[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2841-S2847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Whitehouse):
S. 941. A bill to strengthen families engagement in the education of
their children; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions.
[[Page S2842]]
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I introduce the Family Engagement in
Education Act with my colleagues Senator Coons and Senator Whitehouse.
I thank Representative Platts for introducing the House companion of
this bipartisan bill.
Our legislation will strengthen family engagement in education at the
local, State, and national levels. It will empower parents by
increasing school district resources dedicated to family engagement
activities from 1 percent to 2 percent of the district Title I
allocation. It will also improve quality of family engagement practices
at the school level by requiring school districts to develop and
implement standards-based policies and practices for family-school
partnerships. It will build State and local capacity for effective
family engagement in education by setting aside 1 percent of the State
Title I allocation for local family engagement in education centers to
provide innovative programming and services, such as leadership
training and family literacy, to local families and to remove barriers
to family engagement, and for supporting state-level activities.
Finally, our bill will restructure the Parent Information Resource
Centers so that they can provide statewide technical assistance in line
with the quality framework developed by the U.S. Department of
Education, Harvard Family Research Project, and Southwest Educational
Development Laboratory. At the national level, our legislation will
require the Secretary of Education to convene practitioners,
researchers, and other experts in the field of family engagement in
education to develop recommended metrics for measuring the quality and
outcomes of family engagement in a child's education.
Research demonstrates that family engagement in a child's education
increases student achievement, improves attendance, and reduces dropout
rates. A recent study by Anne Seitsinger and Steven Brand at the
University of Rhode Island's Center for School Improvement and
Educational Policy found that students whose parents support their
education through learning activities at home and discuss the
importance of education perform better in school. Yet too often, family
engagement is not built into our school improvement efforts in a
systematic way. The Family Engagement in Education Act will promote
meaningful family engagement policies and programs at the national,
State, and local levels to ensure that all students are on track to be
career and college-ready.
The bill builds on my successful efforts in the last reauthorization
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the 2001 No Child Left
Behind Act, to incorporate provisions throughout the law to strengthen
and boost parental involvement. It is also in line with the
Administration's blueprint for reauthorization, which calls for
doubling the amount that school districts are required to set aside for
parental involvement and encouraging States to use some of their Title
I funding to support local family engagement centers in education.
Developed with the National Family, School, and Community Engagement
Working Group, which includes organizations such as National PTA,
United Way Worldwide, Harvard Family Research Project, and National
Council of La Raza, and endorsed by hundreds of local, State, and
national organizations, this legislation represents the broad consensus
that we must do a better job of engaging families in all aspects of
their children's education.
I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Family Engagement in Education
Act, and to work for its inclusion in the forthcoming debate to
reauthorize and renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 941
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 2011''.
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. 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. Family engagement in education programs.
Sec. 12. Definitions.
Sec. 13. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 14. Government Accountability Office study and report.
Sec. 15. Federal coordination of family engagement in education
programming.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--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--
(A) is 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) is continuous across a child's life 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
Act 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. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION.
(a) Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund.--Title I (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 1004
the following:
``SEC. 1005. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY FUND.
``(a) In General.--Each State educational agency may
reserve not more than 1 percent of such agency's allocated
funds under section 1122 for each fiscal year for use as
provided in subsection (b).
``(b) Use of Reserved Funds.--From the amounts reserved for
each fiscal year under subsection (a), each State educational
agency shall--
``(1) reserve not less than 85 percent for Local Family
Engagement Centers under section 1006; and
``(2) reserve not more than 15 percent for State
educational agency capacity for family engagement activities
under section 1007.''.
(b) Local Family Engagement Centers Program.--Title I (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 1005,
as added by subsection (a), the following:
``SEC. 1006. LOCAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS PROGRAM.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish
and operate 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) Grants Authorized.--From the funds reserved to carry
out this section under section 1005(b)(1), a State
educational agency shall award grants or enter into contracts
and cooperative agreements with eligible entities to
establish and operate Local Family Engagement Centers.
