Families In Schools (FIS) was created in 2000 by the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project (LAAMP) to continue the promising work initiated by the Annenberg Challenge in Los Angeles. The research by LAAMP and others on this subject confirms that when parents are engaged in the education of their children, performance on a variety of academic indicators significantly improves. In shaping the work of the organization, FIS was guided by Dr. Joyce Espstein and by Dr. Anne Henderson, two renowned experts in the field of parent involvement.  

As the research bears out, there is a strong case for seeking parental involvement and engagement in the education process.  Yet most educators need assistance and support in planning and implementing effective strategies and programs.  To help them, FIS has created a “pathway to parent empowerment” that addresses the needs of parents from pre-k through 12th grade and provides programs, curriculum, and technical assistance at each level. Our programs and technical assistance are aimed at strengthening the capacity of schools, districts, and agencies who work with parents, as well as the capacity of parents by providing direct services to them through a variety of training opportunities.

FIS is proud of contributing to the field of parent engagement as well as to the important conversation about the responsible and valuable role that parents must assume if our schools are to be successful in preparing every child for college and careers.  

We hope you will find this web site useful and informative.  Please feel free to contact us for any additional information you may seek about our programs and our work.