Family & Community Engagement

Since 2001, the definition of parental involvement has broadened, now including any adult in a child’s life, and calls for families to be full partners with school staff and other members of the community in the work of creating and sustaining high-performing schools.

Over 40 years of research is clear—when schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, students do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Regardless of income or background, research has shown that students with involved families:

  • earn better grades and test scores;
  • enroll in higher-level courses and programs;
  • are more likely to be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits;
  • have better school attendance;
  • show improved behavior and have better social skills; and
  • graduate and go on to postsecondary education.

New Parent and Family Engagement Resources Available

The department has developed a series of resources focused on Title I, Parent and Family Engagement. These resources contain numerous tools to help districts and schools meet federal regulations while also focusing on building strong partnerships with parents and families. Districts are encouraged to share and utilize these resources in all Title I schools.

All resources can also be found in ePlan within the Parent and Family Engagement folder in TDOE Resources. 

The Tennessee Department of Education is committed to supporting and promoting true partnerships between schools, families, and communities. Please explore the links below to learn more.