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From Family Engagement to Academic Impact

A practical framework for turning family engagement into sustained academic impact.

Executive Summary

Family engagement efforts do not always translate into stronger student outcomes. Research shows that family engagement matters. The gap is in the systems schools use to connect engagement to learning.

Springboard Collaborative calls this connection family enablement: an approach that builds what families know, believe, and are able to do to support their children academically. The Family Enablement Domains, Essential Pathways, and Standards (DEPS) Framework gives schools a structure for building family enablement across classrooms, schools, and districts, so engagement becomes a driver of learning, attendance, and achievement rather than a measure of participation.

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Results

6.2pts

Decrease in chronic absenteeism linked to strong family engagement. Source: Bergman & Riddick, 2026

39%

Smaller rise in chronic absenteeism during the pandemic at schools that had already invested in family engagement, versus comparable schools.

8x

More likely to attend the first Family Workshop, for families who attended a relationship-building huddle at the start of programming. Source: Springboard implementation data

Why Family Enablement Drives Outcomes

  • A measurable drop in chronic absenteeism

    Strong family engagement is linked to a 6.2-percentage-point decrease in chronic absenteeism (Bergman & Riddick, 2026).

  • Smaller pandemic-era setbacks

    Schools with prior family-engagement investment saw 114 fewer lost instructional days in ELA and 96 fewer in math than comparable schools.

  • Habits that persist

    Ninety-five percent of families said structured learning opportunities helped them build reading strategies. Six months later, 82 percent still read with their child consistently.

The time spent interacting with caregivers is so valuable. This is the catalyst which drives the learning process, when all family members become aware of their impact.

Teacher Baltimore County Public School System

Building the Conditions for Family Enablement

  • Structure and leadership

    Families who attended a relationship-building huddle were eight times more likely to attend the first Family Workshop. Ninety-six percent of teachers said program leaders supported them effectively.

  • Equipped educators and families

    Ninety-one percent of educators reported more confidence discussing reading with families. Ninety-five percent of families said structured learning opportunities helped them build reading strategies.

  • Access and representation

    Forty-one percent of families participated through flexible formats: phone, video, and virtual options. Student-led invitations created additional entry points for multilingual families.

Additional Resources

DEPS Framework

See the essential pathways and standards behind each domain.

Driving Student Attendance

White paper demonstrating how Springboard's model improves student attendance, reduces chronic absenteeism, and drives significant reading growth.

FELA Toolkit

See how Springboard's FELA method supports learning.

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