The start of school has been making a wave across Kentucky, with students returning in early August and others who are returning this week. After several years of uncertainty, this beginning seems reminiscent of the pre-covid back to school frenzy.
The Connections Newsletter-Welcome Back Edition, hit inboxes in early August, as mailed letters also made their way to each Superintendent in Kentucky public schools. Connections is a monthly newsletter from the Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools. Welcome Back letters included Superintendents, Building Leaders, Teachers, FRYSCs, Families, Students and Community Members. The purpose of this Welcome Back spotlight is to elevate family engagement as a critical tool for student success.
The best predictor of student success is the extent to which families encourage learning at home and involve themselves in their child’s education. Research suggests if schools successfully engage families in education, their children, regardless of ethnic, racial, or socioeconomic background, are more likely to:
- Earn higher grades or test scores
- Be promoted, pass their classes and earn credits
- Attend school regularly
- Graduate from high school and attend postsecondary education
- Have better social skills and classroom behavior (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)
The Welcome Back letter is a way to share statewide family engagement resources the Kentucky Collaborative has to offer. If you’re a school looking to improve your family engagement strategies or if you’re a family or community member looking for ways to serve in your school, we invite you to sign- up to receive monthly updates, join the Groundswell Initiative and apply for the 2022-2023 Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership Fellowship Track.
As a superintendent, you may be thinking “that’s my line, I’m typically drafting the welcome back language this time of year.”
As school begins, we want to extend a word of encouragement and offer support as you begin implementing plans for student instruction in the coming months.
We want to send a sincere thank you for the work you do day-in and day-out, for students and their families.
Can you believe the start of the 2022-2023 school year is upon us?
We love our FRYSCs and want to thank you for the amazing ways you find to meet the needs of students and their families each day!
We know there is much excitement about the first day back to school. Some of you may be thinking “Summer cannot be over!”
Maybe back to school isn’t necessarily on your radar if you aren’t closely connected to the school district in your community.
To learn more about these opportunities visit www.prichardcommittee.org/familyengagement.
Laura Beard
Senior Manager of Family Engagement
The Prichard Committee
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