Some ways to meet this challenge include evaluating parent schedules, providing incentives, or evaluating other methods, such as providing alternative ways to access information.

Evaluating Parent Schedules:

• Survey parents to see which times/days are best for them.
• Schedule multiple dates and times.
• Schedule activities on a Saturday (and offer teachers incentives to attend).

Providing Incentives:

• Provide child care.
• Provide healthy refreshments.
• Award door prizes from community sponsors.

Providing Alternatives:

• Establish an electronic mailing list.
• Host a conference call meeting.
• Host a school blog or online discussion board.

Schools should evaluate what is feasible for them. Some ideas to meet this challenge include:

• Provide transportation.
• Use school buses.
• Use a shuttle bus for different neighborhoods.
• Go places where families will already be (e.g., community centers, libraries, churches).
• Provide an online meeting URL or telephone number to call in.

Some ways to meet the challenge of parents not feeling comfortable include:

• Host informal get-togethers.
• Provide continuing education opportunities for parents.
• Allow students to serve as greeters at school-sponsored parent meetings.
• Implement programs that are culturally sensitive and that reflect the social and environmental aspects of a community influenced by race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, locale, and culture.

Some ways to meet the challenge of parents not fully comprehending the communications provided by school staff include:

• Ask parents or students to volunteer as translators.
• Offer educational programs in families’ home language.
• Avoid using professional jargon.

Schools should evaluate what is feasible for them. Some ways to meet the challenge of inexperienced or untrained staff include:

• Develop strategies for working through staff resistance to change or other struggles that might hinder teacher-parent interactions.
• Offer a variety of topics because not all staff members need the same professional development.
• Negotiate with universities to form partnerships to provide professional development.
• Provide coaching to school staff on how to interact positively with parents.

Some ways to ensure school administrative and financial support is sustained long-term include:

• Collect and share data on assessments of parent needs and interests.
• Present research that supports the positive impact of parent engagement.
• Ask the PTA/PTO to communicate with the school administration about the benefits of parent engagement.
• Seek other opportunities for financial support.
• Initiate strategies that require little or no financial support.