DESE Parent & Community Engagement 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes two-way communication in family engagement?
- The school sends newsletters and families read them
- Families and schools exchange information and respond to each other (Correct answer)
- Parents call the school when problems arise
- Teachers send home graded work for parents to review
Correct answer: Families and schools exchange information and respond to each other
Two-way communication involves a reciprocal exchange where both families and schools actively share and respond to information.
Question 2: A parent disagrees with the school's proposed IEP for their child. The FIRST step the parent should be informed about is:
- Filing a complaint with the state education agency
- Requesting mediation or a due process hearing (Correct answer)
- Contacting the school board
- Requesting an independent educational evaluation
Correct answer: Requesting mediation or a due process hearing
Mediation and due process are the primary dispute resolution mechanisms under IDEA that parents should be informed of when disagreements arise.
Question 3: Schools that treat parents as partners rather than recipients of information tend to see:
- More parent complaints about school decisions
- Higher levels of student achievement and family satisfaction (Correct answer)
- Decreased teacher autonomy in the classroom
- Increased administrative workload without measurable benefit
Correct answer: Higher levels of student achievement and family satisfaction
Research consistently shows that when families are treated as partners, both student outcomes and overall school climate improve.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of Epstein's 'Volunteering' type of family involvement?
- A parent helps their child with homework nightly
- A parent assists in the school library two mornings per week (Correct answer)
- A parent attends a workshop on supporting reading at home
- A parent joins the school's advisory committee
Correct answer: A parent assists in the school library two mornings per week
Epstein's Volunteering type involves families supporting the school by giving their time and talents in school settings or at school-sanctioned activities.
Question 5: A community organization offers to fund a new after-school program. To ensure the partnership is educationally sound, the school should FIRST:
- Accept the funding and determine programming later
- Align the program goals with the school's academic mission and student needs (Correct answer)
- Check whether similar programs exist in neighboring districts
- Consult the school board's attorney for liability review
Correct answer: Align the program goals with the school's academic mission and student needs
Effective community partnerships require alignment with the school's goals and demonstrated responsiveness to actual student needs.
Question 6: A culturally responsive approach to family engagement recognizes that:
- All families value education in the same ways and use the same strategies
- Families' cultural backgrounds shape how they engage with schools, and schools must adapt accordingly (Correct answer)
- Schools should focus engagement efforts on families who participate most visibly
- English language proficiency is a prerequisite for meaningful family participation
Correct answer: Families' cultural backgrounds shape how they engage with schools, and schools must adapt accordingly
Culturally responsive engagement acknowledges diverse norms, values, and practices and requires schools to adapt their approaches rather than expecting families to conform.
Question 7: Under FERPA, which of the following individuals has the right to access a student's education records?
- Any school employee who requests them
- Eligible students (18 or older) and parents of minor students (Correct answer)
- Community members conducting educational research
- School board members reviewing individual student performance
Correct answer: Eligible students (18 or older) and parents of minor students
FERPA grants record access rights to parents of minor students and to students themselves once they turn 18 or attend a postsecondary institution.
DESE Parent & Community Engagement 4
Which of the following BEST describes two-way communication in family engagement?