Engaging Parents and Students from Diverse Populations in the Context of Distance Learning

This one-hour archived webinar, hosted by REL West, focused on state, district, and school-based strategies that support student and family engagement, particularly among vulnerable populations, in the context of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective student and family engagement relies on establishing trusting relationships in which educators, students, and their parents see themselves and each other as equal partners. Without opportunities to interact in person, it is now more difficult and also more important to build and maintain these strong relationships.

This webinar shared lessons from research and practice to help educators engage with students and their families to support continued learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters discussed strategies in three important areas:

• Cultivating a partnership orientation
• Practicing cultural responsiveness
• Establishing two-way communication

Presenters include family engagement coordinators from districts in California and Nevada discussing how they are adapting their work to address current challenges, with a focus on distance learning and working with vulnerable populations.

Who should attend: State, district, and school-level staff involved with developing and implementing distance learning and supporting parent and student engagement.

Resources from the Webinar

Access the presentation slides, handouts, articles, and tools discussed during the webinar:

• Presentation Slides
• From presenter D’Lisa Crain at Washoe County School District:
  • WCSD’s Distance Learning and Family Wellness resource page
• From presenters Claudia Medina and Sara Stone at Alameda Unified School District:
  • Teaching Tolerance article: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus
• From presenter Margit Birge, resources on family engagement and connecting with families of immigrants and English learners:
  • The Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships
  • The California Department of Education’s Family Engagement Toolkit
  • Phi Delta Kappa International article: Stages of Immigrant Parent Involvement

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].

Presented by Jason SnipesMargit BirgeBarbara JonesD’Lisa CrainSara StoneClaudia Medina