Family University: When Families L.E.A.D., Students Succeed!

Families already know their students better than anyone else. They’re already their children’s first teachers, strongest advocates, and biggest champions. Yet navigating the school system can feel isolating, overwhelming, and often like a full-time job.

That’s why Baltimore City Public Schools (“City Schools”) created Family University’s L.E.A.D. workshop series, where families are Leaders, Educators, Advocates, and Decision-makers.

What is Family University?

At Family University, everything created for families is made by families. Last year, City Schools worked alongside families, community partners, and educators to develop workshops on the topics that mattered most. Each workshop allows time to connect, eat, share experiences, learn from one another, and practice new strategies. This year, the workshops launched across the district, with each one facilitated by City Schools families.

What Family University Offers

Family University has five workshop topics available in English and Spanish, held in the mornings and evenings throughout the city. All workshops include food, and evening sessions offer childcare.

Each 90-minute session is interactive, practical, and designed to give families tools they can use immediately. Attend 4 out of 5 topics, and participants graduate—becoming eligible to facilitate workshops themselves next year! Workshops Include:

Building Pathways to Effective Communication (Parts 1 & 2) – Participants learn how to get responses, who to contact for what, and practice real scenarios in a supportive space.

Family Leadership and Advocacy (Parts 1 & 2) – Families understand their rights, learn when to escalate concerns, and discover how to make their voices heard through family leadership groups and beyond.

Addressing Your Student’s Mental Health – Caregivers share what they’re seeing at home and develop strategies to support their children, both proactively and when challenges arise.

Why This Work Matters

Baltimore City Public Schools understands that building and sustaining strong, authentic partnerships between families and educators is the foundation for improving students’ school outcomes. But it doesn’t stop there. These meaningful connections foster strong communities, ultimately improving student development and strengthening the networks that will support them throughout their lives.

Hear more about Family University directly from one of the co-creators and co-facilitators, Monique Bell, by clicking this link.

Ready to Get Started?

Family University has held 11 successful workshops so far this school year, engaging over 180 participants! And there’s more to come!

Click here to see all workshop dates, times, and locations, and register for the session that works best. Families are encouraged to bring friends, neighbors, and community members!

Questions? Email Elianna Clayton at erclayton@bcps.k12.md.us or join Family University’s listserv to stay connected.

Blog Authored By: Elianna Clayton

I’m Elianna Clayton, and I work with families and educators across Baltimore City Public Schools to build meaningful partnerships between homes and schools.

I want to live in a city where families work together to make the changes they imagine. I see my role as creating the space for families to dream, learn, and build new things.

To me, it all starts with relationships. I am beyond lucky to work with Tyrone Barnwell from Teachers’ Democracy Project, and all the families and staff in Cohort I who built and facilitated the Family University workshops.