[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5211 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5211

 To strengthen families' engagement in the education of their children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2010

 Mrs. McCarthy of New York (for herself and Mr. Platts) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                                 Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To strengthen families' engagement in the education of their children.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Family Engagement in Education Act 
of 2010''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Findings; purpose.
Sec. 4. Amendment references.
Sec. 5. State support of family engagement in education.
Sec. 6. State plans.
Sec. 7. Local educational agency plans.
Sec. 8. Family engagement in education policy.
Sec. 9. Prevention and intervention programs for children and youth who 
                            are neglected, delinquent, or at risk.
Sec. 10. High quality teachers and principals.
Sec. 11. Subpart 16 reference.
Sec. 12. Family engagement in education programs.
Sec. 13. Definitions.
Sec. 14. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 15. General Accountability Office study and report.
Sec. 16. Federal coordination of family engagement in education 
                            programming.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Family engagement in a child's education raises student 
        achievement, improves behavior and attendance, decreases drop-
        out rates, and improves the emotional and physical well-being 
        of children.
            (2) Families are critical determinants of children's school 
        readiness as well as of students' decision to pursue higher 
        education.
            (3) Effective family engagement is a great equalizer for 
        students, contributing to their increased academic achievement, 
        regardless of parents' education level, ethnicity, or 
        socioeconomic background.
            (4) Family engagement can raise student academic 
        achievement so substantially that schools would need to 
        increase spending by more than $1,000 per pupil to gain the 
        same results.
            (5) Positive benefits for children, youth, families, and 
        schools are maximized through effective family engagement that 
        is--
                    (A) a shared responsibility in which schools and 
                other community agencies and organizations are 
                committed to reaching out to engage families in 
                meaningful ways and families are committed to actively 
                supporting their children's learning and development;
                    (B) continuous across a child's life spanning from 
                birth to young adulthood; and
                    (C) reinforces learning that takes place in all 
                settings.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to strengthen families' 
engagement in the education of their children.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENT REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

SEC. 5. STATE SUPPORT OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Title I (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by 
adding after section 1004 the following new section:

``SEC. 1005. STATE SUPPORT OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION.

    ``(a) Allocation of Reserved Funds to States.--Funds reserved under 
section 5731(c)(2)(B) shall be allocated to the States on the basis of 
the allocation formula set forth in section 1122.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds.--A State shall administer and expend funds 
received under subsection (a) to provide for--
            ``(1) establishment of an Office within the State 
        educational agency, or staff positions within such agency, 
        dedicated to family engagement;
            ``(2) development and implementation of statewide data 
        collection and evaluation system on family engagement metrics 
        to identify schools that would benefit from training and 
        support related to family engagement;
            ``(3) review of local educational agencies' family 
        engagement policies and practices as provided by sections 
        1112(e)(3) and 1118(h), and evaluate the use of funds under 
        this subsection;
            ``(4) award of grants to local educational agencies with 
        schools that would benefit from training and support related to 
        family engagement;
            ``(5) award of grants to local educational agencies for 
        professional staff development in family engagement in 
        education;
            ``(6) award of grants to Statewide Family Engagement 
        Centers operating in the State for technical assistance and 
        training to State educational agencies, local educational 
        agencies, schools, community-based organizations, or parent 
        organizations; and
            ``(7) engagement and collaboration with statewide services 
        related to early education, higher education, child health and 
        welfare, after-school programs, community service-learning 
        programs, and other programs to develop coordinated family 
        engagement policies, practices and services.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding after the item 
relating to section 1004 the following:

``Sec. 1005. State support of family engagement in education.''.

SEC. 6. STATE PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1111(d) (20 U.S.C. 6311(d)) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(d) Family Engagement.--Each State plan shall include a plan for 
strengthening family engagement in education. Each such plan shall at a 
minimum include--
            ``(1) a description of the criteria and schedule for review 
        and approval of local educational agency engagement policies 
        and practices pursuant to sections 1112(e)(3) and 1118(h);
            ``(2) a description of the system and process for assessing 
        local educational agency implementation of section 1118 
        responsibilities;
            ``(3) a description of the criteria for identifying local 
        education agencies that would benefit from training and support 
        related to family engagement;
            ``(4) a description of the State's statewide system of 
        technical assistance and support for local education agencies 
        and schools on family engagement in education;
            ``(5) an assurance that the State shall refer to Statewide 
        Family Engagement Centers those local education agencies that 
        would benefit from training and support related to family 
        engagement;
            ``(6) a plan for using funds received under section 1005;
            ``(7) a description of the relationship between the State 
        education agency and Statewide Family Engagement Centers, 
        Parent Training and Information Centers, and Community Parent 
        Resource Centers operating in the State; and
            ``(8) a strategy to establish a Family Engagement 
        Coordinating Council, or if a similar entity exists, a 
        description of the composition and activities of such Family 
        Engagement Coordinating Council or such similar entity.''.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) Annual state report.--Section 1111(h)(4) (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(h)(4)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of the 
                subparagraph (F);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (G) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) information on the number of schools and the 
                name of each school that would benefit from training 
                and support related to family engagement, the reason 
                why such school was so identified, and the measures 
                taken to address the need for training and support; and
                    ``(I) information on the State education agency's 
                family engagement in education programs and 
                activities.''.
            (2) Technical assistance.--Section 1111(j) (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(j)) is amended by inserting ``advice and assistance in 
        family engagement in education,'' after ``reliable,''.

