Family engagement is one of the most impactful, yet underutilized, strategies for improving student outcomes. Despite its potential, many educators struggle to implement effective engagement practices due to barriers such as time constraints, language differences, and lack of professional development.
The TalkingPoints Benchmark Survey, conducted in partnership with Edge Research, gathered insights from nearly 700 educators and administrators to better understand the state of family engagement in schools today. The findings reveal major gaps in engagement practices, opportunities for improvement, and the increasing role of digital tools in strengthening school-family partnerships.
Educators See the Potential—But Engagement Efforts Fall Short
While family engagement is widely recognized as important, very few educators rate their district’s current efforts as highly effective. In fact, less than half of respondents described their engagement strategies as even “very good,” revealing a significant opportunity for districts to improve their approach.
One district administrator emphasized the need for a mindset shift, stating:
“Most districts see family engagement as a goal or a box to check off. We need to shift to family engagement as a strategy to reach all of the academic and other outcomes we care about.”
To move from “checking the box” to truly strategic engagement, schools must adopt clear, consistent, and research-backed engagement methods that empower both educators and families. For more information on how family engagement can impact student outcomes, see this study.
Making Engagement More Accessible for All Families
One of the key takeaways from the survey is that accessibility is crucial to effective engagement. Educators agree that engagement must be easy and clear for both families and teachers. This means:
- Providing simple, actionable information to families on how to support their child’s learning.
- Communicating in families’ preferred languages to reduce barriers.
- Maintaining an inclusive and welcoming tone to encourage participation.
A teacher shared this challenge:
“District officials do not fully understand the importance of improving family engagement and increasing the usage of tools teachers have found successful. They tend to rely on communicating via email, even though parents rarely check or do not have email.”
Digital family engagement platforms like TalkingPoints help bridge these communication gaps by providing multilingual, two-way messaging tools that reach families in the way that works best for them.
The Growing Role of Digital Engagement
Although in-person communication remains highly valued, digital tools are becoming increasingly essential for overcoming barriers such as:
- Language differences – Many families need translated communications to fully engage.
- Time constraints – Digital tools allow for flexible, asynchronous engagement.
- Scalability – Technology makes district-wide engagement more efficient and effective.
The survey also found that hybrid engagement approaches (in-person + digital) lead to higher participation rates in school events and ongoing family involvement.
One district administrator described a key breakthrough in their district:
“The major shift we made was seeing families as experts and collaborating with them as equal partners. This helped us overcome gaps created by different languages, lack of communication, and lack of trust.”
Digital platforms enhance—not replace—personal relationships by making consistent communication and family engagement easier.
Addressing Key Barriers: Time, Training, and Leadership
Even though educators recognize the importance of family engagement, they often lack the time, training, and leadership support needed to implement effective practices.
- Teachers report receiving minimal professional development on family engagement strategies.
- Many educators are unsure who leads family engagement efforts in their district, signaling a lack of clear ownership, strategy and accountability.
- Schools need better tools and training to engage hard-to-reach families, including those facing language, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers.
A teacher explained the issue bluntly:
“Teachers may think that communicating with non-English-speaking families is someone else’s job (such as the EL teacher or bilingual assistant).”
To solve this, districts must provide:
- Ongoing professional development for all educators—not just specialized staff.
- Clear leadership roles and accountability structures for engagement initiatives.
- A district-wide commitment to integrating engagement best practices into school culture.
Moving Forward: A More Strategic Approach to Family Engagement
The TalkingPoints Benchmark Survey makes one thing clear: Family engagement is a game-changer for student success, but districts need a more intentional approach.
How Schools Can Take Action Now
- Adopt a “strategy” mindset—Family engagement isn’t just an event or a program; it’s an ongoing partnership.
- Blend in-person and digital engagement—Use tools like TalkingPoints to reach families in multiple ways.
- Provide educators with training and support—Equip teachers with the skills and tools to engage families effectively.
- Establish clear leadership and accountability—Ensure someone at the district level is responsible for leading engagement efforts.
By making family engagement a strategic priority, districts can unlock their full potential to improve student outcomes including attendance, academics, and well-being.
To learn more about our Universal Family Engagement platform and effective family engagement strategies, visit TalkingPoints.
Download the full TalkingPoints Benchmark Survey here.
