Three-phase process for community engagement: Before, During, and After¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The guide organizes community engagement work into three phases: 'Before, During, and After community engagement.' Phase 1 lays groundwork (objectives, questions, engagement type, piloted materials), Phase 2 covers recording strategy and standardized protocols during sessions, and Phase 3 covers preparing data, coding, validating themes, and sharing findings. The guide states that 'the foundational steps in Phase 1 set the stage for meaningful and successful community engagement in the later phases,' and offers entry points for users at different starting points.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Content in each phase must be covered 'for engagement efforts to be intentional, focused, and effective'

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• State and local education agency staff who collect or work with community engagement data

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Plan, conduct, and analyze meaningful community engagement

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Three-phase framework of teacher roles in collaborative learning: before, during, and after

Examples¶

• Plan engagement by defining objectives, aligned questions, engagement type, and piloted materials
• Codebook development, theme generation, and community validation of findings
• Dissemination planning and accurate, accessible data visualization
• Facilitate sessions with a welcoming environment, probing questions, and structured pauses
• Record sessions with consent, data-protection communication, disclosure norms, and detailed notetaking
• Needs-sensing before design: surface state-specific structures, communication gaps, and coordination complexity to shape a collaborative

Key Sources¶

• Collecting and Making Sense of Community Engagement Data. (2025). Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest. https://ies.ed.gov/rel-central/2025/01/dissemination-plan-template