SEC. 7. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1112(b)(1)(P) (20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(P)) is 
amended to read as follows:
                    ``(P) a description of the strategy the local 
                educational agency will use to implement and assess 
                family engagement in education under section 1118;''.
    (b) Engagement in Developing Plans.--Section 1112(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 
6312(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (Q) as subparagraph (R); 
        and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (P), the following:
                    ``(Q) a description of how the local educational 
                agency will engage families in the development, 
                implementation, and assessment of local educational 
                agency plans; and''.

SEC. 8. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION POLICY.

    (a) Local Educational Agency Development of Policies and 
Practices.--Section 1118 (20 U.S.C. 6318) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (h) as 
        subsections (b) through (i), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
    ``(a) In General.--Each local educational agency and each school 
receiving funds under this part shall develop family engagement 
policies and practices that meet the following principles and standards 
for family-school partnerships:
            ``(1) Welcome all families to be active participants in the 
        life of the school, so that they feel valued, connected to each 
        other, to school staff, and to what students are learning in 
        class.
            ``(2) Communicate effectively by ensuring regular two-way, 
        meaningful communication between family members and local 
        educational agency and school staff in a manner, language, and 
        mode of technology that family members can understand and 
        access.
            ``(3) Support student success by fostering continuous 
        collaboration between family members and local educational 
        agency and school staff to support student learning and healthy 
        development at school and at home.
            ``(4) Speak up for every child and empower family members 
        to be advocates for all students within the school.
            ``(5) Share power and assure that family members, local 
        educational agencies, and school staff are equal partners in 
        family engagement decisionmaking.
            ``(6) Collaborate with community and partner with community 
        organizations and groups to turn the school into a hub of 
        community life.
            ``(7) Create a continuum of family engagement in student 
        learning and development from cradle to career.
            ``(8) Train and support superintendents, principals, and 
        teachers to fully engage families in the education of their 
        children.''.
    (b) Written Policy.--Section 1118(b)(2) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``(e)'' and inserting 
        ``(f)'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) participate in evaluating the effectiveness 
                of family engagement strategies and policies; and
                    ``(H) participate in developing recommendations for 
                creating a positive school climate and safe and healthy 
                schools.''.
    (c) Reservation.--Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 1118(b)(3) (as 
redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--Each local educational agency 
                shall reserve not less than 2 percent of such agency's 
                allocation under subpart 2 to carry out this 
                section.''.
    (d) Reserved Funds.--Paragraph 1118(b)(3) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
                    ``(B) Use of funds.--Funds reserved under 
                subparagraph (A) may be used for purposes including--
                            ``(i) increasing capacity though 
                        establishment of a dedicated office or 
                        dedicated personnel within the local 
                        educational agency for family engagement;
                            ``(ii) incentive grants to schools and non-
                        profit organizations to support professional 
                        development on family engagement for school 
                        staff, parent leadership training, family 
                        literacy programs, home visitation programs, 
                        family volunteerism programs, and other 
                        innovative programs that meaningfully engage 
                        families;
                            ``(iii) development and implementation of 
                        local educational agency family engagement in 
                        education data collection system and 
                        indicators;
                            ``(iv) assess and provide recommendations 
                        on school family engagement in education 
                        policies, practices, and use of funds;
                            ``(v) grants to Statewide Family Engagement 
                        Centers to provide technical assistance and 
                        training to schools on implementation and 
                        assessment of family engagement in education 
                        policies, practices, and use of funds;
                            ``(vi) incentive grants to schools that 
                        would benefit from training and support related 
                        to family engagement or schools identified for 
                        improvement under section 1116(b) to assist in 
                        their implementation of family engagement 
                        consistent with section 1118, including the 
                        hiring and maintenance of family engagement 
                        coordinators;
                            ``(vii) grants to nonprofit organizations 
                        for the establishment of Local Family 
                        Engagement Centers to identify community 
                        resources, services, and supports and to remove 
                        economic obstacles to family engagement by 
                        meeting families' needs;
                            ``(viii) incentive grants to schools and 
                        local nonprofit organizations for early 
                        childhood programs that promote family 
                        engagement and school readiness;
                            ``(ix) establishment and support of an 
                        advisory group comprised of families, 
                        educators, and nonprofit organizations to 
                        develop recommendations to strengthen family 
                        engagement along the child and youth life span 
                        and in all learning settings;
                            ``(x) grants to schools to develop, 
                        implement and assess family engagement 
                        policies, practices, and uses of funds in all 
                        learning settings and across all education 
                        programs; and
                            ``(xi) development and implementation of 
                        research and evaluation focused on family 
                        engagement policies, practices, and innovation, 
                        including implementation, replication, and 
                        impact studies.''.
    (e) School Parental Involvement Policy.--The first sentence of 
paragraph (1) of subsection 1118(c) (as redesignated by subsection (a)) 
is amended by striking ``(c) through (f)'' and inserting ``(d) through 
(g)''.
    (f) Policy Involvement.--Paragraph (5) of subsection 1118(d) (as 
redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended by striking ``1114(b)(2)'' 
and inserting ``1114(c)(2)''.
    (g) Shared Responsibility for High Student Academic Achievement.--
Section 1118(e) (as redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``(b)'' and inserting ``(c)''; and
            (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) describe the school's responsibility to--
                    ``(A) provide high-quality curriculum and 
                instruction in a supportive and effective learning 
                environment that enables the children served under this 
                part to meet the State's student academic achievement 
                standards, and the ways in which each parent will 
                support their children's learning, such as monitoring 
                attendance and homework completion; volunteering in 
                their child's classroom; and participating, as 
                appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of 
                their children and positive use of extracurricular 
                time; and
                    ``(B) engage family members in the development and 
                recommendations for student attendance, expectations, 
                behavior and school safety, including the development 
                of reasonable disciplinary policies for the 
                implementation of school-wide Positive Behavior 
                Interventions and Supports and the phase-out of out-of-
                school suspension and expulsion; and''.

