IMPACT has identified a number of tools that serve a range of purposes from program assessment to resource development. Descriptions of and links to the various tools are provided.

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The Toolkit of Resources for Engaging Families and the Community as Partners in Education

The Toolkit of Resources for Engaging Families and the Community as Partners in Education is a four-part resource that brings together research, promising practices, and useful tools and resources to guide educators in strengthening partnerships with families and community members to support student learning. The toolkit defines family and community engagement as an overarching approach to support family well-being, strong parent-child relationships, and students' ongoing learning and development. The primary audiences for this toolkit are administrators, teachers, teacher leaders, and trainers in diverse schools and districts.

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Reframing Engagement

NAFSCE / The FrameWorks Institute

Research by the Frameworks Institute yielded seven key recommendations that, when employed consistently, help audiences access ideas and beliefs about family engagement that foster their support for more productive, expansive, and equitable engagement practices. Read about the seven recommended practices and see the toolkit resources at the following links.

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Family Engagement Action Plan Tools

The previous family engagement consortium I2MPACT developed Family Engagement Action Plan Tools designed for use by educators and program staff to ensure that family engagement activities are aligned to specific goals and needs as well as to support intentional and targeted family engagement action planning.

The Alignment Tool is used to look back at the family engagement needs and goals for the previous school year or program term and compare those with the family engagement activities that took place to determine to what degree they align. If the family engagement goals and needs do not align to the activities that were provided, ask where the disconnect is and how it can be improved in the new action plan cycle.

The Classification Tool allows the user to analyze the types of family engagement activities that have taken place in their local districts or project areas by classifying them as participation, engagement or empowerment activities. Think about whether or not the role of parents needs to be expanded so parents are more empowered and are educational partners.

The Continuum Tool provides information and examples for re-framing selected family engagement activities and increasing the role of migratory parents in the planning, facilitation and or follow up. Learn how to move a family engagement activity from the "participation" category to the "engagement" category or from the "engagement" category to the "empowerment" category. Before looking at the Continuum Tool, please complete the "Classification Tool."

The Family Engagement Action Plan Template provides a structured form for intentional family engagement action planning that ensures the activities are in line with locally identified family engagement requirements and migratory family's requests.

The Reflective Action Tool is a place to put information and feedback from a family engagement activity so you have all the details in one place to reflect on outcomes, successes and changes to consider for the next event.

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Compassion Resilience Toolkit

This toolkit explores ways to maintain a compassionate presence during the interactions with our children, family members and those we count on to support us. Learn how to alleviate a family members’ distress while maintaining your own well-being.

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Early Learning Coordination and Collaboration Toolkit

The former family engagement consortium, Preschool Initiative, presented Essential Steps In Early Learning Coordination and Collaboration that Support Migrant Preschool Children. Adapted with permission from External Link  SOAR, this useful tool assesses local, regional, and/or state level coordination and collaboration. The modules in the toolkit sequentially present information to foster and support collaboration and coordination. Download the modules at the following links.

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Family Engagement Toolkits from the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement

NAFSCE's mission is "To advance high-impact policies and practices for family, school, and community engagement to promote child development and improve student achievement." Its website offers many resources including the following toolkits.

BOSTNet Engaging Families in Out-of-School Time Programs Toolkit This toolkit was developed through the Engaging Families Initiative at the Build the Out-of-School Time Network (BOSTnet includes best practices and strategies to enhance parent involvement in their children's after school).

The Early Childhood Family Engagement Framework Toolkit: Maryland's Vision for Engaging Families with Young Children This toolkit, developed as part of the Family Engagement Initiative by the Maryland Family Engagement Coalition and the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood Development, was designed to promote family engagement in early care and education settings and to improve families and children’s outcomes.

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Field Test Toolkit

Member states of the former family engagement consortium, Preschool Initiative, conducted field tests of high-quality assessments and/or instructional materials that contain evidence-based and promising practices. The purposes of the field tests were to: assist states with resource selection; provide implementation data; and, further the consortium's goals of building state capacity and knowledge related to more effectively serving the pre-kindergarten migratory student population. Detailed guidelines are provided to support the establishment and implementation of the field tests. Rubrics and forms for both the Instructional Resource Review and Assessment Implementation field tests enable the consistent collection of feedback and facilitate analysis of the core elements/components of each resource. The guidelines, forms, rubrics and templates can be downloaded at the following links.

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Migrant Education Program Non Regulatory Guidance

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Non Regulatory Guidance is a resource for state and local education agencies to help them determine how to best meet the needs of migratory children consistent with applicable federal requirements and regulations. Pages 78-83 specifically address requirements for Parent Advisory Councils and other parental involvement provisions which help MEPs appropriately plan and implement parent engagement in MEP planning and operations.

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Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) resource, "Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide" is designed to help parents and guardians understand how digital tools can provide tailored learning opportunities, engage students with course materials, encourage creative expression, and enrich the educational experience. The Guide is available in English and Spanish.

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Parent Engagement for ELL Families

Colorín Colorado developed this guide for school leaders to provide strategies for engaging ELL families in building strong home-school partnerships.

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Parent Survey

To learn more about barriers for parents/caregivers trying to access early learning programs and opportunities, the former family engagement consortium, Preschool Initiative, created this parent/caregiver survey. The survey is for use by local, regional, and/or state migrant programs to gather additional information about the potential issues or barriers that are impediments for their migratory families. The survey questions in English and Spanish can be downloaded at the following links.

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Preschool Access Staff Survey

The Staff Survey was created by the Coordination and Collaboration work group from the former family engagement consortium, Preschool Initiative. The survey was developed in response to many rich conversations about potential access issues that may exist for migratory families looking for preschool services for their children. The survey is intended to be used by local, regional, and/or state programs as needed in order to gather more information. The survey can be downloaded at the following link.

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ReadyRosie and Teaching Strategies LLC

ReadyRosie and Teaching Strategies LLC created a free e-book on transformative family partnerships. Strategies like demonstrating value and respect for families and using data to customize family partnerships assist educators with implementing high-quality family connections. This resource also highlights culturally and linguistically responsive approaches that consider families' perspectives and languages as central to the design of family engagement activities. The e-book can be downloaded at the following link.

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Assessments, Screeners, and Checklists

Assessments, Screeners, and Checklists for Preschool-Age Children: What are they and how do I use them? These documents provide detailed information on the differences between checklists, screeners, and assessments. They provide recommendations for how each should be used as well as examples of each. These resources can be downloaded at the following links.

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WIDA ABC's of Family Engagement

To support educators working with families of language learners, WIDA presents the ABCs of Family Engagement, six key considerations that are essential for strengthening family engagement practices and building relationships with families. This document is grounded in research and can be used by educators to initiate reflection and dialogue on local efforts to engage with families.

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