While participating in the Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy at the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, Ohio parent Haneen created a plan to form a parent advisory group at her school. Read more about her plan below.
Introduction
The need for this project stems from limited and inconsistent family engagement across diverse ethnic groups, which can lead to gaps in communication, trust, and shared decision making between families and school staff. Many families may feel underrepresented or unsure of how to effectively voice their perspectives due to cultural, language, or systemic barriers. Without a structured and inclusive platform for input, valuable insights from families are often missed, which can impact student success and the overall school climate. Establishing a parent advisory group addresses this need by creating a welcoming, organized space where all families feel empowered to participate, ensuring that school initiatives are more responsive, equitable, and reflective of the community they serve.
Goal
The purpose of this project is to increase family engagement across all ethnic groups by creating a structured, inclusive parent advisory group. This group will provide a consistent space for families to share concerns, contribute ideas, and collaborate with school staff to build a stronger, more connected school community.
Expected Outcomes
The Parent Advisory Group will increase family participation across all ethnic groups and help families feel more valued and included. Communication between families and school staff will improve, becoming more consistent and culturally responsive. The school will gain more diverse input for decision-making, leading to stronger, more inclusive practices. Over time, this will build trust, strengthen the school community, and support student success through improved engagement, attendance, and overall well-being.
Potential Challenges
Potential challenges include low initial participation, especially from underrepresented groups, due to trust barriers or past experiences. Language differences and scheduling conflicts may limit consistent involvement. Ensuring equitable representation
across all ethnic groups may also be difficult. Additionally, maintaining ongoing engagement and clearly demonstrating the impact of family input on school decisions will require consistent communication, intentional outreach, and sustained effort from both staff and families
Next Steps
The next steps include forming a planning team of staff and family members to finalize the structure and goals of the Parent Advisory Group. Outreach materials will be developed and distributed to recruit a diverse group of families. A kickoff meeting will be scheduled to launch the group and establish norms. Translation and scheduling supports will be arranged to ensure accessibility. After launch, the group will begin meeting regularly, collecting feedback, and refining engagement strategies based on family input.