Statewide Technical Assistance Resources Team
Where Family Voices, Partnership, and Purpose Come Together
What is START?
START is a collaborative family engagement approach grounded in the Dual Capacity Framework that supports parent groups, schools, and communities in working together as partners to improve outcomes for all students. Through workshops, technical assistance, resources, and shared learning opportunities, START helps strengthen relationships, elevate family voices, and build meaningful engagement practices that create collective impact.
The START Approach
START approaches family engagement through the lens of effective partnership by:
- Strengthening collaborative relationships
- Building leadership and engagement capacity
- Elevating family voice in meaningful ways
- Encouraging shared problem-solving
- Supporting sustainable engagement practices
- Connecting family engagement to student success
“When families and schools work together, students thrive, and communities grow together”
How START Benefits
Families
- Builds confidence and leadership skills
- Creates meaningful opportunities for family voices
- Provides practical tools, resources, and support
How START Benefits Schools
- Strengthens family-school relationships and trust
- Helps build sustainable family
engagement systems - Connects engagement efforts toward achieving district-wide goals
How START Benefits Communities
- Encourages collaboration around
student and family needs - Builds collective impact through shared responsibility
- Connects families with local supports and resources
Explore our focus areas →
Contact Us
Stefanie Babits
Project Coordinator- START, Statewide Family Engagement Center
GROUNDED IN THE DUAL CAPACITY FRAMEWORK
START recognizes that effective family engagement is built through relationships, trust, shared learning, and collaboration between families, educators, parent groups, and communities.
The New Jersey Family Engagement Hub is a project of SPAN funded by the U.S. Department of Education.