Driving Student Achievement Through Meaningful Family Collaboration 

July 1, 2025

Strengthening the bridge between home and school can help children develop foundational skills, stay engaged, and grow into confident learners. Across grade levels, practical tools and proven strategies are helping schools support families as active partners in student learning. 

In the following post, we spotlight three resources designed to help families and schools collaborate more effectively. 

Supporting Literacy From PreK Through Middle School 

 Strong literacy skills begin with a clear understanding of what children need to learn and how families can help. Our two easy-to-use guides—Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development: PreK–Grade 3 and Grades 4 Through 8—provide families with tools that help them understand the stages of literacy development and guide them on how to support literacy development at home. 

Each guide features clear visual milestones and accessible strategies to help families stay involved in their child’s learning. This infographic also offers practical questions you can ask your child’s teacher so that you can stay informed and involved in your child’s literacy development, such as “Is my child reading at grade level?” or “What are my child’s strengths in reading?” Use this guide to partner with teachers and build strong reading habits all year long. By offering shared language and practical tips, these resources help educators and families build consistent support for students throughout their literacy journey. 

Explore how families and educators can work together to support literacy development at home and in school in PreK–Grade 3 and Grades 4–8. 

Creating Family-Friendly School Environments 

 Family engagement is more effective when schools are welcoming, communicative, and inclusive. In the webinar Three Essential Practices for Creating Family-Friendly Schools, WestEd Family Engagement expert Maria Paredes shares practical approaches for fostering stronger school–family partnerships. 

From creating a warm physical environment to encouraging personal interactions and offering meaningful leadership opportunities, the session highlights key strategies that build trust and improve school culture. These practices help ensure that all families feel valued and involved in their child’s education. 

Watch the webinar to learn how to make your school more welcoming and supportive for families. 

A Practical Guide for Middle School Family Engagement 

 The Essential Playbook for Family Engagement in Middle School provides school and district leaders with evidence-based strategies for fostering meaningful connections with families during the developmentally important middle school years.  

The playbook is organized around four core elements—Capacity, Process, Infrastructure, and Outcomes—and offers adaptable strategies and real-life examples to support implementation, such as the following:  

• Holding Orientation Sessions for Middle School Families  
• Welcoming New Families 
• Sending Positive Postcards Home
• Conducting a Positive Phone Call Campaign (High-Five Fridays) 
• Offering a Family Learning Workshop Series 
• Establishing Consistent Communication With the Weekly Learning Connection 
• Uniting School and Families Through School FACE Committee Initiatives 
• Strengthening School–Community Ties Through Strategic Partnerships 
• Ensuring That Family Engagement Is Integrated With the District Strategic Plan 
• Cultivating Engaged Leadership Through Book Studies 

By helping schools build relational trust and stronger partnerships, the playbook supports student achievement and long-term success. 

Read the playbook to discover how family engagement can make a lasting impact in middle school. 

Partnering With Families to Drive Student Learning 

At WestEd, our Family Engagement Services team works alongside schools and districts to build intentional, lasting partnerships with families to support student learning and continuous improvement. Through professional learning experiences and practical tools, we help educators implement data-driven, evidence-based strategies that connect family engagement directly to academic success. 

Learn more about our approach.