Strengthen Literacy through Family Engagement

Family engagement can have a positive impact on student literacy when schools make instruction more transparent, help families understand how reading is taught, and share practical ways to support learning at home. The Evidence-Based K–12 Family Engagement Practices in Literacy Worksheet gives school and district teams a structured way to examine their current approach and identify where to strengthen support for families.

The worksheet focuses on evidence-based strategies such as clear two-way communication about literacy, simple and doable family activities, alignment between home and school literacy practices, family knowledge and confidence, accessibility, use of data, and system-level support. Developed from REL Northwest’s partnership with Montana to enhance evidence-based literacy practices, is designed to help teams move from reflection to action in a short planning cycle. For schools and districts looking for a practical starting point, the worksheet offers a clear process and curated references to support planning and implementation.