CAEP Launches Free “Family Engagement Course” to Empower Teacher Candidates in Building Stronger Partnerships with Families
WASHINGTON – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) today announced a new, free professional learning resource for future educators: the CAEP Family Engagement Course. This self-paced course is designed to equip teacher candidates with practical tools, real-world scenarios, and guided reflection opportunities aimed at strengthening communication and meaningful collaboration with P-12 students’ families and caregivers.
“We had a previous version of the family engagement modules that were very well received by the field, helping to prepare teaching and administrative candidates to work with families. We have retooled the course to incorporate new technologies and update the material,” said CAEP President Christopher A. Koch. “Many providers had been using the old modules as a course, so it made sense to update the family engagement modules so that prospective teachers and principals learn how to more effectively engage with families for the benefit of P-12 students.”
Developed with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), and in partnership with key national partners including the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and BranchED, the course offers three interactive modules:
- Foundations of Family Engagement
- Communication Basics and Strategies for Family Engagement
- Designing a Family Engagement Plan
“These modules deepen teacher candidates’ preparation so they’re ready, from day one, to build strong partnerships with families in support of student learning,” said Patricia Alvarez McHatton, Chief Program Officer at BranchED. “By learning how to engage families as trusted collaborators, candidates enter classrooms confident and grounded in authentic relationships that make learning meaningful.”
CAEP’s new Family Engagement Modules expand on the definition of family, recognizing that family means different things to different children. The updated course will help teachers enter a classroom with the knowledge and experience to develop a coherent family engagement plan that aligns with program goals, classroom practices, and student needs.
“Educators who develop the skills and strategies to engage families including parents, caregivers, siblings, grandparents, and extended relatives in supporting student success are better equipped to lead thriving classrooms,” said Vito Borrello, Executive Director of NAFSCE. “These newly expanded and refined modules offer valuable resources for both teachers and those who prepare and train them to approach family and community engagement with greater intentionality. In addition, these enhanced modules help educator preparation programs more effectively meet the updated CAEP standards which now raise the bar by integrating best practices in family and community engagement.”
The course is available now through the CAEP Learning Center. There is no cost to access the modules, making it an accessible resource for educator preparation providers (EPPs), teacher candidates, and partner organizations. The courses can be taken individually or completed as a full course sequence, offering flexible options to fit into teacher preparation programs. For more information about the CAEP Family Engagement Modules please visit https://caepnet.org/family-engagement/ .
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The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.