crear herramientas accesibles para las familias y los padres.