Advocacy and Outreach

Our advocacy efforts are focused on removing systemic barriers to parent engagement at both the policy and practice levels within the education system so that all families can more effectively partner with schools to guide, monitor, and support their child’s learning.

Policy Priority Areas

• High Quality Learning Environments for all Students
  • Ensure schools have effective school leaders and educators that welcome and engage parents to support student achievement (LAUSD educator evaluation system)
  • Provide parents access to a quality education for their child from preschool to college
  • Develop and strengthen indicators and accountability systems to effectively assess the impact of parent engagement practices

• Options for Parents
  • Replicate and expand quality school models and practices that are available to all families
    (e.g. LAUSD Public School Choice)
  • Expand the ability of parents to access education data to inform their decision-making and monitor their child’s academic progress (e.g. LAUSD School Report Card)
  • Increase opportunities for parents to participate in decision-making at the school level

• Family, Community and School Partnerships
  • Increase learning opportunities that build parents’ confidence, knowledge, and skills to support their child’s education from cradle to college
  • Strengthen parent centers to provide learning opportunities for parents as well as connect families to school and community resources
  • Increase collaboration between community, business, universities and other partners to reduce obstacles families face in supporting their children’s education

Advocacy Networks and Coalitions

Working with policy-makers, educators and community-based organizations, Families In Schools serves as a strategic thought and collaborative partner to advocate for educational improvements for all students.

In Los Angeles, these efforts include Communities for Educational Equity, the Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative, the Belmont Education Collaborative, among others.

At the state level, FIS partners with Preschool California, the Campaign for College Opportunity, Californians Together, the Chronic Absence & Attendance Partnership, and Sacramento READS!

Click Here to Return to Community Engagement and Advocacy Home Page.