Despite the long-recognised value and importance of engaging parents in their child’s education, the why, what and how of parent engagement remains a challenge for many schools and teachers. Largely missing from practice and research are richly-detailed examples of effective parent engagement practice. Moreover, current examples which take account of catalytic changes in schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic are still emerging. This presentation addresses the conference themes by sharing findings from the latest Engaging Parents in Curriculum (EPIC) project. EPIC 2022 is a longitudinal project in its second year which has been supported by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) and the Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network (QIS Parents Network) and led by Griffith University’s Dr Linda Willis and Professor Beryl Exley. The project extends EPIC 2021 research in which six schools participated (see Willis, Exley, & Daffurn, 2021; https://www.isq.qld.edu.au/media/oh3nhenh/engaging-parents-and-communities-in-children-s-learning-and-wellbeing-epic-2021-report.pdf) and benefits from previous similar research since 2008 in Catholic Education and Queensland state schools. 

EPIC 2022 investigated how groups of teachers and school leaders in three disparate schools collaborated to explore effective contemporary, evidenced-based pedagogies and practices in their school context and setting for engaging parents in their child’s learning and wellbeing. The presentation showcases parent engagement journeys of teachers and school leaders from each school and includes video vignettes of participants which highlight practices they found effective in their school. The participants reported that small pedagogical shifts made significant tangible differences which improved student learning, teaching, and collective wellbeing among students in the classroom and parents, families and the school community more broadly. EPIC 2022 was conducted in real-time in schools whose size, geographic location, and students’ socio-economic and cultural backgrounds differed markedly. Hence, the findings have immediate currency for use by schools and teachers wishing to improve parent and family engagement. 

The presentation will be led by Dr Linda Willis and Amanda Watt who is Executive Officer, QIS Parents Network, and EPIC Project Coordinator. The EPIC 2022 research report and infographics for schools and teachers to accompany the report will be available at the presentation.