Strong Schools Ask Parents | Project Appleseed

The Power of the ASK: Transforming Parent Engagement in High-Poverty Schools

Across America, people respond when asked to commit in writing—whether it’s schools asking parents to vote on bond measures, political leaders gathering petition signatures, or even Taylor Swift urging fans to register to vote. Written commitments have the power to transform intent into action. Yet, while schools are often trained in family engagement, this training assumes there is already an eager audience of parents ready to participate.

What’s often missing is a strategic effort to actively recruit hard to reach families and invite them into the process. By simply asking parents to pledge their involvement in their child’s education—on paper—schools can bridge this gap and turn passive interest into meaningful engagement.

At Brooksville Elementary, a Title I school struggling with high poverty and low family engagement, school leaders knew that meaningful parent participation wouldn’t happen by chance—it had to be cultivated. Inspired by Project Appleseed’s Parent Engagement Pledge learning compact, they launched GOTP—Get Out the Pledge, a grassroots initiative designed to ask parents to commit, engage, and sustain their involvement in school life.

Planting the Seeds of Engagement: The Power of the Ask

ASK parents to pledge their involvement—in writing. Much like a signed ballot represents civic commitment, a signed Parent Engagement Pledge signifies a family’s dedication to their child’s education. But Brooksville leaders knew asking once wasn’t enough—they had to ask in multiple ways, meeting parents where they already were.

Reaching Parents Where They Connect

In a world bombarded by up to 10,000 ads a day, messages about parent involvement were easily lost. Here are innovative ways Brooksville ensured the Parent Engagement Pledge reached parents throughout the community:

Local Grocery Stores – Placed printed copies of the Pledge in every shopping bag and handed out with receipts, with posters near checkout areas.

Pizza Deliveries – Included copies of the Pledge on every delivery box and bag, making it part of family mealtime.

Faith-Based Organizations – Distributed the Pledge placed in every pew, in community bulletins, newsletters, and Sunday service announcements.

Local Newspapers – Published feature stories, op-eds, free reprints of the Pledge, and ads about the Pledge’s role in school success.

Community Centers & Libraries – The Pledge was included with every checked-out book and featured on informational flyers in gathering spaces.

Public Transportation – Used posters and digital displays on buses and subways to reach parents during their commute.

School Events & Meetings – Integrated the Pledge into PTA meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and open houses.

Digital Platforms & Social Media – Launched targeted campaigns via social media, emails, and the school website.

By embedding the Parent Engagement Pledge into everyday interactions, Brooksville transformed simple moments into opportunities for community connection and empowerment.

Why Written Commitments Work in High-Poverty Schools

According to U.S. Department of Education research, Title I principals report that structured learning compacts between schools and families—such as the Parent Engagement Pledge—are particularly effective in high-poverty schools.

89% of high-poverty principals found compacts helpful for improving school climate (vs. 63% in low-poverty schools).

82% said compacts improved student discipline (vs. 61%).

85% saw a positive impact on homework completion (vs. 64%).

However, one notable gap remained: only 76% of high-poverty schools found compacts effective in recruiting parent volunteers.

Brooksville’s solution? Make volunteering part of the pledge—and follow up!

Signing and Showcasing Commitment

Parents who signed the Parent Engagement Pledge were encouraged to display it proudly on their refrigerator—as a daily reminder of their vital role in their child’s education. Much like a framed diploma represents achievement, the pledge on the refrigerator door symbolized a visible and ongoing commitment to the school-home partnership.

To sustain engagement, Brooksville:

✔ Tracked pledged volunteers in a database to match their skills with school needs

✔ Celebrated involvement with school-wide recognition events events like National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week.

✔ Provided teacher training on effective family engagement strategies

✔ Refined efforts yearly to make engagement a lasting school tradition

How Schools Can ASK for Parent Commitment Today

Starting a Family Engagement Campaign is simple: just ask! Schools can distribute and promote the Parent Engagement Pledge and Parent Engagement Report Card through Project Appleseed’s Family Engagement Toolbox:

Parent Engagement Pledge – A commitment form that turns interest into action.

Parent Engagement Report Card – A self-reflection tool for parents to assess their role.

Red Carpet Treatment – Welcoming strategies for all families, including those with special needs.

Survey Teachers and Staff – Gather volunteer needs using the Faculty & Staff Pledge.

Volunteer Database – Organize pledged volunteers for easier engagement.

Project Appleseed's Six Slices of Family Engagement

Ongoing Contact – Follow up with volunteers, clarify expectations, and keep them involved.

Clear Volunteer Process – Establish requirements, orientations, and background checks.

Training for Educators – Equip teachers with engagement strategies via Project Appleseed workshops.

Awards & Recognition – Celebrate and incentivize participation.

Continuous Improvement – Reassess, refine, and grow family engagement each year.

The Results: A Thriving, Engaged School Community

Brooksville Elementary learned that the key to unlocking parent participation was simple: just ask—and ask in writing. The results?

More volunteers

Stronger school-home connections

A thriving community working together to ensure every child succeeds

Title I principals confirm it: asking parents to commit in writing works. It transforms parent engagement from a hopeful idea into a powerful reality.

Start your Family Engagement Campaign today—

ASK families to commit, and watch the transformation begin!

Take the Pledge Now!