Honor & Grow

Family Leadership

Family leadership is at the heart of effective ELACs.

When families and caregivers are meaningfully engaged, they strengthen connections between school and home, foster inclusion, and help shape decisions that impact student learning. Honoring family leadership means acknowledging the skills, expertise, and lived experiences families bring to ELAC, and ensuring these shape the group’s work. Growing family leadership means recognizing that each person is on their own leadership journey and has the capacity to lead in their own way. When we honor and grow family leadership, ELAC becomes a space where contributions are valued, voices are heard, and leadership flourishes—leading to stronger, more inclusive schools and greater academic success for all students. This section offers tools and inspiration to support that growth at every stage.

A Year of Learning and Leading in ELAC

ELAC is a place where families can grow their knowledge, skills, and confidence as leaders over the course of the year. A Year of Family Learning and Leading in ELAC helps families see this growth in action—starting in the fall with learning and leading focused on their own child, expanding in the winter to the whole school community, and culminating in the spring with reflection, celebration, and planning ahead. Share this handout during your Welcome to ELAC meeting to set the tone for a year of learning, capacity building, and collective leadership.

Download A Year of Learning and Leading in ELAC bilingual handout.

Ways to Participate and

Lead in ELAC

Families can lead in many different ways, both big and small. Giving a clear role or task can help ELAC families feel included and purposeful, especially when they are new to a social setting. The Ways to Participate and Lead form helps ELAC members identify how they would like to contribute, both during meetings and beyond. While it is first introduced in the Welcome to ELAC meeting, it is revisited throughout the year—because families’ willingness and confidence to participate and lead often grows over time.

The facilitation team should:

Check in with families regularly to follow up on their interest areas.
Offer support and guidance to help them succeed in their chosen roles.
Show genuine appreciation for their contributions.

Each meeting is an opportunity to recognize current leaders and invite new levels of participation. Over time, this consistent encouragement builds trust, grows leadership, and strengthens the ELAC community.

Download Ways to Participate and Lead in ELAC bilingual handout.

Ten Ways to Honor & Grow Family Leadership

Strong ELAC communities are built on the leadership of families. When we recognize, support, and expand that leadership, we create a welcoming space where every voice knows that it matters and every contribution counts. These ten strategies help schools and ELACs celebrate the strengths families bring, open doors for participation, and grow leadership that lasts—making a difference for students, schools, and communities.

Download Honor & Grow Family Leadership in ELAC infographic.

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