ORELA Family & Community Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Joyce Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement, which type specifically refers to parents serving as volunteers and audiences at school?
- Type 1 – Parenting
- Type 2 – Communicating
- Type 3 – Volunteering (Correct answer)
- Type 4 – Learning at Home
Correct answer: Type 3 – Volunteering
Epstein's Type 3 (Volunteering) encompasses recruiting and organizing parent help and support at the school, in classrooms, or in other locations to support students and school goals.
Question 2: In Epstein's framework, which type of family involvement focuses on families providing help with homework and goal-setting for learning at home?
- Type 2 – Communicating
- Type 4 – Learning at Home (Correct answer)
- Type 5 – Decision Making
- Type 6 – Collaborating with Community
Correct answer: Type 4 – Learning at Home
Epstein's Type 4 (Learning at Home) involves providing families with information, ideas, and opportunities to support their children with homework, curriculum-related activities, and goal-setting.
Question 3: Which federal law requires schools to meaningfully involve parents in educational planning and placement decisions for students with disabilities?
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA explicitly mandates that parents be equal partners in the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process, including evaluation, eligibility determination, and placement decisions.
Question 4: What does 'community asset mapping' involve in the context of school-family partnerships?
- Evaluating the property values surrounding a school to allocate funding
- Identifying and cataloging community resources, organizations, and strengths that can support students (Correct answer)
- Mapping school district boundaries to ensure equitable family access
- Conducting surveys to assess parent satisfaction with school services
Correct answer: Identifying and cataloging community resources, organizations, and strengths that can support students
Community asset mapping identifies existing community strengths, resources, organizations, and individuals that schools can partner with to support student and family needs.
Question 5: Which factor is MOST important when creating a welcoming school environment for diverse families?
- Displaying student artwork and academic awards prominently in hallways
- Ensuring reception staff and physical spaces communicate inclusivity and respect for all backgrounds (Correct answer)
- Providing complimentary refreshments at all school events for families
- Installing a family resource library near the school entrance
Correct answer: Ensuring reception staff and physical spaces communicate inclusivity and respect for all backgrounds
The first impression families receive from front-office staff interactions and physical environment signals whether the school genuinely values and respects all families, especially those from marginalized communities.
Question 6: Which practice BEST supports two-way communication between families and schools?
- Publishing a detailed weekly newsletter covering classroom curriculum
- Creating a class website where families can view assignments and grades
- Establishing regular feedback mechanisms such as surveys, response cards, or conferences (Correct answer)
- Posting school announcements on the district's social media accounts
Correct answer: Establishing regular feedback mechanisms such as surveys, response cards, or conferences
Two-way communication requires both parties to send and receive information; feedback mechanisms like surveys, response cards, and conferences actively invite family input rather than only transmitting school information.
Question 7: How should an Oregon educator respond when they become aware that a student's home environment may be significantly impacting the student's learning?
- Avoid involving the family to prevent the student from feeling embarrassed
- Document concerns and coordinate with school counselors and support staff while following mandatory reporting requirements (Correct answer)
- Immediately contact child protective services without first consulting school administration
- Address only the academic gaps in class and wait to see if the situation improves
Correct answer: Document concerns and coordinate with school counselors and support staff while following mandatory reporting requirements
Oregon educators have professional and legal obligations to document concerns, collaborate with support staff, and follow mandatory reporting laws when student safety or well-being may be at risk.
ORELA Family & Community Engagement 2
In Joyce Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement, which type specifically refers to parents serving as volunteers and audiences at school?