1.This Act may be cited as the
Family Engagement in Education Act of
2010
.
2.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.
3.
(a)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)The
purpose of this Act is to strengthen families’ engagement in the education of
their children.
4.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.).
5.State support of
family engagement in education
(a)Title I (20 U.S.C.
6301 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 1004 the following new
section:
1005.State support
of family engagement in education
(a)Allocation of
reserved funds to StatesFunds 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)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)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.
.
6.
(a)Section 1111(d) (20 U.S.C. 6311(d)) is amended to read as
follows:
(d)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)
(1)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)Section 1111(j) (20 U.S.C. 6311(j)) is amended by
inserting advice and assistance in family engagement in
education,
after reliable,
.
7.Local educational
agency plans
(a)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 plansSection 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
.
8.Family engagement
in education policy
(a)Local
educational agency development of policies and practicesSection
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)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)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)Subparagraph
(A) of paragraph 1118(b)(3) (as redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended to
read as follows:
(A)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)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)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 policyThe 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)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 achievementSection 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
.
9.Prevention and
intervention programs for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or
at risk
(a)State plan and
State agency applicationsSection 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 applicationsSection 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
sectionSection 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.
.
10.High quality
teachers and principals
(a)State
application contentsSection 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)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.
.
11.Subpart 16 of part D
of title V (20 U.S.C. 7273 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
16Statewide Family
Engagement Centers
5561.For provisions relating
to Statewide Family Engagement Centers, see section
5712.
.
12.Family
engagement in education programs
(a)The
heading for title V is amended to read as follows:
<enum>V</enum><header>Promoting Family
Engagement in Education and Innovative
Programs</header>
.
(b)Title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
EFamily Engagement
in Education Programs
5701.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.
1State Family
Engagement Efforts
5711.State family
engagement coordinating councils
(a)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)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)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)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 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.
5712.Statewide
Family Engagement Centers
(a)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)
(1)Statewide Family
Engagement CentersThe 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)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)
(1)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)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)
(1)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 renewalFor 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)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)The
Secretary shall disseminate annually to the Congress and to the public the
information that each organization or consortium submits under subparagraph
(A).
(3)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)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)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.
2Local Family
Engagement Centers
5721.
(a)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)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 definedIn 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)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)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.
3
5731.Authorization
of appropriations; reservations
(a)Authorization of
appropriationsThere 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 fundsFrom 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.
4Research-Based
Metrics for Effective Family Engagement in Education
5741.
(a)Development of
metrics for family engagementNot 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)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 metricsThe 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.
.
13.Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is
amended—
(1)by amending
paragraph (32) to read as follows:
(32)Family
engagement in educationThe 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 schoolsThe 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.).
.
14.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
.
15.General
Accountability Office study and report
(a)
(1)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)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)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.
16.Federal
coordination of family engagement in education programming
(a)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)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 cooperationEach 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.