``(c) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means a private, nonprofit organization that--
``(1) has a demonstrated record of working with low-income
parents and families in the community;
``(2) is located in a community with elementary schools and
secondary schools that receive funds under part A and is
accessible to families of students in those schools; and
``(3) is partnering with 1 or more local educational
agencies or 1 or more schools that receive funds under part
A.
``(d) Application for Grants.--To receive a grant under
this section, an eligible entity
[[Page S2843]]
shall submit an application to the State educational agency
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the State educational agency may require,
including--
``(1) a description of the entity's approach on family
engagement in education, including its use of strength-based
strategies;
``(2) information demonstrating that the applicant meets
the definition of an eligible entity;
``(3) information that the applicant has the capacity to
operate a center capable of conducting the training,
services, 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 entity's experience in providing
training, services, and support to low-income parents and
families, English language learners, minorities, parents of
students with disabilities, parents of homeless students,
foster parents, and parents of migrant students;
``(6) a description of the collaboration with the local
educational agency or school personnel in the geographic area
to be served by the center;
``(7) a description of the steering committee, a majority
of whose members are parents of students in schools that
receive funds under part A, that will direct and implement
the activities of the Local Family Engagement Center;
``(8) a description of how the entity will coordinate its
efforts with the Statewide Family Engagement Centers under
subpart 16 of part D of title V in the State;
``(9) information that the applicant is capable of meeting
milestones or deadlines as the State educational agency may
prescribe; and
``(10) such other information as the State educational
agency determines necessary.
``(e) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall establish and operate a Local
Family Engagement Center and use the grant funds to provide
training, services, and supports to engage families in their
children's education and to build the school-family
partnerships necessary to ensure that all children are on
track to graduate from high school ready for college and
careers, such as through--
``(1) assisting parents and families in understanding how
they can improve student achievement, including how to access
ongoing student performance data and related information to
support learning in the classroom with activities at home,
and in afterschool and extracurricular activities;
``(2) training parents and families on effective ongoing
communication with their children, teachers, principals,
counselors, administrators, and other school personnel;
``(3) providing direct services to families, such as home
visitation, family literacy programs, and health and
behavioral health services to meet the needs of families and
remove barriers for engaging in the education of their
children;
``(4) providing advocacy services to ensure that families
can fully participate in their children's education;
``(5) providing supports such as transportation, childcare,
and meals to facilitate families' engagement in programs
implemented or assisted by the Center;
``(6) assisting parents and families in understanding how
they can prepare their children academically, socially, and
financially for postsecondary education, including early
awareness of the availability of student financial
assistance; and
``(7) improving the coordination, availability, and
effectiveness of integrated services and comprehensive
supports for children and families.
``(f) Evaluation and Annual Report.--A State educational
agency shall--
``(1) evaluate the effectiveness of the grants funded under
this section; and
``(2) issue an annual report on the implementation of such
grants, describing any practices the State determines to be
most effective or innovative for fulfilling the purposes of
the Local Family Engagement Centers.''.
(c) State Family Engagement Coordinating Councils.--Title I
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding after section
1006, as added by subsection (b), the following:
``SEC. 1007. STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY CAPACITY FOR FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
``(a) In General.--Each State educational agency shall
administer and expend funds reserved under section 1005(b)(2)
to--
``(1) provide for the establishment of a statewide family
engagement coordinating council; and
``(2) support the development and implementation of a
statewide family engagement in education plan.
``(b) State Family Engagement Coordinating Councils.--
``(1) In general.--Each State educational agency that
receives funds under part A shall establish a State Family
Engagement Coordinating Council (referred to in this section
as a `Council') to ensure coordination and integration of
family engagement in education activities across the
education spectrum.
``(2) Reporting responsibility.--Each Council shall report
to the Governor and the Chief State School Officer of the
State on the Council's findings and recommendations regarding
family engagement in education and such other information as
the Governor may request.
