October 28, 2026
Contributing Author: Dr. Majalise Tolan
As school districts across the country tackle chronic absenteeism, authentic family engagement rises to the top to improve both attendance and the student experience. As a superintendent, reading Empowered Families, Thriving Students – Unlocking the Potential of Family-School Partnerships gave me a roadmap to follow to improve our district from sit and get engagement with families to authentic empowerment where everyone is a learner and partner in a child’s success story.
Collado, Marrero, and Reyes tackle moving beyond just engaging families to empowering families by making them an intentional and central part of their child’s learning experience. Family empowerment doesn’t happen with the changing of a term, though. It takes focus and a commitment to lead, listen, and learn together. Through empowerment we find authentic and deep engagement.
It Starts with an Action Plan
- Create a plan of action to gather authentic information from families through surveys, discussions, conferences, etc.
- Build capacity for teachers and staff to connect with families through training, scheduling, and skill building
- Develop pathways of communication that are easily accessible, multi-lingual, and serve families collaboratively
- Connect families with others in the school or throughout the community to build groups of collaborative learners.
The four-step process of planning for family empowerment sets the stage for schools to take clear action to empower families by bringing them together to focus on their learners’ needs. Education cannot happen in a silo, and all families must be empowered to take part in the learning process as true partners. To empower, though, schools must take the time to understand. Learning about family and community differences and overcoming deficit-based views are vital in building partnerships and in helping families know that they matter.
Overcoming Deficit Based Mindsets
- Provide antibias professional development
- Reinforce culturally responsive practices
- Breakdown language barriers at all events
- Bridge socio-economic gaps through equitable resource allocation
Becoming more than a school that offers fun family activities to a school that actively engages in community learning is a large task that takes a team of committed educators and family members working collaboratively but remains one of great needs. Empowered school communities recognize the well-rounded strengths their community brings to the school and empower the whole community to simultaneously be learners and teachers together.
Empowered Families, Thriving Students lays the foundation, outlines the strategies, and provides the guidance for school communities to learn and grow together. When families believe in the school system, they will send their children to school. The key to improving attendance is to empower the entire school community.
Take Aways –
- Make a clear plan for gathering information about how to best empower families
- Value and honor what every learner, adult and child, bring to the educational community
Sources:
Collado, W. B., Marrero, A., & Reyes, B. (2025). Empowered families, thriving students: Unlocking the potential of family-school partnerships. Corwin Press.
Learn more by contacting Dr. Majalise Tolan, Associate for Creative Leadership Solutions