This ceremony recognizes parents, school, health care, behavioral health personnel or community members who have had a significant, positive impact on improving family engagement to support children’s education, health and well-being at the school, community, local, district, or state level in one or more of the following areas:

• Communicating Effectively– Fostering positive, two-way communication between families and the various providers, systems or agencies that support them (school, health providers, community agencies, etc.)
• Supporting Children’s Success– Supporting children’s learning and healthy development at home, school and across all community environments.
• Collaborating as a Community– Supporting collaboration to connect children, families and staff in expanding learning opportunities, community services and civic participation.
• Sharing Decision-Making– Supporting families and service providers to be shared partners in decisions that affect children and families including: promoting family involvement on committees or in programs that advocate system or policy changes; serving as representatives for the community; and/or developing parent leadership.
• Welcoming All Families into the Community– Ensuring all families and staff feel welcomed and respected including those with diverse needs by providing families and staff with opportunities to connect with one another
• Speaking Up for Every Child– Empowering families and staff to be advocates for their own and other children and to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to a variety of opportunities that will support their success and well-being. This includes working together to share information about how systems operate; sharing resources; resolving problems and conflicts respectfully; and supporting families’ ability to be effective advocates.

* Adapted from the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, National PTA