Parent and caregiver involvement in their child’s education has well-evidenced, positive outcomes on a wide range of factors — academic, personal, social, and emotional. Schools around the world work tirelessly to form strong school/family partnerships — from welcoming new families, bringing families to campus for events and celebrations, and working closely to support students and families during difficult times.

When it comes to the SEL dimensions of a school’s partnership with parents and caregivers, there are a number of factors to consider — to truly take SEL beyond the classroom. I have written earlier about the in-school principles that underpin effective SEL. In this article, I want to explore five approaches that help to bring SEL alive, outside of the classroom, throughout your parent and caregiver community.

1. “No two families are the same” — name and celebrate diversity in our family structures and backgrounds.

In planning work with families, schools can build a strong foundation by celebrating the diversity of family structures and backgrounds that exist in communities and finding ways to lift up, amplify, and celebrate diverse voices. This foundation often involves thinking carefully about your language (parents and caregivers, instead of moms and dads, for…