SEC. 9. PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO 
              ARE NEGLECTED, DELINQUENT, OR AT RISK.

    (a) State Plan and State Agency Applications.--Section 1414 (20 
U.S.C. 6434) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (B);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                subparagraph (D); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following:
                    ``(C) to prepare an educational services and 
                transition plan for each child or youth served by the 
                program, in partnership with families and aftercare 
                providers; and''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (19) 
                as paragraphs (17) through (21); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (14) the 
                following:
            ``(15) describes how the State agency will implement family 
        engagement policies and practices that align with the 
        provisions of section 1118;
            ``(16) provides an assurance that the State agency will 
        establish for each child or youth served under this subpart an 
        educational services and transition plan that is developed in 
        consultation with the child or youth, family members of the 
        child or youth, and the local educational agency or alternative 
        education program receiving the child or youth following their 
        period of service under this subpart;''.
    (b) Local Educational Agency Applications.--Section 1423 (20 U.S.C. 
6453) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (13) as 
        paragraphs (11) through (15), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) a description of how schools will implement family 
        engagement policies and practices that align with the 
        provisions of section 1118;
            ``(10) an assurance that the State agency will establish 
        for each child or youth served under this subpart an 
        educational services and transition plan that is developed in 
        consultation with the child or youth, family members of the 
        child or youth, and the local educational agency or alternative 
        education program receiving the child or youth following their 
        period of service under this subpart;''.
    (c) Program Requirements for Correctional Facilities Receiving 
Funds Under This Section.--Section 1425 (20 U.S.C. 6455) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
            ``(12) prepare an educational services and transition plan 
        for each child or youth served by the program, in partnership 
        with families and aftercare providers, consistent with section 
        1414(a)(1)(C); and
            ``(13) establish for each child or youth served an 
        educational services and transition plan that is developed in 
        consultation with the child or youth, family members of the 
        child or youth, and the local educational agency or alternative 
        education program receiving the child or youth following their 
        period of service under their subpart.''.

SEC. 10. HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.

    (a) State Application Contents.--Section 2112(b) (20 U.S.C. 
6612(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will improve teacher and principal knowledge and skill in 
        effectively engaging families in their children's education.''.
    (b) State Activities.--Section 2113(c) (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) through (18) as 
        paragraphs (13) through (19), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
            ``(12) Training of teachers and principals on how to 
        effectively engage families in their children's education.''.

SEC. 11. SUBPART 16 REFERENCE.

