Strategies to Increase Parent Participation and Engagement

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Sept 2025

Learning Objectives

Participants will understand:

• Parent Engagement
• Oregon’s Commitment and Accountability
• Creating a Welcoming School Environment
• Strategies for Engaging Parents in Large and Small Districts
• Barriers and Common Pitfalls
• Practical Engagement Activities
• Questions and Answers

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Disclaimer

These materials constitute the Oregon Department of Education’s interpretation of various state laws and are provided to support public education programs’ understanding of their obligations under these laws. The information in these materials is subject to change based on future legal and policy changes. These materials are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

Oregon Department of Education

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Parent Engagement

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A collaborative partnership between families and schools in which parents are actively involved in educational planning, decision-making, and advocacy for their child’s success.

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When schools and families work together,

everyone wins—especially the child.

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Why Family Engagement Matters

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📘 “The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life.”�— Henderson & Mapp, 2002, A New Wave of Evidence

📊Measurable Impact in Urban and Diverse Communities

“Parental involvement significantly affects academic success across racial, ethnic, and income groups.”�— Jeynes, 2007, The Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Urban Student Academic Achievement

🌟 What Matters Most

“Parental expectations had the strongest relationship with academic achievement, more than any other form of involvement.”�— Fan & Chen, 2001, Parental Involvement and Academic Achievement

🤝 School Responsibility

“When schools engage families in ways that are linked to learning, students make greater gains.”�— Henderson & Mapp, 2002

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Why Family Engagement Matters

"Students who perceive their parents as involved in school tend to have higher self-efficacy, motivation, and academic engagement."� — Hill & Tyson, 2009, Parental Involvement in Middle School: A Meta-Analytic Assessment

From Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework (2020):

“When families show interest in school, students feel more motivated to do their best.”� — Search Institute, Student Voice Reports - 76% of students who reported high family involvement also reported higher levels of motivation and school connection.

“Adolescents value their parents’ academic expectations and involvement more than parents may realize—even if they don’t always show it.”� — Harvard Family Research Project, 2010

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Renewed Vision Of Oregon’s Accountability System

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Oregon Reimagined Accountability Framework

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January 2025

Five Shared Values:

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1. Meaningful Relationships
2. Reciprocal and Shared Accountability Among All Partners
3. Systems-Level Continuous Improvement
4. Multiple Measures that Matter
5. Sufficient and Responsive Resources and Capacity

Engaged Partners and Communities

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Oregon’s continued dedication to shared values and meaningful collaboration with communities to promote student success and a sense of belonging.

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Building Oregon's Reimagined Accountability Framework

Parent Participation Requirements for IEP and Placement Meetings

OAR 581-015-2190

This rule outlines how school districts must ensure meaningful parent participation in IEP and placement meetings for students with disabilities. It requires schools to:

• Make timely efforts to involve parents by scheduling meetings at convenient times and locations.�
• Offer alternative ways to participate (e.g., phone or video calls) if parents cannot attend in person.�
• Document all efforts to involve parents if a meeting proceeds without them.�
• Provide written notice when transition planning is included and invite the student and other relevant agencies.�
• Give parents a copy of the IEP at no cost, whether or not they attend the meeting.�

The rule emphasizes collaboration and flexibility to ensure parents are actively involved in the special education process.

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Creating a Welcoming School Environment

Foster a Welcoming Atmosphere:

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• Identify ways to create a welcoming school environment that encourages parent involvement.
• Understand the importance of creating a physical and emotional space where parents feel valued and included.

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🌟 First Impressions Matter

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• Warm Greetings: Coach front office staff to greet everyone with kindness and enthusiasm.
• Welcoming Signage: Display signs in multiple languages, inclusive messages, and visuals that reflect the school’s diversity.
• Inviting Physical Spaces: Create cozy seating areas, cheerful bulletin boards, and colorful murals featuring student art.

Parent Engagement Begins Before The Meeting

Pre-Meeting Parent Input Forms

• Send a short, easy-to-read questionnaire in advance.�
• Include prompts like:�
• “What are your child’s strengths?”�
• “What concerns do you have?”�
• “What goals do you have for this year?”�
• Format: Google Forms, printed forms, or digital fillable PDFs.