``(3) Appointment of members.--
``(A) In general.--The Governor of the State, in
consultation with the State educational agency, shall
determine the number of members to serve on the Council and
their term of office, and shall appoint such members,
initially, for a full term or for a period of less than a
full term, as the Governor determines appropriate. Such
members shall include representatives of--
``(i) State educational agency programs, Statewide Family
Engagement Centers under subpart 16 of part D of title V, and
Local Family Engagement Centers under section 1006 operating
in the State;
``(ii) parent training and information centers and
community parent resource centers assisted under sections 671
and 672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
operating in the State;
``(iii) the State parent teacher association and other
parent groups;
``(iv) family members, students, teachers, and school
administrators;
``(v) the State's advisory council on early childhood
education and care;
``(vi) colleges and universities; and
``(vii) nonprofit organizations and State governmental
agencies serving children and families.
``(B) Restriction on government employees.--Not more than
50 percent of the Council members shall be employees of a
State or local unit of government.
``(4) Duties of the council.--Duties of the Council shall
include any duties the Governor may specify and the following
duties:
``(A) Establish a statewide vision of family engagement in
education that is consistent with, and leverages, Federal
family engagement in education resources and initiatives.
``(B) Encourage consistency in family engagement in
education policies and practices across learning settings
along the child and youth life span.
``(C) Coordinate Federal, State, and local family
engagement in education programs and activities.
``(D) Coordinate family engagement in education programs
and activities across early childhood, school-age, vocational
and technical, and higher education programs.
``(E) 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.
``(F) Review the family engagement in education component
of the 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.
``(G) Visit local educational agencies, schools, and other
learning settings to support the implementation and
monitoring of family engagement in education policies,
practices, and uses of funds.
``(c) Uses of Funds.--Each State may use funds reserved
under section 1005(b)(2) to support the development and
implementation of the statewide family engagement in
education plan described in section 1111(d) through
activities such as--
``(1) supporting an office or staff positions within the
agency dedicated to family engagement;
``(2) carrying out the State's responsibilities under the
Local Family Engagement Centers Program under section 1006;
``(3) developing and implementing a statewide data
collection and evaluation system on family engagement metrics
to identify schools that would benefit from training and
support related to family engagement in education;
``(4) reviewing local educational agencies' family
engagement policies and practices as provided by sections
1112(b)(1)(P) and 1118(i), and evaluating the use of funds
under this subsection;
``(5) coordinating technical assistance and support to
local educational agencies with schools that would benefit
from training and support related to family engagement in
education with the Statewide Family Engagement Centers;
``(6) developing curricula for professional development for
teachers, principals, school librarians, and other school
leaders on improving family engagement in education;
``(7) developing standards and curricula for family
engagement in education for teacher and principal preparation
programs; and
``(8) coordinating 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 in
education policies, practices, and services.''.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section
2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1004
the following:
``Sec. 1005. Family engagement and responsibility fund.
``Sec. 1006. Local Family Engagement Centers Program.
``Sec. 1007. State educational agency capacity for family engagement
activities.''.
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--
[[Page S2844]]
``(1) a description of the State's criteria and schedule
for review and approval of local educational agency
engagement policies and practices pursuant to sections
1112(e)(3) and 1118(i);
``(2) a description of the State's system and process for
assessing local educational agency implementation of section
1118 responsibilities;
``(3) a description of the State's criteria for identifying
local educational agencies that would benefit from training
and support related to family engagement in education;
``(4) a description of the State's statewide system of
technical assistance and support for local educational
agencies and schools on family engagement in education;
``(5) an assurance that the State will refer to Statewide
Family Engagement Centers those local educational agencies
that would benefit from training and support related to
family engagement in education;
``(6) a plan for using funds received under section 1005;
``(7) a description of the relationship between the State
educational agency and Statewide and Local Family Engagement
Centers, parent training and information centers, and
community parent resource centers in the State established
under sections 671 and 672 of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act; and
``(8) a plan for establishing a State Family Engagement
Coordinating Council or, if a similar entity exists, a
description of the composition and activities of such similar
entity.''.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Annual state report.--Section 1111(h)(4) (20 U.S.C.
