ADM 4: Family Engagement

Overview

Family engagement involves relationships that “support [families’] well-being, strong parent-child relationships, and the ongoing learning and development of parents and children alike” ¹. Programs that promote family engagement view the responsibility for a child’s development and learning as a collaborative effort between families, caregivers, programs, school staff, and community members. They take various steps to support and connect with families, including helping them maximize different community resources as their child’s best advocate.

¹The Maryland Family Engagement Coalition (2015) The early childhood family engagement framework: Maryland’s vision for engaging families with young children.

Requirement

Level 4:

Families are provided with at least four different ways to be engaged in the PreK program.

Documentation to upload:

  • Examples of at least four different types of opportunities for family engagement that have been shared with families

The next level only has a few additional requirements. Take a look at Level 5. You may be closer than you think! 

Instructions

Consider how the program engages families, and gather documentation indicating different family engagement opportunities. Some examples include invitations, websites, emails, flyers, or newsletters. Ensure that the documents represent four different types of opportunities rather than the same opportunities offered multiple times. For example, a parenting workshop offered at different times is the same type of opportunity.

Next Steps

  • Review the materials you gathered and confirm they include four different types of family engagement opportunities.
  • Log into the Maryland EXCELS System to upload the program’s documents representing different family engagement opportunities.
  • Submit for review.

Additional Resources