Lawrence Public Schools to open Family Engagement Center in fall 2026 to embed parent partnerships districtwide

Lawrence Public Schools leaders presented a districtwide framework for "authentic family engagement" and announced plans to open a Family Engagement Center in fall 2026 at 110 McDonald Drive to serve as a central "front door" connecting families to wraparound supports and learning resources.

Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent of student support services, told the board the center will provide a one-stop location for families to access assistance, remove barriers and increase equitable access across the district. "The Family Engagement Center will provide access and connection as a one-stop location in assisting families with wraparound supports, learning assistance, removing barriers, and increasing equitable access for all families," Ryan said.

Tina Mitchell, director of equity and family and community engagement, framed the shift as changing how schools relate to families. "Engagement requires intentional efforts from the school to listen and value voices," Mitchell said, distinguishing the new approach from traditional "family involvement," which she described as measures such as attendance at conferences or concerts.

The presenters said the work is grounded in research — citing Mapp and Henderson and other family-partnership literature — and in the district's equity and restorative-practice priorities. They listed four guiding beliefs drawn from that research: that all families care; all families have the capacity to support their children; families and school staff should be equal partners; and school leaders bear primary responsibility for building and sustaining partnerships.

The district described a dual capacity-building framework with five parts: acknowledging historical challenges and inequities; creating essential conditions (relational, linked to learning, developmental, collaborative, interactive); embedding engagement into policy and programs; building capacity among both staff and families; and focusing on outcomes tied to student success and equity.

As part of implementation, the district plans a six-module professional-development rollout for building leaders covering the importance of engagement and dignity, understanding parent perceptions, supporting developmental stages, educator impact and workload integration, educational leadership that centers equity, and strategic planning for sustainability. "We want lasting impact. So what type of action plan will we create at the district level and with our schools?" Ryan said when describing the modules.

Officials said Lawrence Public Schools serves more than 10,000 students across its sites and that every school and program is expected to function as a welcoming center. The Family Engagement Center will coordinate with the district's enrollment center, the schools foundation and community partners; presenters also noted existing roles such as parent involvement facilitators and schools already piloting engagement work (including Monttoauri and Kennedy PreK).

The team said the center will offer parent and caregiver learning opportunities, cultural and affinity spaces, consolidated community resources (including health and wellness supports) and an intent to align services with the academic calendar. The district plans to launch the center presence at the kids expo and cited a long-term goal of mobile outreach using a van to broaden access.

The presenters invited board questions and emphasized that the center and framework are intended to build authentic, ongoing partnerships with families rather than one-off events. No formal vote or binding board action was recorded in the presentation portion of the meeting; the session closed with an invitation for questions.