A practical guide for families and schools
Strong school communities are built on relationships—and relationships are built on trust.
When people feel embedded in a community, they feel “protected, respected, and connected” and this
generates enormous trust.
Social capital is a capability that arises from the prevalence of trust in a society or in certain parts of it. It can be embodied in the smallest and most basic social groups, the family, as well as the largest of all groups, the nation, and in all the other groups in between.
Francis Fukuyama, Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity
Trust often starts small
Trust is not built through one event or one conversation. It grows through repeated experiences where families feel heard, respected, and included, and where schools feel supported by families in working toward shared goals for students.
When trust is present:
• Communication is more regular, open, and positive
• Families feel safe and confident to engage with the school
• Challenges are easier to navigate together
• Students feel supported, confident, safe, and connected to their school community
