Using Community and Home Supports to Increase Student Achievement and Family Engagement among Families of Color

Abstract

Family engagement is pivotal to student development and academic achievement, particularly for students of color with disabilities and those from historically underserved culturally and linguistically diverse communities (Delale-O’Connor et al., 2020; Fehrer & Tognozzi, 2018; Impact of Family Engagement, n.d.). Unfortunately, the marginalization of diverse students and families is frequently reinforced within the education system, and educators are generally unprepared to effectively engage diverse families. This article illustrates how culture-centered learning using home and community supports, can facilitate successful family engagement and improve student achievement. The article provides practical, culturally responsive strategies for student success with vignettes modeling inclusive methods of family engagement.