You for Youth logo
Online Professional Learning and
Technical Assistance for
21st Century Community Learning Centers
  1. Y4Y
  2. Courses
  3. Family Engagement
  4. Introduction
  5. Understand the Cultures You Serve
  1. Contact Us
  2. Join
  3. Sign In

Understand the Cultures You Serve

FIchpt 2p6

Your program staff should represent and understand the students and families you serve. Look for staff members who share students' cultural backgrounds, religions and languages, and who live in the same communities.

Do your best to find staff members of different educational and career backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations and economic levels, and staff who are fluent in languages spoken by your students and families.

Coordinate with local schools and their family liaisons to get to know the cultures in your community.

Make program information available in languages and formats your families can understand. You can present information in various ways:

  • Print
  • Website
  • Town hall meetings
  • Phone calls
  • Text messages
  • Social media

My Notebook

Family Engagement

The Notebook is a useful way to jot down notes as you go through the various topics available on the You For Youth website. If you'd like to use the notebook, please sign in if you already have an account or register now to join the Y4Y community!

Glossary

Family Engagement

A term often used to describe programs that offer student instruction and enrichment activities during nonschool hours (see also:  out-of-school time, increased learning time)

For the purposes of participating in 21st CCLC program activities, all people who are either responsible for a child or anyone the child identifies as being important in their lives (e.g., close family friend, sibling, extended family member, neighbor); for the purposes of protecting privacy, federal policy says only certain people (as defined in Title I) may receive student data

Building relationships through activities such as helping parents and caregivers develop their own skills, offering educational activities for families and students together, bringing family members into leadership positions with the 21st CCLC program, and connecting families with schools and resources in the community

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act requires that every school district and every school receiving Title I dollars must have a written parent engagement policy and must build school capacity to effectively implement the policy.  The policy must be developed jointly with, approved by, and distributed to parents of participating children and the local community.  As a school partner, a 21st CCLC program can be very important to implementing and sustaining the parent engagement plan.  Copies of the plan should be available from school and district offices, and may be available on their websites.  

A designated staff person who communicates directly with caregivers and family members to invite their involvement and participation with a 21st CCLC program; a family liaison often helps to connect students' families with program, school or community services that support learning and well-being

Hours outside of the regular school day, and they are often used for student enrichment activities that augment regular school-time instruction. Out-of-school time can occur before or after school, or in the summer.

Students are invited to express opinions and make choices about planning and implementing their own learning experiences

Intentionally designed, high-quality summer experiences that support building skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that promote academic achievement and healthy development.

A friendly, supportive atmosphere that encourages family participation and unites the 21st CCLC staff, family and community in supporting student development and academic achievement