6311(h)(4)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) the number of schools and the name of each school
that would benefit from training and support related to
family engagement in education, 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 educational 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 ``the development and
implementation of policies and procedures for 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 (S);
(2) in subparagraph (P), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(3) 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;
``(R) a description of how the local education agency will
improve teacher and principal knowledge and skills in
effectively engaging parents in their children's education;
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; and
(2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by
paragraph (1), the following:
``(a) In General.--Each local educational agency and each
school receiving funds under this part shall develop policies
and practices for family engagement in education 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 and 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 with 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) Ensure that family members, local educational
agencies, and school staff are equal partners in family
engagement in education decisionmaking.
``(6) Collaborate with community organizations and groups
to turn the school into a hub of community life.
``(7) Create a continuum of family engagement in education
in student learning and development from birth to young
adulthood.
``(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) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(3) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) participate in evaluations of the effectiveness of
family engagement in education strategies and policies; and
``(H) participate in developing recommendations for
creating a positive school climate and safe and healthy
schools.''.
(c) Reservation.--Section 1118(b)(3)(A), 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 its allocation under
subpart 2 to carry out this section.''.
(d) Reserved Funds.--Section 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 the following:
``(i) Increasing capacity through establishment of a
dedicated office or dedicated personnel within the local
educational agency or at the school level for family
engagement in education.
``(ii) Supporting schools and nonprofit organizations in
providing professional development on family engagement in
education for school staff, parent leadership training,
family literacy and numeracy programs, home visitation
programs, family volunteerism programs, and other innovative
programs that meaningfully engage families.
``(iii) Developing and implementing local educational
agency family engagement in education data-collection systems
and indicators.
``(iv) Assessing and providing recommendations on school
family engagement in education policies, practices, and use
of funds.
``(v) Providing technical assistance and training to
schools on the implementation and assessment of family
engagement in education policies and practices.
``(vi) Providing additional support to schools that have
been identified for improvement under section 1116(b) to
assist in their implementation of family engagement in
education, including the hiring and maintenance of family
engagement coordinators.
``(vii) Partnering with Local Family Engagement Centers or
community-based organizations to identify community
resources, services, and supports to remove economic
obstacles to family engagement in education by meeting
families' needs.
``(viii) Supporting schools and eligible entities in the
development of early childhood programs that promote family
engagement in education and school readiness.
``(ix) Establishing and supporting an advisory group
comprised of families, educators, and nonprofit organizations
to develop recommendations to strengthen family engagement in
education from birth to young adulthood.
``(x) Assisting schools in the development, implementation,
and assessment of family engagement in education plans.
``(xi) Monitoring and evaluating the family engagement in
education policies and practices funded under this section.
``(xii) Partnering with Local Family Engagement Centers or
Statewide Family Engagement Centers to assist the local
educational agency and participating schools in the
implementation of this section.
``(xiii) Supporting other activities approved in the local
education agency's plan for improving family engagement.''.
(e) School Parental Involvement Policy.--Section
1118(c)(1), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended in
the first sentence by striking ``(c) through (f)'' and
inserting ``(d) through (g)''.
(f) 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
``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(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--
``(i) monitoring attendance and homework completion;
``(ii) volunteering in their child's classroom or school;
and
``(iii) 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 of
recommendations for student attendance, expectations,
behavior, and school
[[Page S2845]]
safety, including the development of reasonable disciplinary
policies and behavioral interventions, such as 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) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) that contains an assurance that each child or youth
serviced by the program will have a transition plan developed
in partnership with families and aftercare providers that
will place the child or youth on a path to career and college
readiness; and''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (19) as
paragraphs (17) through (21), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
``(15) describes how the State agency will implement family
engagement in education policies and practices that align
with section 1118;
``(16) includes 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 that will receive 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 in education policies and practices that align
with the provisions of section 1118;
``(10) an assurance that the local educational agency will
establish for each child or youth served under this subpart
an educational services 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) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end 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 residing in the
facility and serviced by 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.''.
