Building strong relationships with families is key to helping students learn and grow. When schools and families work together, they ensure students have the support they need at home and at school. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) define partnerships in terms of family engagement as a “collaborative relationship between families, educators, providers, and partners to support and improve the learning, development, and health of every learner.”