To support families — particularly those in low-income, ethnic and immigrant communities — to become involved in educational policymaking concerning their local schools.

By many measures, California’s public schools are not providing a quality education to all children. While numerous approaches are necessary to improve student outcomes, parent engagement efforts can foster more responsive and appropriate school policies that enhance student success. Yet many do not know of avenues through which they can express their concerns and experiences with school officials.

By helping forge stronger connections between families and schools, this initiative advances multiple Irvine goals. In line with our California Perspectives program, the initiative involves traditionally underrepresented communities in important public decision making. The initiative also furthers the Youth program’s efforts to promote school policies that better serve California’s disadvantaged youth. Undertaken as a cross-program effort, the project is benefiting from staff experience and networks in the fields of civic engagement and school reform.

Structure of the initiative

A total of $1.65 million over two years is being invested in five community organizations in the San Joaquin Valley to help families deepen their involvement in their children’s education and their local schools. This includes peer-to-peer outreach; parent workshops on educational issues, leadership skills and opportunities for involvement in the schools; and community forums and small group meetings with school officials.

Families In Schools, an organization created in 1995 to continue the parent involvement work of a Los Angeles school reform effort serving 200,000 students, serves as the initiative’s intermediary. Families In Schools advises grantees about program implementation, provides technical assistance, collects data and strategizes with Irvine staff on other ways to maximize the initiative’s impact.

Participants

• California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Central Valley)
• Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin County (Stockton)
• Community Services and Employment Training (Tulare County)
• Fresno Center for New Americans (Fresno County)
• Fresno Covenant Foundation (San Joaquin Valley)