November 01, 2026
WHEREAS, families are a child’s first and most important teachers, advocates, nurturers, and sources of social and emotional support; and,
WHEREAS, family engagement is a partnership among families, students, educators, and community partners build on trust, respect, and shared goals to ensure that every learner thrives; and,
WHEREAS, this shared responsibility to collaborate in meaningful ways strengthens learning and development across environments and programs, supporting children and learners from early childhood through adulthood; and,
WHEREAS, family engagement is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s success in school and in life; and, when families are included as partners from birth through postsecondary education, it can lead to improved attitudes toward learning, better academic and behavioral outcomes, decreased chronic absenteeism, increased graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates, and greater lifelong health and well-being; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan values our children and recognizes this critical alliance among families, schools, and community partners in creating family-centered, equitable, and responsive systems; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan supports organizations committed to partnering with families to co-create and co-design opportunities that support children’s education and deepen community connections; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan has established a statewide system of 10 Regional MiFamily Engagement Centers to support families, educators, and community partners in building strong partnerships that ensure families are included as partners in their children’s learning from birth through postsecondary education; and,
WHEREAS, MiFamily Engagement Centers work to advance evidence-based practices and connect families to literacy resources, before- and after-school programs, and postsecondary opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan encourages its residents to foster and model lifelong learning in youth to advocate for effective family engagement as an integral part of education, helping make Michigan the best place to live, work and raise a family;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby recognize November 2026 as Family Engagement Month in Michigan.
