The OELL believes family engagement is a partnership between families and schools. This relationship seeks to create active participation, communication, and teamwork between families, schools, classrooms and the communities in which they serve. The OELL office seeks to empower families and communities by providing assistance and resources to ensure student achievement and success of all South Carolina students.
Family and Community Engagement Team
The mission of the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) is to support partnerships between community organizations, families, and schools in an effort to coordinate access of resources for all children in South Carolina.
Resources for Families
- The School Ready Child- This infographic has information for families on how to help children become ready for school.
- Day by Day Family Literacy Calendar- Visit the website for daily family literacy activities, or order a printed calendar (available in English and Spanish)
- Supporting Early Literacy at Home: A Parents’ Guide is an online resource designed to provide information for parents and caregivers so that they can support their children’s early literacy development. Research shows that parent/caregiver involvement is the number one predictor of early literacy success as well as future academic success. The guide provides information and strategies that will equip parents and caregivers with tools to support children from birth through the beginning years of school. Each module includes a video introduction, resources to view, resources to read, and a place to reflect and respond.
- SC Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition Plan: Family Engagement, developed by the Palmetto Pre-K Transitions Workgroup, is a framework to support families as they advance their children into five-year-old kindergarten. The plan includes a range of recommendations and opportunities identified to enhance, increase, and improve families' engagement with preschool and school-based professionals, leading to shared understanding and goals around school readiness.
- Ready, Set- Kindergarten! Family Guides for Preschool- Kindergarten Development- There are six areas of growth and experience that research tells us are involved in helping a child progress and succeed. These guides offer a brief introduction to each area and provide samples of the experiences and skills children need in order to be prepared to move through preschool at three, four, and five years of age.
- Discus - South Carolina's Virtual Library providing all South Carolinians with access to an electronic library of essential information resources
- Tumble Book Library- Contains over 1,400 read-aloud storybooks, chapter books, graphic novels, songs, and National Geographic videos. Books are available in English, Spanish, and French. Kindergarten-Grade 6
- Pebble Go- Includes articles, videos, activities, and range maps for amphibians, animal behavior, birds, dinosaurs, fish, mammals, and more in English and Spanish. Kindergarten -grade 3
- Tell Me a Story- Directory of songs and rhymes with videos in many languages
- Mama Lisa's World- A collection of songs, rhymes, and fingerplays in many languages.
- Story Blocks- Songs and rhymes for babies through preschool, available in several languages.
- What to Expect When When You Visit the Library- A guide for visiting the library in English and in Spanish
- Helping Your Child Become a Reader - a brochure for parents (PDF)
- Vroom - Vroom is a web app to assist parents and families with incorporating early learning activities at home.
- Developmental Milestones - birth to 12 months (video - external link)
- Developmental Milestones - 12 months to 24 months (video - external link)
- Developmental Milestones - 24 months to 36 months (video - external link)
- Preparing for PreK - Murray's First Day of Preschool - Sesame Street (video - external link)
- Transition to Kindergarten (PDF 169 MB)
- Summer Camps and Programs at the Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville SC (external link)
- Bridging Language and Culture for Family Engagement (external link)
- School-Home Activities for Kindergartners (external link from the US Department of Education)
- First 5 South Carolina- resource connecting families with South Carolina's public services for young children
- Palmetto Pre-K - one-stop shop for finding free educational preschool programs in South Carolina. Site includes a section on parent resources
- Carolina Family Engagement Center- aims to help families engage in effective school-family-community partnerships and in their children’s learning using evidence-based practices linked to improved achievement and development
- Learning Engagement Coach Upcoming Workshops for Families- flyer of upcoming sessions for families on how to help their early learners at home with literacy and learning skills
- Virtual SC Family Resources- collection of helpful videos for families from the Education Oversight Committee
- What is Kindergarten Readiness?
- What are Standards and Why it is Important to Understand Them
- How to Prepare for the School Year
- The Family's Role
- Feelings about Self, Developing Relationships, and Controlling Emotions
- Exploring Shapes, Patterns, Numbers, and Comparisons
- Learning to Think, Make Decisions, and Solve Problems
- Motor Development, Nutrition, Health, and Safety
- Family Engagement Early Learner Newsletters
Resources for Districts and Schools
SC Waterford UPSTART Family Engagement Program
Waterford UPSTART is an innovative human-powered, tech assisted learning model that empowers parents and caregivers as their child’s first teacher right in the home. Using a blend of parent training, weekly coaching, and research-based early learning software, the program, implemented by Waterford.org personalizes supports for families to help every child start school strong, ready for school success.
South Carolina Waterford UPSTART Family Engagement Program 2019-2020 School Year Outcomes Report (May 2020)
