Join the Family Engagement Community of Practice
Family engagement is not a program you add on. It is a practice you build together.
Across California, educators, county office leaders, and family engagement practitioners are doing powerful work to support families and strengthen partnerships between schools and communities. Yet many are doing this work in isolation, without regular opportunities to learn from peers, share challenges, or reflect on what is working.
That is where the Family Engagement Community of Practice comes in.
Hosted by the California Statewide Family Engagement Center, this Community of Practice brings together family engagement leaders from county offices of education and school districts across the state who are committed to deepening family school partnerships and improving outcomes for students.
This is an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside colleagues who understand the realities of family engagement work and who are navigating similar roles, responsibilities, and challenges.
What Is a Community of Practice?
A Community of Practice is a collaborative learning space where practitioners come together around a shared focus. Rather than a traditional training or webinar, Communities of Practice are designed to be interactive, reflective, and grounded in real world experience.
Participants are not passive listeners. They are contributors.
In this Community of Practice, participants will engage in meaningful conversations, examine practical tools and resources, and learn from both research and lived experience. The focus is on strengthening family engagement systems in ways that are responsive, sustainable, and rooted in partnership.
What Participants Will Gain
Participants in the Family Engagement Community of Practice will have the opportunity to:
- Explore state and national resources for family and community engagement, including the Family Engagement Core Competencies
- Unpack common challenges in practice and identify those specific to their own roles and local contexts
- Learn and share strategies for engaging families directly and for promoting family and community engagement across school, district, and county office systems
- Build relationships and network with practitioners from across California who serve in similar roles
These sessions create space for honest dialogue, shared problem solving, and collective learning that participants can immediately apply to their work.
Who Should Attend?
This Community of Practice is designed for family engagement leaders and practitioners working in:
- County offices of education
- School districts
- Educational organizations that support families and caregivers
If your role involves supporting family engagement efforts, building partnerships with families, or strengthening systems that elevate family voice, this space is for you.
Session Dates and Details
The Family Engagement Community of Practice will meet virtually via Zoom on the following dates:
Winter Session
Thursday, January 29 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Spring Session
Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Zoom access details:
Meeting link: https://bit.ly/4QHYjEW
Meeting ID: 892 6999 7856
Passcode: 530367
Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions to build continuity, deepen relationships, and maximize learning.
A Collaborative Effort
This Community of Practice is sponsored by the California Statewide Family Engagement Center and facilitated by the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement. Together, these organizations are committed to advancing effective family engagement practices that center families as essential partners in education.
