Something big is taking root in nine schools across Washington, DC. Demonstrating a deep commitment to REAL Family Engagement, these schools are joining the network of schools in Flamboyan Foundation’s Family Engagement Partnership (FEP). Alongside others already in this partnership, these schools are beginning focused, intentional work to incorporate family engagement as a part of their school cultures, driving student success inside and outside of the classroom.
The new cohort includes:
- Cleveland Elementary School
- Friendship PCS Woodridge Middle School
- Garfield Elementary School
- KIPP DC Key Academy
- Lorraine H. Whitlock Elementary School
- MacArthur High School
- Social Justice School
- Takoma Elementary School
- Thurgood Marshall Academy
Started in 2012 with just 4 DCPS schools, the FEP is Flamboyan’s flagship program that has expanded to nearly 60 schools across DCPS and DC charter schools. It partners with schools to develop their culture and practice of REAL Family Engagement, prioritizing relationship building, ongoing communication, and academic partnering strategies. Flamboyan supports FEP schools in building sustainable family engagement
Each of these new schools, serving students and families in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8, through a thoughtful process that incorporated the voices of key stakeholders, including school staff and leadership, to ensure that the conditions existed to begin this important work. Each team identified family engagement as a key ingredient for school improvement and student success, along with the willingness to dedicate time and resources to these efforts.
“Family engagement is a clear driver of student success,” said Emily Garcia, Flamboyan’s Executive Director. “By committing to build the structures that create strong, trusting relationships with families leading to deep academic partnerships, these schools are taking an essential step towards creating the conditions where every student can thrive.”
Summer Planning: A Starting Point with Intention
During the summer planning process, members of each school’s Family Engagement Leadership Team (FELT) came together for the first time as a professional learning community.
This dedicated time is especially significant for the new cohort because teams identified FELT roles, explored what family engagement means in the context of their school community, identified key best practices around relationship building, and began answering the essential question:
What do we want to learn from families, and why does it matter to our school and our goals?
As the school year begins, these nine schools are planting the seeds of lasting change to ensure that families are essential partners in student success. With guidance from Flamboyan and collaboration across the FEP network, they are building a foundation for stronger relationships, better communication, and better outcomes for students.