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Sixty-one HISD schools took the Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) Department’s challenge to get their campus certified as a Family Friendly School for the 2016-2017 school year, and they did it.

Campuses worked diligently during this past school year to offer their families and communities research-based activities and strategies to expand and build relationships, link events to student learning, and build capacity and support efforts for family and community empowerment.  Through these efforts, schools attained one of the three Family Friendly School Certification levels:  

• 50 schools earned a Gold Family Friendly Certification
• 7 schools earned a Silver Family Friendly School Certification and
• 4 schools earned a Bronze Family Friendly School Certification

“It brings me great joy knowing that schools are implementing strategic activities from the Family Friendly School program to enhance their family involvement approach,” said Dr. Michelle Burke, Director for FACE. “These activities not only partner with families, but it allows them to be a voice for students and the community.”

Now in its third year, the Family Friendly School program was launched during the 2015-2016 school year with 26 participating schools. Enrollment for the 2017-2018 certification program is now open, and it is projected that 90 HISD campuses will be part of the program.

To learn more about the Family Friendly Certification Program, visit HoustonISD.org/FamilyFriendly.