Family Engagement by Learning Together: A Program Evaluation of Webinar Series Targeted to Serve Title I Families

School districts across the nation seek parental involvement to increase student engagement and academic success. Families from Title I Schools, in comparison to dominant culture, may have a minimal opportunity of involvement with their child’s education in respect to partnering with schools in comparison to the dominant culture. The Department of Equity and Diversity and the Title I Department of the Research School District collaboratively created a four-part webinar series titled Community to Classroom Connections (#C3 Webinar Series) open to staff and community-at-large. The topics addressed through #C3 include Access and Opportunity, Pursuing Diversity, Building Efficacy, and Social Responsibility. Each session is designed to demonstrate an ethic of care focused on inclusion and equity. This work is a mixed data program evaluation of #C3. The results of this evaluation will help inform District Leadership in future planning of similar events. The evaluation is aligned with Kirkpatrick’s Four-Level Training Evaluation Model (Kirkpatrick & Kirkpatrick, 2006). Results indicate an increase in learning in the three topics evaluated. Post-event surveys also indicate a planned action. This shows a behavioral change. Following the Kirkpatrick Model, the #C3 Webinar Series was successful. The #C3 Webinar Series development process and post-event surveys provide insight into service to Title I Families, within a large, urban school district, with a lens of equity. The process requires systems thinking and strategic planning, behavior change, determining quality content, and logistics and planning through servant leadership. Post-event survey results share themes of value in connection to those who are served, the importance of inclusive language and learning from others, and the development of self-efficacy