Parent Engagement Pledge | Project Appleseed

Project Appleseed's Six Slices of Family Engagement

Reaching the Unreachable: How One Pledge Unites Parents and Schools

Imagine a school where every family, no matter how busy or disconnected, feels invited to be a partner in their child’s education. That’s the promise of the Parent Engagement Pledge—a simple yet transformative tool that’s changing the way schools connect with parents.

Take the story of Lincoln Middle School. Despite dedicated efforts, Principal Garcia noticed that many families remained on the fringes, missing out on opportunities to support their children. In a world bombarded by up to 10,000 ads a day, messages about parent involvement were easily lost. Determined to break through the noise, Lincoln Middle School adopted Project Appleseed’s Parent Engagement Pledge.

The change was immediate. By integrating the Pledge into everyday communications, the school began to reach parents in unexpected places. Local grocery stores started including the Pledge in every bag, pizza places added it to deliveries, and community faith leaders distributed it in their bulletins. Even the local newspaper got involved, spreading the word far and wide.

Research backs up this approach. Studies by the United States Department of Education and findings from the Prospects Study show that learning compacts like the Parent Engagement Pledge significantly boost homework completion, improve school climate, and encourage reading at home. In high-poverty schools, where every bit of support matters, the Pledge has proven to be especially effective.

At Lincoln Middle School, the results spoke for themselves. Teachers observed a renewed sense of partnership as families began to actively engage with school activities. In fact, among five schools that implemented the Pledge, four reported it as a key part of their overall parent involvement strategy, while one school saw it spark intensive engagement from 19 previously uninvolved families.

Reaching “hard-to-reach” parents means meeting them where they are—at the grocery store, at church, online, or wherever life takes them. By creatively integrating the Family Engagement Pledge into everyday routines, we can help families feel invited, informed, and inspired to get involved.

For educators, administrators, and community leaders, the Parent Engagement Pledge isn’t just another Title I form—it’s a gateway to creating a more connected, supportive educational environment. By using the Pledge, you can cut through the clutter of everyday media and invite parents to join a shared mission: supporting student success.

Now is the time to make a change. Embrace the Parent Engagement Pledge and transform your school into a community where every family feels valued and empowered. Join the growing number of schools that are turning a simple commitment into a powerful engine for student achievement.

Volunteer in your school today and see how one pledge can unite parents, teachers, and communities in the journey toward educational excellence.

Pledge Now!