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Examples: One Page Profiles

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One Page Profiles FACT Oregon

Examples: IEP Toolkit

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FACT IEP Tool Kit

Rural and Small School District Resource

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Central Oregon Disability Support Network (CODSN)

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Provides no-cost disability education, advocacy, resources, and community for people with disabilities in Central and Eastern Oregon.

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CODSN

Identify Barriers to Parent Participation:

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• Understand common barriers that prevent parents from participating in school activities, including language, cultural differences, and work schedules.
• Learn strategies to overcome these barriers and create an inclusive environment for all families.
• Make no assumptions!

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Common Pitfalls: Family Engagement

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🎯 6. Treating Engagement as “Extra”

• Pitfall: Parent engagement is treated as optional or separate from core school goals.
• Impact: It’s deprioritized and underfunded.
• Better Approach: Make family engagement part of your school improvement plan and allocate resources.

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Strategies for Engaging Parents in Large and Small Districts

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Develop Effective Communication Strategies:

• Learn various communication methods to reach all parents, including newsletters, social media, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Explore tools and platforms that facilitate two-way communication between parents and schools.
• Use district-approved platforms already in place (e.g., ParentSquare, TalkingPoints, ClassDojo.)
• Send automated reminders, agenda previews, and follow-up notes.

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Engagement Strategies

Implement Inclusive Engagement Practices:

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• Understand how to tailor engagement strategies to meet the needs of diverse families, including those from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Learn how to involve non-English speaking parents through translated materials and bilingual staff.
• Limit complex educational jargon or unclear expectations that can make parents feel unsure of their role or ability to support academics

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Engagement Strategies For Small Districts

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Strategies That Work in Both Settings

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• Recognize and celebrate parent participation (thank-you emails, certificates, shout-outs).�
• Offer training videos or toolkits available online anytime.

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• Use student-led IEPs where appropriate to engage both parents and students.�
• Incorporate feedback forms after meetings to improve the experience.

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Practical Engagement Activities

💬 Communication & Relationship Building

• Multilingual Communication Channels: Use emails, texts, and newsletters in families’ home languages to ensure inclusivity.
• Parent Welcome Centers: Set up warm, accessible spaces for parents to ask questions, connect with staff, and get school updates.
• Two-Way Communication Tools: Implement platforms like ClassDojo or Remind to encourage dialogue rather than just updates.

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Practical Engagement Strategies

🎯 Goal-Driven Collaboration

• Student-Led Conferences: Shift parent-teacher meetings into celebrations of learning with students presenting their progress and goals.
• Shared Academic Goals: Invite parents to contribute to students’ personal goals and reinforce them at home.
• Workshops on Curriculum and Assessments: Help parents understand standards, testing, and grading—boosting confidence in supporting their child.

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Practical Engagement Strategies

📈 Academic Collaboration

• Home Learning Kits: Send home tools and materials for parents to support learning, especially during breaks or over summer.
• Student Portfolios & Conferences: Invite parents to review student progress and set goals in partnership with teachers.
• Shared Learning Goals: Make classroom objectives visible and accessible so parents can reinforce them at home.

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Get To Know Your School District

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• If you are coming from a larger system going into your new smaller district office and introducing yourself and getting to meet their leadership will go a long ways.
• If you are coming from a small system go into to your local school and inquire if there are any already developed parent groups or any upcoming activities that you could support.
• Every school district functions differently: go and learn how yours functions.

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Key Takeaways-Strengthening Parent Engagement

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✅ Empower Parent Voice� Invite families into decision-making, goal-setting, and leadership roles.

✅ Support Learning at Home� Provide resources and clear learning goals to extend academic collaboration beyond the classroom.

✅ Address Barriers� Be intentional about removing obstacles like time, language, and access.

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✅ Start Early� Engagement begins before meetings—build trust through proactive communication.

✅ Prioritize Communication� Use multilingual, two-way tools to keep families informed and involved.

✅ Create Welcoming Spaces� Design inclusive environments—both physical and relational—where families feel they belong.

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Resources

Reimagining Oregon's Accountability System

Building Oregon's Accountability Framework

FACT Oregon

One Page Profiles FACT Oregon

FACT On Demand Trainings

FACT IEP Tool Kit

Central Oregon Disability Support Network

OAR 581-015-2190

IRIS Center

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ODE.SpecialEducationQuestions@ode.oregon.gov (general support)

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Feedback Survey

Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous survey using the following link or QR Code.

Survey Link

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Oregon Department of Education

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