    Subpart 16 of part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7273 et seq.) is amended 
to read as follows:

           ``Subpart 16--Statewide Family Engagement Centers

``SEC. 5561. REFERENCE TO PART E.

    ``For provisions relating to Statewide Family Engagement Centers, 
see section 5712.''.

SEC. 12. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Heading.--The heading for title V is amended to read as 
follows:

  ``TITLE V--PROMOTING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION AND INNOVATIVE 
                              PROGRAMS''.

    (b) Family Engagement.--Title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

           ``PART E--FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS

``SEC. 5701. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this part are the following:
            ``(1) To establish State Family Engagement Coordinating 
        Councils to assure coordination of family engagement 
        activities.
            ``(2) To enhance and strengthen family engagement in the 
        education and development of their children through Statewide 
        Family Engagement Centers.
            ``(3) To provide grants to local non-profit parent 
        organizations to fund demonstration projects of Local Family 
        Engagement Centers.

              ``Subpart 1--State Family Engagement Efforts

``SEC. 5711. STATE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATING COUNCILS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each State educational agency shall establish a 
State Family Engagement Coordinating Council to assure coordination and 
integration of family engagement activities across the education 
spectrum.
    ``(b) Funding.--From the sums appropriated to carry out this part, 
and not otherwise reserved, the Secretary shall make grants in the 
amount of $100,000 to each State (or such lesser sum, that is available 
from appropriated funds, allocated equally among the States) for the 
purpose of establishing and funding the Coordinating Council.
    ``(c) Reporting Responsibility.--Each State Coordinating Council 
shall report to the Governor of each State and to the Chief State 
School Officer the Council's findings and recommendations regarding 
family engagement in education and such other information as the 
Governor may request.
    ``(d) Appointment of Members.--The Governor of the State, in 
consultation with the State educational agency, shall determine the 
number of members to serve on the Council, their term of office, and 
appoint such members, initially, for a full term or for a period of 
less than a full term, as the Governor deems appropriate. Such members 
shall include representatives of--
            ``(1) State educational agency programs, Statewide Family 
        Engagement Centers, and Local Family Engagement Centers 
        operating in the State;
            ``(2) parent training and information centers operating in 
        the State, as established by the Individual with Disabilities 
        Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.);
            ``(3) community parent resource centers operating in the 
        State;
            ``(4) the State parent teacher association and other parent 
        groups;
            ``(5) family members, students, teachers and school 
        administrators;
            ``(6) the State's advisory council on early childhood 
        education and care;
            ``(7) colleges and universities; and
            ``(8) non-profit organizations and State governmental 
        agencies serving children and families.
Not more than 50 percent of such members shall be employees of a State 
or local unit of government.
    ``(e) Duties of the Council.--Duties of the Council shall include 
the following and such other duties as the Governor may specify:
            ``(1) Establish a statewide vision of family engagement in 
        education that is consistent with, and leverages federal family 
        engagement in education resources and initiatives.
            ``(2) Assure consistency in family engagement in education 
        policies and practices across learning settings along the child 
        and youth life span.
            ``(3) Coordinate Federal, State, and local family 
        engagement in education programs and activities.
            ``(4) Coordinate family engagement in education programs 
        and activities across early childhood, school-age, vocational 
        and technical, and higher education programs.
            ``(5) Identify opportunities for family engagement in 
        education collaboration and resource sharing among State 
        educational agencies, local educational agencies, and 
        organizations that support family-school partnerships.
            ``(6) Review the family engagement in education component 
        of the State educational agency State Plan prepared under 
        section 1111(d) and submit to the State educational agency and 
        to the Governor, any recommendations of the Council for 
        modifications to the plan.
            ``(7) Visit local educational agencies, schools, and other 
        learning settings to support quality assurance for family 
        engagement in education policies, practices, and uses of funds.

