Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass, center, looks on as Gov. Andy Beshear speaks after signing a proclamation declaring Nov. 15-19 Family Engagement in Education Week in Kentucky.
Photo by Jacob Perkins, Nov. 15, 2021
Gov. Andy Beshear kicked off Family Engagement in Education Week at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort on Nov. 15 by signing a proclamation designating it as a statewide celebration of families and schools.
Over the past several months, the Prichard Committee and its Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools have been working to coordinate a celebration of family engagement in public schools and early childhood centers. Numerous state and local organizations will celebrate Family Engagement in Education Week Nov. 15-19 with activities planned to encourage a renewed effort in school and family partnerships.
“Despite the hardships that COVID has inflicted on our educators, schools, staff and families, each one stepped up to support our kids,” Beshear said. “While schools quickly set up to support remote learning, it was parents and caregivers that had to go above and beyond to ensure their children stayed on track.
“As a dad, I can absolutely tell you the importance of being able to be involved in my kids’ school and my kids’ education. This is something that is so critical and ought to be embraced and we ought to make sure there is a place for every single family in each of our schools.”
Following the proclamation signing, Family Engagement Week in Education will include Zoom events, discussions on parent leadership in schools, podcasts and a family game night. The week also will include social media challenges tied to daily themes. A full schedule of events can be found on the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence’s website.
“As we have seen over the course of the pandemic, family engagement plays a crucial role in Kentucky’s education system,” said Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass. “Moving forward, our families will continue to be instrumental as we all work together to develop an education system that better suits every Kentuckian. I applaud our partners for establishing this week and am thankful for Gov. Beshear for recognizing the importance and need for family engagement in our education system.”
Family Engagement Week was launched by Berea Partners for Education in 2017 to celebrate and deepen the conversation about family engagement with the Appalachian region schools it serves.
The week also will include the release of resources to help schools and families enhance their relationships and build strong networks that lead to improved student outcomes.
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