November 2024

In this season of gratitude, we reflect on the strength and resilience of families and the vital role they play in their children's education. As we anticipate shifts in political leadership and policies that may create new challenges for undocumented and refugee families—impacting over 4.4 million students in the U.S.—our commitment to family engagement grows stronger.

During past periods of uncertainty, programs like FASTalk offered families a safe way to stay connected to schools and access essential resources. Moving forward, we will continue partnering with schools and communities to provide multilingual tools and support that empower families to navigate these changes and advocate for their children’s success.

In collaboration,

Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryon

Family Engagement Lab Co-Founders

📚 What We're Reading

Did you see The74's recent article?

Survey: For Most Parents, Grades Have Lost Ground as Measure of Student Progress

In a recent national survey of 20,000 parents, researchers found that parents increasingly rely on communication with teachers rather than grades to evaluate their children's academic progress. 

Why? Factors like grade inflation have eroded trust in grades as an accurate measure, and parents now prioritize teacher insights. While parents are relying more on teachers regardless of whether they believe their children are at grade level, parents whose children were below grade level were even more likely to rely on teacher conferences or other communication from teachers than grades for key academic information about their children. 

What comes next? Experts advocate for teacher training and consistent teacher-family communication to equip families with the information and tools they need to support their children’s education.  

Learn more about how Family Engagement Lab is helping schools and teachers connect and collaborate with families to support student learning across the country:

🎧 What We're Listening To

Family Engagement Lab’s Managing Editor, Megan Lorio, was recently a guest on the TeachersTalkShop podcast. 

Megan shared how family engagement serves as a critical foundation for academic achievement. Listen here!

📍Where You'll Find Us

December 11: Co-founder and CEO, Vidya Sundaram, will be in Costa Mesa, California for a convening of the California Family Engagement Network (CA-FEN), a statewide coalition dedicated to promoting equitable and transformative family engagement in education across California. Will you be there? Vidya would love to connect! 

February 12-14: Megan Lorio will be presenting at the annual Plain Talk about Literacy and Learning literacy institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. Don’t miss Megan’s session on how family engagement can unlock incredible potential and accelerate literacy outcomes.

🗓️ Giving Tuesday is 1 Week Away!

At Family Engagement Lab, we believe that every family has the power to make a difference in their child’s education. Your support helps us create tools and programs that connect families and schools, ensuring all children—regardless of background—have the opportunity to thrive.

Every donation fuels our mission to advance equitable educational outcomes by equipping families to support their child’s learning.  Together, we can bridge gaps, spark potential, and build brighter futures. Join us in making an impact!