In October 2007, Families In Schools (FIS) received a $200,000 grant from the California Community Foundation to work in partnership with the Lennox School District.  The goal of the partnership is to raise the literacy achievement of low-income, minority, and English learner students in grades pre-K through 5 through a comprehensive parent engagement strategy. 

Research consistently demonstrates that “when families are involved at home and at school, children do better in school, and the schools get better. The effects are greater for low-income students.”

FIS will work with 5 elementary schools in the Lennox School District to strengthen the capacity of parents, educators, and key school staff so that each can effectively collaborate and support the other’s role in the education process.  The main strategies include:  

•    Engage teachers & school personnel in creating an inviting and family-friendly school environment that supports parents as accountable and informed partners

•    Engage parents in becoming partners in their children’s education and in creating a culture of literacy at home

•    Engage parents as advocates for their children’s education by ensuring they have knowledge of the school system and the skills to navigate such systems

By the end of the two-year grant period, the partnership expects to meet the following outcomes:

•    Improve parent and teacher understanding of and appreciation for parent role in education

•    Improve teachers’ communication and relationships with parents

•    Improve parents’ involvement in at-home literacy and learning activities

•    Increase the number of parents participating in classroom and school activities

•    Improve parents’ knowledge of school system and how to be child’s education advocate

•    Improve parents’ and teachers’ mutual understanding of, support for, and satisfaction with students’ attendance, homework completion and classroom behavior

Ultimately, the success of the collaboration will be measured by:

•    Increased re-designation rates for English learner students by 5th grade

•    Increased percentage of English learners meeting the state’s English proficiency requirements on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT)

•    Improved scores on the English-Language Arts California Standards Test (CST)

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Danielson, Project Manager – Special Initiatives

(213) 484-2870 x236

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