Franklin Regional spotlights MAPS parent engagement, book study and inclusive family events

District MAPS liaisons Cara Kelly and Geette Ays presented the board with a report on parent engagement funded in part by PCCD and Parents as Allies grant money.

Kelly and Ays described a series of outreach activities including one‑on‑one parent interviews, an FR Family Connections series, an information night for incoming kindergarten families that embedded community resources, and two all‑inclusive family events (one at the district and a Firelight Center event in southwest Greensburg). Ays said the district used grant funds to provide books for an "Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents" four‑session book study, which was scheduled to begin the week of the meeting.

The liaisons also described a K–2 truancy initiative that emphasizes early, preventative contact (postcards, emails and calls) to identify barriers to attendance and connect families with supports; district staff are collecting qualitative data and plan a midyear report on outcomes.

Parents and staff who spoke described the inclusive events as safe, nonjudgmental forums where parents could exchange contact information and participate in activities with their children. One parent said the Firelight Center event allowed families to bring sensory‑sensitive children to play in a supervised, therapeutic environment and to build connections with other parents.

Why it matters: The MAPS work directly affects student attendance, family relationships with schools and access to community supports. Staff said MAPS activities leverage grant funding to increase family participation and to identify and reduce barriers that can lead to chronic absenteeism.

"Parent engagement is one of the greatest predictors of outcomes for our students whether that's academic or behavior," Cara Kelly said, summarizing the program’s goals.