About Family Engagement Series

EPIC is uniquely positioned to provide support to school districts seeking to implement research-based family engagement strategies at both the district and building level to increase student achievement. The EPIC team has the expertise necessary to assist in assessing, planning, and implementing a wide range of strategies at all levels within a school community.

Family Engagement programming includes:

Building your Child's Success in School

Offered as a one-hour or two-hour program that can be catered specifically to parents of Elementary, Secondary, and High School Students, this workshop introduces parents to basic concepts of supporting their child's learning during high school as well as introducing support services available. The goal of this program is to encourage parents to engage in their child's education and to attend subsequent, more in-depth sessions.

Creating Home-School Partnerships Training

In this three to four-hour training, participants review and discuss key guidelines for successful home-school partnerships, as well as best practices nationally, while learning to overcome barriers to parental involvement. The training culminates in the initial development of a plan to enhance the home-school partnership efforts in their community. The most unique aspect of this program is that it brings together parents with teachers and school leadership to strengthen relationships and bring everyone together for a common purpose.

As part of this service deliverable, EPIC coordinates additional follow-up meetings to assist in the further development of the plan created through the initial training.

Parents as Advocates Training

This in-depth multi-session training develops the skills of parents in helping their children succeed academically, in building individual relationships with the child and teacher, in creating a supportive home environment, and in understanding school systems and academic standards. The sessions and outcomes were developed in concert with the New York State Education Department to align directly with common core standards and commissioner regulations.

Training session topics include:

1.       Advocacy: The Who, What, When, Why, and How

2.       Forming a Winning Team

3.       Maneuvering through the School System

4.       Building a Relationship with your Child

5.       School-Based Management and Decision-Making

6.       Understanding Assessments and How Schools Work

Parent Leadership Academy

As a culminating piece of the family engagement curriculum, EPIC offers advanced Leadership Training to parents who are or wish to serve on school-based management teams, advisory boards, or some other leadership role, including other parent organizations. This specialized training for parent leaders will increase their knowledge, confidence, and success in operating on the teams.

Family Engagement Professional Development

EPIC also offers a comprehensive professional development package designed to build the capacity of teachers and school staff to effectively engage families in the learning process in their classroom. Ideally integrated into existing professional development structures, the program will be constructed on the pillars of EPIC's ground breaking Culturally Responsive Family Engagement curriculum.

An EPIC Parent's Story


Kim is a Gulf War veteran and has three children, ages 6, 8, and 13. All three of her children have been identified for Special Education. She became frustrated with the school system not allowing her the opportunity to become a partner in her children's education.

Click here to watch Kim's story about how EPIC's Family Engagement programs not only empowered her to become engaged in her own children's education, but also to become a parent leader in her community.