In this commentary, the authors share some of the lessons on family, school, and community engagement from their collective work, and a workshop plan for school educators, education leaders, and organizations striving to identify barriers to and opportunities for stronger family, school, and community partnerships.
“In recent research conducted by CUE in collaboration with schools and community organizations on six contents, participants across countries and demographics noted a blame game between families and educators. Educators often felt that families were not sufficiently motivated and interested in their child’s education, while families felt that educators often blamed them for challenges to their children’s learning and development. Naming and breaking the blame game, and using approaches to build relational trust between families and educators, is critical to supporting all children, especially children with disabilities.”