Classroom Inclusion of Families Led to Reduced Absenteeism and Improved Reading Proficiency amongst Students
In the vibrant City Heights neighbourhood of San Diego, California, Hamilton Elementary School is making waves. Principal Dr. Brittany Daley is leading the charge, fostering a welcoming environment where families feel respected, informed, and empowered to support their children’s education.
At the heart of this transformation are intentional strategies designed to engage parents, particularly within the school's multilingual community. These strategies, grounded in clear, direct communication, cultural and linguistic accommodation, and inclusive involvement opportunities, have proven effective in creating strong school-family-community partnerships.
One innovative approach involves personalised communication in families' home languages. Teachers reach out to families, expressing interest in student progress and inviting dialogue. Bilingual staff and translation services are utilised to ensure understanding and connection. This proactive approach has helped bridge gaps and strengthen home-school connections.
Partnerships with local organisations familiar with community backgrounds are another key strategy. These partnerships help address diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges, fostering trust and equitable involvement. Meaningful two-way engagement opportunities, such as Parent-Teacher Home Visits, Community Cafés, and family build days, have been introduced to allow families to actively participate in decision-making and student learning support.
The school's commitment to family engagement extends beyond these initiatives. It is embedded into all school practices, from staff meetings to attendance plans, literacy and math initiatives, and school budgeting. This systematic approach ensures family engagement remains a continuous priority, not an afterthought.
Culturally responsive curricula and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) are also integral to the school's approach. Seeking feedback from families about cultural representation in learning materials supports belonging and stronger home-school connections.
The school's efforts have yielded significant results. Currently, 45% of students are reading at grade-level, a marked improvement from the 13% during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chronic absenteeism has decreased from 13% to 10%, with a goal of pushing it down to 8% in 2025-26.
The school's community-based initiatives, ranging from a boutique and food distribution center to English classes and a monthly meet-up for socialising, are run primarily by families. These initiatives not only foster a sense of community but also provide opportunities for parents to engage with their children's education.
Low-stakes events, such as a Halloween costume drive and a Read Across America event, have been organised for fun activities. The school also hosts after-school art classes and monthly family Fridays for relationship-building and joyful learning.
The individual's recent action of buying blue chairs for teachers at Hamilton Elementary School was intended as a way to signal a change in approach towards families. The chairs were instructed to be placed in the back of classrooms for parent visits, inviting families to be more involved in their children's education.
The mobile app ClassDojo has been instrumental in building trust and collaboration between families and staff. Messages are automatically translated into parents' native languages, fostering open communication. Activities are sent home for families to complete with their children, tied specifically to concepts the students need reinforced, based on their individual assessments.
Together, these strategies promote a welcoming environment where multilingual families feel respected, informed, and empowered to support their children’s education effectively. This in turn improves student attendance, behaviour, academic outcomes, and school reputation. Research supports this approach, showing that parent and caregiver involvement in a child's education increases student achievement, motivation, and social-emotional well-being.
With 200 caregivers now attending every meet-up at Hamilton Elementary School, it's clear that the school's approach is resonating with the community. The individual's action, met with some initial skepticism from educators due to potential classroom disruptions, has proven to be a catalyst for positive change. Schools, after all, are homes, and families should be invited and welcomed.
- The innovative approach at Hamilton Elementary School, involving personalized communication in families' home languages, has been instrumental in bridging gaps and strengthening home-school connections, contributing to the school's focus on education, learning, and personal growth.
- The school's ongoing efforts in education-and-self-development include the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally responsive curricula, seeking feedback from families to ensure inclusive learning materials that foster a sense of belonging and stronger home-school connections.
- By fostering a welcoming environment rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, schools like Hamilton Elementary can facilitate parents' active participation in decision-making, student learning support, and school operations, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes, such as increased student attendance and academic achievement.
