SYSTEMS CHANGE IS POSSIBLE…
Legislation and advocacy offer options to build strong STEM family engagement
Government officials – from local, state and national levels – can be powerful partners in building STEM family engagement pathways. Elected officials and government leaders are looking for field experts to guide powerful policies that will transform communities.
Join us in a review of research and stories from the field to best support Our Neighborhood in connecting with legislators and local government to advance policies that support family engagement.
Research
Below is an on-going compilation of research that considers the important role policy plays in supporting sustainable family engagement. This is by no means an exhaustive list and we welcome additions to this collection (see submission information here).
A Whole-Family Approach to Workforce Engagement
An argument for a multi-generational approach to human service agency work to include families and children. This will require coordination across agencies to best serve the whole family.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Developing Programs to Engage Parents of 1st Generation Students in STEM for Student Success
School and district administrators must support first generation students and their families to ensure action teams in classrooms and programs at all grade levels. States and community based organizations play roles in eliminating historic barriers as well.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Addressing Obstacles to Family Engagement
Educators are trying, but effective family engagement is going to necessitate state and federal policy and systems change. Authors review a few promising, yet nascent, stories of federal and statewide capacity building efforts to better equip educators and improve family engagement.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
From Traditional Campaigns to Building a Movement: The Evolution of Family and Community Engagement-Based Advocacy
Family engagement efforts will be successful when the reliance on issue-focused campaigns shifts to utilizing design thinking and elevating family and community engagement.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
GENIAL: Generating Engagement and New Initiatives for all Latinos
Learning from a two-day conference to best support Latinx students in informal science environments. Organizations must take risks beyond their status quo, which includes better supporting diverse staff members serving students in informal environments.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Science Achievement Gaps Begin Very Early, Persist, and are Largely Explained by Modifiable Factors
Discussion of possible factors affecting science achievement gaps, despite such limited studies since 1992. Many factors identified seem modifiable and recommendations to close science achievement gaps include legislative changes.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Necessary but Not Sufficient: The Role of Policy for Advancing Programs of School, Family and Community Partnerships
School and district policies, as well as federal and state legislation, affect the quality of school based partnerships. Review an analysis of data from 347 in 21 districts to identify different ways policy mandates are implemented.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Parents 2017: Unleashing their Power and Potential
A national study reports that parents are far more optimistic about their children’s academic successes than data indicates they should be. The study also includes recommendations for helping parents with such areas as learning goals, financing college, life skills, parent-teacher communication, and learning tools.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Stories from the Field & Practical Tips
Read stories about communities working with local government and legislators to make strong cases for family engagement and greater public awareness of STEM. This is by no means an exhaustive list of tips and we welcome additions to this collection (see submission information here).
GROWING AS A LEADER, LANDING A STATE APPROPRIATION
The STEM2 Hub has successfully secured state appropriations funding twice. The ecosystem leverages strong partnerships to build support for long-term systems change in the state.
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Strategic state investments in learning and workforce development
PAsmart grants help ecosystem deepen STEM learning, collaborative partnerships and career pathways. Pennsylvania looking to create better jobs for strong communities. The state leverages funding to support cross-sector partnerships with education and business leaders that will ensure a skilled, prepared workforce.
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It’s a Marathon not a Sprint
The state convenor builds a unified New Jersey voice on STEM learning and workforce development, something the siloed state hasn’t experienced yet. Building public awareness, the NJSPN has attracted significant attention from policy makers and legislators.
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Case Study: STEM2 HUB, Florida
The STEM2 Hub, an ecosystem serving the Northeast Florida region, successfully lobbied the Florida legislature for a $975,000 appropriation for workforce development to expand equitable access to robotics, computer science, high quality mathematics instruction and to expand after-school programs that prepare students to be critical and flexible thinkers.
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An Interview with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims, Educational Consultant, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) and Sarah Holland, Special Assistant for Family Engagement for the PA Department of Education and Department of Human Services chat with us about state priorities and initiatives in family engagement and early learning.
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