Strengthening School-Family Collaboration Through Positive Psychology: An Empirical Study in Thai Secondary Schools

This research explores enhancing collaboration between schools and families by integrating positive psychology principles based on the PERMA model to strengthen relationships among teachers, students, and parents. The research has two main objectives 1) to develop and implement a school-family collaborative program based on positive psychology; 2) to explore key success factors within the collaborative process that strengthen relationships among educators, students, and parents. The overall goal is to foster holistic development and academic success through structured, psychologically informed engagement strategies. Using an action research design with four phases planning, action, observation, and reflection. The study was conducted in two secondary schools in Thailand, involving 20 school administrators and teachers, 50 parents, and 50 students from each school. During the action phase, structured interventions were implemented, including (1) open-mindedness workshops to foster growth mindset, (2) heart-to-heart communication sessions to build trust, (3) mindset shift strategies to improve adaptability and problem-solving, (4) parental engagement programs encouraging co-learning and mentoring, and (5) school-community partnerships to extend local support. Data were collected via questionnaires, structured interviews, and observational assessments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data through thematic analysis. Findings show that applying PERMA principles significantly improved communication, engagement, and shared responsibility between schools and families. Key success factors include active involvement of school leaders, clear policies, shared goals, effective management, and a structured framework with dedicated project teams. The study recommends policies and practices to strengthen collaborative efforts, promoting student well-being and academic success through effective school-family partnerships.