``SEC. 5712. STATEWIDE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are the following:
            ``(1) To provide statewide leadership, capacity building, 
        technical assistance, and training to State and local 
        educational agencies, including personnel of such agencies, to 
        help the organizations and agencies implement systemic and 
        effective family engagement policies, programs, and activities 
        that lead to improvements in student academic achievement.
            ``(2) To assist State and local educational agencies in 
        strengthening partnerships among parents (including parents of 
        children under the age of 6), teachers, principals, 
        administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the 
        educational needs of children.
            ``(3) To support State and local educational agencies to 
        develop and strengthen the relationship between parents and 
        their children's school in order to further the development 
        progress of children.
            ``(4) To coordinate activities funded under this section 
        with family engagement initiatives funded under section 1118 
        and other provisions of this Act.
            ``(5) To assist the State educational agency in the 
        coordination and integration of Federal, State, and local 
        services and programs.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) Statewide family engagement centers.--The Secretary 
        is authorized to award grants in each fiscal year to statewide 
        nonprofit organizations (and consortia of such organizations 
        and State educational agencies, to establish Statewide Family 
        Engagement Centers that provide comprehensive training, 
        technical assistance, and capacity building to State 
        educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools 
        identified by State and local educational agencies, and 
        organizations that support family-school partnerships (such as 
        parent-teacher associations and Parents as Teachers 
        organizations), and other organizations that carry out parent 
        education and family engagement programs.
            ``(2) Geographic distribution.--In awarding grants under 
        this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
        ensure that a grant is awarded for a Statewide Family 
        Engagement Center in each State and territory and shall be an 
        amount of not less than $500,000.
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) Submissions.--Each statewide nonprofit organization, 
        or a consortia of such an organization and a State educational 
        agency that desires a grant under this section shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under 
        subsection (c)(1), at a minimum, shall include the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the organization or 
                consortium's approach to family engagement in 
                education, including the use of strength-based 
                strategies.
                    ``(B) A description of the organization or 
                consortium's plan for building a statewide 
                infrastructure for family engagement in education, to 
                include the following areas:
                            ``(i) management capacity and governance;
                            ``(ii) statewide leadership;
                            ``(iii) systemic services for family 
                        engagement in education;
                            ``(iv) capacity building for State 
                        educational agencies, local educational 
                        agencies, and schools;
                            ``(v) alignment with title I of this Act; 
                        and
                            ``(vi) learning and improvement.
                    ``(C) A description of the organization's or 
                consortium's experience in providing training, 
                information, and support to State educational agencies, 
                local educational agencies, schools, and nonprofit 
                organizations on family engagement in education 
                policies and practices that are suited for family 
                members who are severely disadvantaged educationally or 
                economically or are family members of limited English 
                proficient children.
                    ``(D) Assurances that the organization or 
                consortium will--
                            ``(i) be--
                                    ``(I) governed by a board of 
                                directors the membership of which 
                                includes parents; or
                                    ``(II) be an organization or 
                                consortium that represents the 
                                interests of parents;
                            ``(ii) establish a special advisory 
                        committee the membership of which includes--
                                    ``(I) parents of children from 
                                birth through young adulthood, who 
                                shall constitute a majority of the 
                                members of the special advisory 
                                committee;
                                    ``(II) representatives of the State 
                                parent teacher association;
                                    ``(III) representatives of 
                                education professionals with expertise 
                                in improving services for disadvantaged 
                                children;
                                    ``(IV) representatives of local 
                                elementary and secondary schools, 
                                including students and representatives 
                                from local youth organizations; and
                                    ``(V) representatives of State 
                                educational agencies and local 
                                educational agencies;
                            ``(iii) use at least 65 percent of the 
                        funds received under this subpart in each 
                        fiscal year to serve local educational 
                        agencies, schools, and community-based 
                        organizations that serve high concentrations of 
                        low-income families, in order to serve parents 
                        who are severely educationally or economically 
                        disadvantaged or are parents of minority and 
                        limited English proficient children;
                            ``(iv) operate a center of sufficient size, 
                        scope, and quality to ensure that the center is 
                        adequate to serve the State educational 
                        agencies, local educational agencies, and 
                        community-based organizations;
                            ``(v) serve urban, suburban, and rural 
                        local educational agencies and schools;
                            ``(vi) network with--
                                    ``(I) State and local educational 
                                agencies and schools;
                                    ``(II) Statewide Family Engagement 
                                Centers assisted under this section;
                                    ``(III) parent training and 
                                information centers assisted under 
