Family Engagement
What is family engagement? What are the benefits?
Who We Are
Family engagement describes families, educators, students, and community partners working together to help children and youth learn, grow, and prepare for their future. For over a decade, the Family Engagement program area at CETE has worked with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, other state agencies, philanthropic organizations, and school districts to support educators in implementing practices to support effective family-school partnerships. In 2018, CETE received the first of two consecutive US Department of Education, Statewide Family Engagement Center grants, establishing Ohio’s Statewide Family Engagement Center as part of CETE.
What We Do
We inspire and equip schools, community organizations, and families to work together by providing information and professional learning on high-impact family engagement practices to improve outcomes for teachers, students, families, and communities.
Our program:
- supports evidence-based approaches to family engagement that are lasting and integrated into family life and the school system;
- contributes new research and survey tools to the field of family engagement, in collaboration with faculty and students at The Ohio State University;
- builds professional training and tools for school leaders, teachers, and community partners to build their capacity to work with families; and
- provides resources for families to support their child’s learning, emotional health, and plans for the future.
Projects
Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $4.6 million, five-year grant in 2023 to the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) to be the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center. This award expands on a 2018, $4.2 million, five-year federal award that established CETE as the statewide center.
Statewide Family-Community Engagement Network
The Ohio Family and Community Engagement Network is a long-standing project of CETE with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to strengthen statewide support for families of students receiving Special Education Services.
Future Fluent Families: Building AI Literacy
As generative artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of modern work and daily life, the Future Fluent Families project provides a proactive solution for career readiness. This research project involves the development and piloting of a home-based curriculum that allows parents and middle-school students to explore AI technology together.
Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Family Engagement
The CLSD project provides a robust suite of professional learning, coaching, and digital tools designed to help Ohio district and school grantees implement high-quality family engagement strategies.
Ohio Families Advancing Mathematics
The Ohio Families Advancing Mathematics project is a statewide effort to bridge the gap between home and classroom learning in the field of mathematics. By conducting extensive outreach and gathering input from families, educators, and community partners …
Technical Assistance for the University of Cincinnati Family CAFÉ
In collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, this project creates and shares practical tools, resources, and training programs that support both families and educators. OSU’s role involves providing high-level technical assistance …
Anti-Human Trafficking Evaluation
For over a decade, the CETE Family Engagement team has served as evaluators for the Salvation Army’s anti-human trafficking efforts funded by federal grants from the US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. As the external evaluator for The Salvation Army, CETE …
The Learning Hub: Free Professional Learning for Schools
The Center on Education and Training for Employment’s Family Engagement program is home to the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, supporting the
Read MoreSurveys of Ohio Families of Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities account for approximately 15% of the students being educated in Ohio schools. Special education encompasses the academic, physical, cognitive
Read MoreRegional Family-Community Engagement Network
The Ohio Family and Community Engagement Network is a group of dedicated education professionals from across Ohio, comprised of representatives from each
Read MoreProfessional Development for Educators on Family Engagement
The purpose of Ohio’s State Professional Development Grant (SPDG) awarded to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is to identify and address
Read MoreOhio Statewide Family Engagement Center
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Ohio State’ Center on Education and Training for Employment a 5-year Title IV grant. This $4.2
Read MoreProgram Team
Barbara Boone, PhD
Program Director
Yesenia Alvarez Padilla
Family Engagement Researcher
Hadley Bachman, PhD
Research Administration Management Consultant
Thomas Capretta
Project Coordinator
Sarah DeShon
Project Coordinator
Whitney Gherman
Research Senior Associate
Kristin Meek-Hennon
Project Coordinator
Wesley Owens
Research Senior Associate
