Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township

The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township is a small district of around 16,500 students located in the U.S. state of Indiana (Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, n.d.). The district has a diverse population in its 21 schools. As of 2019, around 36% percent of the prekindergarten to grade 12 population identified as Black, with a large majority of these students being of Nigerian descent. The Hispanic population was around 29 percent, and 29 percent of the district’s student population identified as white (Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, n.d.). In 2019 alone, 1,023 newcomer families, defined as those who have resided in the United States for three years or less, joined the school district (D. Harris, personal communication, July 21, 2021).

Given the significant and growing number of immigrant and nonnative English-speaking families, the school district has made a concerted effort to engage these families in their child’s education. Newcomer families understandably often struggle with adapting to the U.S. education system due to factors such as language barriers and cultural differences around what a good quality education looks like. The district uses dedicated parent liaisons, newcomer welcome packets, and monthly newcomer meetings to streamline the welcome process. These strategies help parents understand and engage with their child’s school and other entities in the community. These efforts were formally validated and consolidated in April 2017 when the district board of education approved a resolution reaffirming its commitment to a “safe and supportive learning environment for all students regardless of immigration status” (Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, 2017). This resolution served to affirm the steps the district had already taken to effectively and fully engage immigrant families.

Efforts to increase engagement among newcomer and immigrant families include employing a family liaison in every elementary and junior high school in Wayne Township. This individual is responsible for engaging with families around their child’s education. The district also employs two family liaisons specifically dedicated to newcomer families, including one Nigerian-speaking individual to liaise with the growing Nigerian population. While around 20 percent of newcomer families speak English, having an appointed individual with similar lived experiences can open doors of communication with these families and add another level of support (D. Harris, personal communication, July 21, 2021). A significant role for newcomer liaisons is to help parents understand the differences between their own educational experiences and those of their children. One point of frequent discussion was the matter of in-school discipline for children and parents’ frustration with the lack of strict rule enforcement in schools. Through parent liaisons, newcomer parents could learn about the district’s values and attitudes regarding student discipline, which often differ greatly from the norms in parents’ home countries. Newcomer liaisons also attend the monthly newcomer meetings and serve as translators to parents.

With the large and varied immigrant population of Wayne Township, over 70 native languages are spoken in the community (Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, n.d.). In addition to use of the two newcomer parent liaisons, every school has access to a “language line” that allows teachers to quickly access a translator, should no employees in the building speak the same language as a visiting parent or family member.

Every newcomer family in the district also receives a newcomer booklet at the beginning of the school year or upon their arrival to the community. This strategy, established in 2019, is intended to help parents understand and engage not only with their child’s education but also with all aspects of life in Wayne Township (D. Harris, personal communication, July 21, 2021). For example, the booklet contains a section titled “How To Do U.S. Schools,” which outlines how to access educational resources within the community and online. Parents also receive access to other local resources like food pantries and career centers. Additionally, the newcomer booklet gives parents the contact information for their educational leaders and liaisons and encourages them to reach out for guidance at any time. The booklet is used as a reference point throughout the school year, with portions of the booklet often being reviewed or discussed during the monthly newcomer family meetings.

Monthly newcomer meetings, previously held in person and transferred to Zoom as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are an opportunity for district leaders to communicate vital and timely information to newcomer families. Meetings take place once a month in two time slots—one at noon and one in the evening—to account for parents’ busy schedules. All meetings are also held separately in Spanish. Topics for discussion are selected based on what district leaders feel will be most beneficial to the parents every month and include a question-and-answer session (D. Harris, personal communication, July 21, 2021). For example, when school enrollment was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one monthly meeting covered the steps necessary for parents to easily enroll their children online and how to navigate the ParentSquare forum. Prior to the winter, parents receive information on what radio stations to listen to in order to be notified of a weather-related delay. The district also uses this time to host guest speakers they feel can communicate essential information to newcomer families. After the COVID-19 vaccine was released, the district invited Antoniette M. Holt, the director for the Office of Minority Health at the Indiana State Department of Health, to speak with families about the importance of vaccinations. Fun activities are also planned for the parents, including a magic show and a virtual trip to the Great Wall of China. Every session is uploaded to YouTube in both English and Spanish so that parents unable to attend can still receive the information discussed. By using individualized and consistent communication methods to engage the growing number of immigrant and nonnative English-speaking families in the district, the district aims to adapt its approach so that all families can engage equally with the school and their child’s education.

Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. (n.d.). 50 facts about the MSD of Wayne Township. https://district.wayne.k12.in.us/50-facts-msd-wayne-township/

Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. (2017, April 10). Resolution: Reaffirming the commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all students regardless of immigration status. https://district.wayne.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/04/immigrant_resolution.pdf