                                section 682 of the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act;
                                    ``(IV) clearinghouses; and
                                    ``(V) other organizations and 
                                agencies;
                            ``(vii) use at least 30 percent of the 
                        funds received under this section in each 
                        fiscal year to establish, expand, or provide 
                        technical assistance to scientifically based 
                        early childhood parent education programs;
                            ``(viii) provide assistance to State and 
                        local educational agencies and community-based 
                        organizations that support family members in 
                        areas such as understanding State and local 
                        standards and measures of student and school 
                        academic achievement and strategies for 
                        supporting school academic achievement; and
                            ``(ix) work with State educational 
                        agencies, local educational agencies, and 
                        schools to determine parental needs and the 
                        best means for delivery of services.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grant funds received under this section 
        shall be used to provide training, technical assistance, and 
        capacity building to State educational agencies, local 
        educational agencies and organizations that support family-
        school partnerships to enable them--
                    ``(A) to assist parents in participating 
                effectively in their children's education and to help 
                their children meet State and local standards, such as 
                assisting parents--
                            ``(i) engage in activities that will 
                        improve student academic achievement, including 
                        understanding how they can support learning in 
                        the classroom with activities at home, in 
                        afterschool and extracurricular programs;
                            ``(ii) to communicate effectively with 
                        teachers, principals, counselors, 
                        administrators, and other school personnel;
                            ``(iii) to become active participants in 
                        the development, implementation, and review of 
                        school-parent compacts, family engagement 
                        policies, and school planning and improvement;
                            ``(iv) to participate in the design and 
                        provision of assistance to students who are not 
                        making adequate academic progress;
                            ``(v) to participate in State and local 
                        decisionmaking;
                            ``(vi) to train other parents;
                            ``(vii) to help the parents learn and use 
                        technology applied in their children's 
                        education;
                    ``(B) to develop and implement, in partnership with 
                the State Education Agency, a statewide family 
                engagement policy and systemic initiatives that will 
                provide for a continuum of services to remove barriers 
                for family engagement in education and support school 
                reform efforts; and
                    ``(C) to develop, implement, and assess family 
                engagement in education policies and plans under 
                section 1112 and 1118.
    ``(e) Administrative Provisions.--
            ``(1) Matching funds for grant renewal.--For each fiscal 
        year after the first fiscal year in which an organization or 
        consortium receives assistance under this section, the 
        organization or consortium shall demonstrate in the application 
        submitted for such fiscal year, that a portion of the services 
        provided by the organization or consortium is supported through 
        non-Federal contributions, which contributions may be in cash 
        or in-kind.
            ``(2) Submission of information.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each organization or consortium 
                receiving assistance under this section shall submit to 
                the Secretary, on an annual basis, information 
                concerning family centers assisted under this section, 
                including the following information:
                            ``(i) The number of State and local 
                        educational agency personnel, local education 
                        agencies, schools, and community-based 
                        organizations, that receive training.
                            ``(ii) The types and modes of training, 
                        technical assistance, and capacity building 
                        provided under this section.
                            ``(iii) Summative information on the 
                        activities taken by the organization or 
                        consortium to improve statewide capacity 
                        building for effective family engagement in the 
                        areas of--
                                    ``(I) management capacity and 
                                governance;
                                    ``(II) statewide leadership;
                                    ``(III) systemic services for 
                                family engagement in education;
                                    ``(IV) capacity-building for State 
                                educational agencies, local educational 
                                agencies, and schools;
                                    ``(V) alignment with title I of 
                                this Act;
                                    ``(VI) learning and improvement.
                    ``(B) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall 
                disseminate annually to the Congress and to the public 
                the information that each organization or consortium 
                submits under subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
        technical assistance, by grant or contract, for the 
        establishment, development, and coordination of Statewide 
        Family Engagement Centers, including their establishment of 
        statewide infrastructures for family engagement in education.
            ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed to prohibit a parental information and resource 
        center from--
                    ``(A) having its employees or agents meet with a 
                parent at a site that is not on school grounds; or
                    ``(B) working with another agency that serves 
                children.
            ``(5) Parental rights.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of this section--
                    ``(A) no person (including a parent who educates a 
                child at home, a public school parent, or a private 
                school parent) shall be required to participate in any 
                program of parent education or developmental screening 
                under this section; and
                    ``(B) no program or center assisted under this 
                section shall take any action that infringes in any 
                manner on the right of a parent to direct the education 
                of their children.

