Family Engagement Compliance and Practices at Saint Paul Public Schools

Capstone paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Public Affairs degree.The study outlined in this report examined the Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) district to review implementation of federal and state laws related to family engagement and identify gaps between mandates and practice. Guidance provided by SPPS to its schools and the schools’ family engagement plans (FEPs) were reviewed critically. Qualitative research further explored how FEPs are developed and used by schools and parents. The study examined only part of the logic model connecting intentions of policymakers all the way to parents’ ability to support their child's learning. However, the research is unique in its effort to examine not only policy and law, but the layers of roles assigned to overseeing implementation. Rather than study how one box performed or how two boxes fit together, this study examined illustrations of several stakeholders’ responses to mandated practices of family engagement. Results of multiple layers of research and analysis were summarized, which led to various considerations for SPPS. Some tools were proposed. Strategic planning was found to be lacking from mandated family engagement planning, and support for those fulfilling compliance, often the liaisons, was emphasized. The report also discusses ways SPPS is already succeeding in its family engagement efforts to address student outcomes