@article {26310,
	title = {The Effect of Teacher-Family Communication on Student Engagement: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment},
	journal = {Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness},
	volume = {6},
	number = {3},
	year = {2013},
	pages = {199-222},
	abstract = {In this study, we seek to evaluate the efficacy of teacher communication with parents and students as a means of increasing student engagement. We estimate the causal effect of teacher communication by conducting a randomized field experiment in which 6th and 9th grade students were assigned to receive a daily phone call home and a text/written message during a mandatory summer school program. We find that frequent teacher-family communication immediately increased student engagement as measured by homework completion rates, on-task behavior and class participation. On average, teacher-family communication increased the odds a student completed their homework by 42\% and decreased instances in which teachers had to redirect students{\textquoteright} attention to the task at hand by 25\%. Class participation rates among 6th grade students increased by 49\%, while communication appeared to have a small negative effect on 9th grade students{\textquoteright} willingness to participate. Drawing upon surveys and interviews with participating teachers and students, we identify three primary mechanisms through which communication likely affected engagement: stronger teacher-student relationships, expanded parental involvement, and increased student motivation.},
	url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19345747.2012.743636},
	author = {Kraft, M. A. and Dougherty, SM}
}