              ``Subpart 2--Local Family Engagement Centers

``SEC. 5721. DEMONSTRATION.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to demonstrate Local 
Family Engagement Centers and to evaluate the usefulness and 
effectiveness of innovative approaches demonstrated by these centers in 
engaging families in their children's education by providing training, 
services, supports, and opportunities that meet families needs and 
remove barriers to their engagement in their children's education to 
improve student achievement.
    ``(b) Grant.--Of the amount made available to carry out this 
section for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award 90 
percent of such amount as grants to, and enter into contracts and 
cooperative agreements with, local nonprofit parent organizations to 
develop concepts for Local Family Engagement Centers, Create such a 
center and demonstrate the center for such period of time as the 
Secretary shall prescribe.
    ``(c) Local Nonprofit Parent Organization Defined.--In this 
section, the term `local nonprofit parent organization' means a private 
nonprofit organization (other than an institution of higher education) 
that--
            ``(1) has a demonstrated record of working with low-income 
        parents and families;
            ``(2)(A) has a board of directors, the majority of whom are 
        parents of students in elementary schools and secondary schools 
        assisted under part A of title I and located in the geographic 
        area to be served by a Local Family Engagement Center; or
            ``(B) has a special governing committee to direct and 
        implement a Local Family Engagement Center, a majority of the 
        members of whom are parents of students in schools assisted 
        under part A of title I; and
            ``(3) is located in a community with elementary schools and 
        secondary schools that receive funds under part A of title I, 
        and is accessible to the families of students in those schools.
    ``(d) Application for Grants.--Not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall publish an 
application for demonstration grants under this section. Such 
application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the organization's approach on 
        family engagement in education, including its use of strength-
        based strategies;
            ``(2) information that the applicant meets the definition 
        of a local nonprofit parent organization;
            ``(3) information that the applicant has the capacity to 
        structure a center capable of conducting the training, 
        information and support activities to fulfill the purposes of a 
        Local Family Engagement Center;
            ``(4) information that the applicant will structure and 
        operate a center of sufficient scope and quality adequate to 
        serve the needs of the local area in which it is located;
            ``(5) a description of the organization's experience in 
        providing training, services, and supports to low-income 
        parents and families and family members of minority and limited 
        English proficient children;
            ``(6) a description of what steps the organization has 
        taken to meet with local educational agency or school personnel 
        in the geographic area to be served by the center in order to 
        inform the personnel of the plan and application for 
        assistance;
            ``(7) a description of how the organization will coordinate 
        its efforts with the Statewide Family Engagement Centers in the 
        State;
            ``(8) information that the applicant is capable of meeting 
        such milestones or the timeline in the demonstration as the 
        Secretary may prescribe; and
            ``(9) such other information as the Secretary deems 
        necessary.
    ``(e) Funds for Evaluation.--The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent 
of the amount made available to carry out this section to fund the 
demonstrations conducted under this section for the purpose of 
evaluating such demonstrations and issuing a report describing the 
approaches and aspects of the demonstration that the Secretary 
determines to be most effective and appropriate for fulfilling the 
purposes of family engagement centers, taking into account the 
demographics of the various localities to be served.

                          ``Subpart 3--Funding

``SEC. 5731. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS.

    ``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $195,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and such sums as may be 
necessary for fiscal years 2012 through 2015 to carry out this part and 
section 1005.
    ``(b) Use of Appropriated Funds.--From the amounts made available 
for each fiscal year under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) reserve the greater of $40,000,000 or 44 percent for 
        Statewide Family Engagement Centers, of which not more than 5 
        percent may be used for technical assistance to, and evaluation 
        of, such centers; and
            ``(2) from the remainder--
                    ``(A) reserve 2.9 percent, to be divided equally 
                among the States and territories, to fund operations of 
                State Family Engagement Coordinating Councils;
                    ``(B) reserve 38 percent for State support of 
                family engagement activities conducted pursuant to 
                title I of this Act;
                    ``(C) reserve 8 percent for demonstration of Local 
                Family Engagement Centers;
                    ``(D) reserve 5.1 percent for a Director and 
                dedicated staff for family and community engagement 
                within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 
                and related operations; and
                    ``(E) reserve 2 percent for Local Family Engagement 
                Centers at schools administered by the Bureau of Indian 
                Education in the Department of the Interior and at 
                Tribally Controlled Schools, except that the Secretary 
                of Interior shall use an amount not to exceed 5 percent 
                of such reserved funds for creation of a national 
                Indian Family Engagement Coordinating Council modeled 
                on State Family Coordinating Councils as described in 
                this part.

``Subpart 4--Research-Based Metrics for Effective Family Engagement in 
                               Education

``SEC. 5741. RULES OF THE SECRETARY.

    ``(a) Development of Metrics for Family Engagement.--Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
Secretary, after consultation with the Advisory Committee, shall issue 
rules that specify metrics on family engagement in education for State 
educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools, and 
nonprofit organizations that receive funds under subpart 3 or section 
1005.
    ``(b) Advisory Committee.--The Secretary shall appoint a committee 
including researchers and representatives from national nonprofit 
organizations with expertise in family engagement in education to make 
data-driven recommendations regarding metrics required under subsection 
(a).
    ``(c) Implementation of Metrics.--The Secretary shall require 
States and local educational agencies to include the metrics specified 
in subsection (a) in their annual State report beginning for 
submissions in the year that the Secretary deems to be practicable.''.

SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (32) to read as follows:
            ``(32) Family engagement in education.--The term `family 
        engagement in education' means a shared responsibility of 
        families and schools for student success, in which schools and 
        community-based organizations are committed to reaching out to 
        engage families in meaningful ways and families are committed 
        to actively supporting their children's learning and 
        development. This shared responsibility is continuous from 
        birth through young adulthood and reinforces learning that 
        takes place in the home, school and community.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(44) Tribally controlled schools.--The term `tribally 
        controlled schools' shall mean schools administered by Indian 
        tribes or their delegates pursuant to the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 
        450 et seq.).''.

SEC. 14. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.) is amended by striking--
            (1) ``parental involvement'' and ``parent involvement'' 
        each place they appears and inserting ``family engagement'';
            (2) ``involvement of parents'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``engagement of families'';
            (3) ``parental information and resource center'' each place 
        it appears and inserting ``Statewide Family Engagement 
        Center''; and
            (4) ``involve parents'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``engage families''.

SEC. 15. GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study, and make findings and 
        recommendations relating to compliance with, and use of funds 
        made available for, section 1118 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318), including 
        matters specified in paragraph (2).
            (2) Inclusions.--The study shall include a review and 
        analysis of--
                    (A) the use of funds reserved by local education 
                agencies for family engagement under such section 1118;
                    (B) the innovative, effective, replicable, or model 
                family engagement in education policies, practices and 
                uses of funds of State educational agencies and local 
                educational agencies determined by the Secretary of 
                Education to be in alignment with section 1118;
                    (C) any barriers to State educational agencies and 
                local educational agencies in implementing section 
                1118;
                    (D) any barriers to Indian tribes and 
                organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and 
                Alaska Native organizations in developing, 
                implementing, and assessing family engagement in 
                education policies and practices; and
                    (E) the use of data collection and reporting and 
                outcome and assessment systems of State educational 
                agencies and local educational agencies to determine 
                the extent to which family engagement in education is 
                implemented as outlined in section 1118.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a 
report containing the findings and recommendations resulting from the 
study.

SEC. 16. FEDERAL COORDINATION OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION 
              PROGRAMMING.

    (a) Staffing.--Not later than 6 months after date of enactment of 
this Act, there shall be established in the Department of Education 
dedicated staff, including a Director, for family and community 
engagement within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Director shall include the 
following:
            (1) Articulating a national vision of family engagement in 
        education.
            (2) Coordinatung and integrating activities related to 
        family engagement strategies, services, and programs within the 
        Department and across Federal agencies.
            (3) Providing guidance to Department offices and units on 
        the administration of family engagement in education programs 
        and activities and community schools programs and activities.
            (4) Assuring consistency in family engagement in education 
        policies and programs department.
            (5) Assuring consistency in family engagement in education 
        policies and programs with family engagement policies and 
        practices of the programs and activities of other Federal 
        agencies.
            (6) Administering the Statewide Family Engagement Centers 
        under section 5712 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act, the Local Family Engagement Centers program under section 
        5721 of such Act and the Full Service Community Schools 
        program.
            (7) Developing, in consultation with the public through an 
        invitation for public comment in the Federal Register, a plan 
        for innovation, research and evaluation of family engagement in 
        education, including impact, implementation, and replication 
        studies.
            (8) Conducting, by arrangement with the Department's 
        Institute of Educational Sciences, by contract, or by 
        competition, innovation, research and evaluation on family 
        engagement in education consistent with the duty under 
        paragraph (6).
            (9) Disseminating effective and innovative practices on 
        family engagement to State educational agencies, Statewide 
        Family Engagement Centers, parent training and information 
        centers, title I administrators, and others.
            (10) Coordinating innovation, research, training and 
        technical assistance activities between Statewide Family 
        Engagement Centers and regional educational laboratories.
            (11) Identifying opportunities for family engagement in 
        education collaboration and resource sharing among State 
        educational agencies, local educational agencies, and 
        organizations that support family-school partnerships.
            (12) Preparing a biennial report to the Congress on family 
        engagement in education, including a summary of activities, 
        performance and outcomes under sections 1005, 1112, 1118, 5711, 
        5712, and 5721 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
            (13) Publishing State educational agency family engagement 
        in education plans and reports prepared as required by section 
        1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on the web 
        site of the Department.
            (14) Carrying out such other duties as may be designated by 
        the Secretary.
    (c) Federal Department and Agency Cooperation.--Each department or 
agency of the Federal Government providing programs related to family 
and community engagement component shall--
            (1) cooperate with the efforts of the Director under this 
        section;
            (2) provide such assistance, statistics, studies, reports, 
        information, and advice as the Director may request, to the 
        extent permitted by law;
            (3) adjust department or agency staff job descriptions to 
        support collaboration and implementation of the vision and 
        strategy; and
            (4) assign department or agency liaisons to the office to 
        oversee and implement interagency coordination.
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