The school year may be over, but the work of supporting students and the families who champion their learning continues. While many families are shifting into summer routines, district teams are already gearing up for the year ahead.
This moment offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on how we partner with families not just during the school year, but year-round. This month, we're sharing research, resources, and insights to inform how you support family engagement over the summer and into the next school year.
You'll also get a look at how FASTalk continues to meet families where they are, helping them stay engaged in learning anytime, anywhere.
With appreciation for all you do to support families,
Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryon
Family Engagement Lab Co-Founders
What we're sharing
Planning Ahead: 3 Ways to Strengthen Family Engagement Next Year
As you look toward the 2025–26 school year, here are three actionable ways to deepen equitable, learning-focused family partnerships:
Build in time for family voice during planning - not just implementation. Invite input early from families about what they need and what’s working, especially in math and literacy support.
Make communication consistent and skill-focused. Move beyond one-way updates and announcements. Use tools like FASTalk to share learning personalized tips tied to what students are doing in class, in families' home languages.
Prioritize flexible engagement strategies that reach all families. Offer multiple ways for families to engage - designed with diverse languages, schedules, and tech access in mind - so all families can support their child’s learning in ways that work for them.
How FASTalk supports families this summer
FASTalk is helping families support learning outside of the classroom by delivering simple, skill-aligned activities in families’ home languages and tailored to their daily routines. Whether it’s counting items while grocery shopping or finding things that start with the same sound at the playground, FASTalk gives families simple ways to connect learning to real life.
What we're reading
What District Leaders Say About Learning Beyond the School Year
A recent report by the National Summer Learning Association and AASA, The School Superintendents Association reveals both strong support and persistent challenges for extending learning beyond the school year, especially when it comes to keeping students engaged in learning over the summer:
82% of superintendents plan to maintain or increase summer learning investments.
The top benefit cited: building academic skills in reading and math.
But families still face major barriers to access, including:
Cost, identified by parents as the most common obstacle
Scheduling conflicts, which limit participation especially for working families
These findings point to the importance of accessible, cost-effective solutions like FASTalk, which have been shown to equitably increase academic achievement.
New Family Engagement Resources from WestEd
WestEd’s latest E-Bulletin is packed with timely tools, strategies, and insights to help schools and districts strengthen family partnerships this summer and beyond. Highlights include:
Partnering With Families to Support Literacy Development: Downloadable guides (PreK–Grade 8) to help caregivers actively support children’s reading growth at home
Reimagining Open House to Build Community: Practical ideas for making back-to-school events more welcoming, inclusive, and engaging for families
Essential Playbook for Family Engagement in Middle School: Evidence-based strategies to keep families connected during the pivotal middle school years
SATISFY Project: A platform for families of children with disabilities to share insights and help improve systems
What's next with FASTalk
Pilot FASTalk AI in your community this fall
FASTalk AI combines evidence-based strategies with AI-powered personalization, delivering weekly high-impact home learning activities that are:
Aligned to grade-level standards, classroom instruction, and high-quality instructional materials
