Projects and reports

ARACY’s Parent and Family Engagement Implementation Guide for School Communities

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) draws from a wide body of research to provide evidence and examples of how you can make parent and family engagement relevant to your school and community. The guide was released in January 2020. | Watch a webinar on the report or Read the Report

The Queensland Government

Has developed a range of resources, supporting information and a framework on parental engagement in Queensland state schools | Learn More

The Australian Government Department of Education

Had developed a range of resources and information on parent engagement and how parents can support their children to do their best at school | Learn More

 

International

Global Family Research Project

This is a leading research group that believes for all children to succeed, powerful family and community engagement and high-performing schools are essential | Learn More

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Senior lecturer on education Dr Karen Mapp runs a six-week parent engagement course through edX | Learn More

National Network of Partnership Schools

Based at John Hopkins University and led by Dr Joyce Epstein, this is a network of schools striving to improve student learning through parent teacher partnerships | Learn More

People for Education

Research and evidence-based resources supporting parents and schools in implementing effective parental engagement. Having high expectations, talking about school, reading together and developing positive attitudes and work habits are seen as the four critical elements parents can foster in their homes | Learn More

 

Parental Engagement Articles & Resources

Australia

Parental engagement: Australasian research summary

The Evidence for Learning presents research evidence on parental engagement in the Australasian context HERE and the impact on student outcomes HERE.

Parent engagement in schools: Queensland research project

This Queensland-based research project presents findings from a four-year study examining the role of leaders in parent-school-community engagement | Learn More

Engaging parents in their child’s learning and wellbeing: Change, continuity and COVID-19

A research paper by Griffith University parent engagement experts Dr Linda Willis and Professor Beryl Exley examining parent engagement approaches by Queensland independent schools during the 2020 home learning period | Learn More

Parental engagement in learning and schooling: lessons from research

This report provides a synopsis of the published literature relating to parental engagement in both the home and school environments. On the basis of the evidence in the literature, it identifies those approaches which have the greatest influence and impact on student outcomes | Learn More

Education capital: defining, progressing and measuring parental engagement

Reports and resources prepared by ARACY for the ACT Government that provide an evidence-based understanding of parental engagement – what it is, why it matters, and how best to foster it | Learn More

Engaging parents in schools and building parent school partnerships: the role of school and parent organisation leadership

This research article by Queensland academics explores how a positive school climate and principal leadership are pivotal to building parent-school partnerships and supporting parent engagement in child learning more generally. Findings from surveys distributed to principals and presidents of parent organisations in 1,233 Queensland state schools are evaluated | Learn More

Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools

This report by the David Gonski-led review panel of education experts, contains a range of recommendations to lift student outcomes in Australian schools. Parent engagement features in recommendation 2 of the report | Learn More

 

International

Working with parents to support children’s learning

UK-based Education and Endowment Foundation produced a guidance report aimed at senior education leaders who are thinking about their school’s approach to engaging parents | Learn More

Reflections on parent engagement in student learning: Strategies for schools and families

A reflections piece written by internationally renowned Canadian academic and author, Dr Linda Kaser containing her research, experience and insights on parent engagement | Learn More

Family and community engagement

Public Policy Institute of California prepared this paper on family engagement practices in schools | Learn More

Doing what matters most: how parents can help their children succeed at school

People for Education have reviewed past studies, undertaken their own research and recommended a range of activities schools can undertake to support parent engagement in education | Learn More

They’ve also developed practical advice for school communities:

Tip sheet for principals| Learn More

Tip sheet for teachers | Learn More

Tip sheet for parents | Learn More

Working with families, supporting student learning

This monograph by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Canada argues that engaging parents in the life of the school yields positive benefits and rewards for families and schools | Learn More

Narrowing the achievement gap – parental engagement with children’s learning

This book by UK parental engagement expert and Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Bath, Janet Goodall, proposes a radical change to the conception of learning, education and schooling. It argues that parental engagement is the best lever we have for school improvement and closing the achievement gap | Learn More

Research for teachers, #1 parent engagement

This article by Canadian parent engagement expert Debbie Pushor from the University of Saskatchewan, outlines research findings on parental engagement and three steps for schools to follow: 1) adopt a definition of parental engagement 2) pay attention to the knowledge parents and families hold and 3) use the knowledge from parents and families to engage with parents | Learn More

Parental involvement to parental engagement: a continuum

This UK article tracing the continuum between parental involvement with schools, and parental engagement with children’s learning. It provides examples at each stage along the continuum | Learn More

Review of best practice in parental engagement

A UK summary of best practice research on what works in parent engagement | Learn More

Engaging parents in raising achievement: Do parents know they matter?

A UK research report on parental involvement and parental engagement outlining the impacts, the value of, barriers and implications | Learn More