Family Engagement – Building Bridges Between School & Home for Multilingual Learners

Maria Pia Ulrich, a PhD candidate at William & Mary, presented on family engagement strategies for multilingual learners and shared her personal experiences as a multilingual learner. She discussed the importance of family engagement versus involvement in education, emphasizing active collaboration and partnership with schools, while highlighting the need to recognize diverse experiences and avoid assumptions about multilingual families’ needs. The presentation covered practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners and their families, including the ABCs of family engagement framework, the importance of linguistic repertoire awareness, and the value of creating welcoming environments through translated materials and community building initiatives.