Building relationships and investment in children’s learning and achievement is essential for successful family engagement. Since 2017, Matheny-Withrow Elementary School in Springfield, Illinois has used the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) model to increase its family engagement. The APTT model provides parents and teachers with a structure for sharing information about each child’s academic progress on grade-level content (e.g., reading fluency, math computation). The APTT model promotes scheduling designated times during the school year for parents and teachers to meet together, build relationships, and collaborate on academic activities that ensure student learning and achievement occur both inside and outside the school setting.

For information about Family and Community Engagement in School District 186, contact Peggy Cormeny, the district’s family and community engagement coordinator.

For information about training and resources for the APPT model, visit the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams website.