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. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Heading.--The heading for subpart 16 of part D of title
V is amended to read as follows:
``Subpart 16--Family Engagement in Education Programs''.
(b) Family Engagement.--Section 5561 (20 U.S.C. 7273) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5561. PURPOSES.
``The purposes of this subpart are the following:
``(1) To provide financial support to nonprofit
organizations to build the capacity of and provide technical
assistance and training to States and local educational
agencies in the implementation and enhancement of successful
systemic and effective family engagement policies, programs,
and activities that lead to improvements in student
development and academic achievement.
``(2) To assist State educational agencies, local
educational agencies, and community-based organizations 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 educational agencies and local
educational agencies in developing and strengthening the
relationship between parents and their children's school in
order to further the developmental progress of children.
``(4) To coordinate activities funded under this subpart
with engagement in education initiatives funded under section
1118 and other provisions of this Act.
``(5) To assist the Secretary, State educational agencies,
and local educational agencies in the coordination and
integration of Federal, State, and local services and
programs to engage families in education.''.
(c) Grants Authorized.--Section 5562 (20 U.S.C. 7273a) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5562. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) Statewide Family Engagement Centers.--The Secretary
is authorized to award grants for 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 educational agencies
and local educational agencies, 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 in education programs.
``(b) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under
this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
ensure that a grant is--
``(1) awarded for a Statewide Family Engagement Center in
each State and outlying area; and
``(2) in an amount of not less than $500,000.''.
(d) Applications.--Section 5563 (20 U.S.C. 7273b) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5563. APPLICATIONS.
``(a) Submissions.--Each statewide nonprofit organization,
or a consortium of such an organization and a State
educational agency, that desires a grant under section 5562
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(b) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
``(1) A description of the applicant's approach to family
engagement in education, including the use of strength-based
strategies.
``(2) A description of the applicant's plan for building a
statewide infrastructure for family engagement in education,
that includes--
``(A) management capacity and governance;
``(B) statewide leadership;
``(C) systemic services for family engagement in education;
``(D) capacity building for State educational agencies,
local educational agencies, and schools;
``(E) alignment with title I; and
``(F) learning and improvement.
``(3) A description of the applicant's experience in
providing training, information, and support to State
educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools,
and nonprofit organizations on family engagement in education
polices and practices that are effective for low-income
parents and families, English language learners, minorities,
parents of students with disabilities, parents of homeless
students, foster parents and students, and parents of migrant
students.
``(4) An assurance that the applicant will--
``(A) be--
``(i) governed by a board of directors, the membership of
which includes parents of school-aged children; or
``(ii) an organization or consortium that represents the
interests of parents;
``(B) 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 schools and
secondary schools, including students, disadvantaged youth,
and representatives from local youth organizations; and
``(v) representatives of State educational agencies and
local educational agencies;
``(C) use not less than 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 and disadvantaged children and youth, including
English language learners, minorities, parents of students
with disabilities, parents of homeless students, foster
parents and students, and parents of migrant students;
[[Page S2846]]
``(D) 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;
``(E) serve urban, suburban, and rural local educational
agencies and schools;
``(F) work with--
``(i) State educational agencies and local educational
agencies and schools;
``(ii) other Statewide Family Engagement Centers assisted
under this subpart;
``(iii) Local Family Engagement Centers assisted under
section 1006;
``(iv) parent training and information centers and
community parent resource centers assisted under sections 671
and 672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
``(v) clearinghouses; and
``(vi) other organizations and agencies;
``(G) use not less than 30 percent of the funds received
under this section in each fiscal year to establish or expand
technical assistance for evidence-based early childhood
parent education programs;
``(H) provide assistance to State educational agencies and
local educational agencies and community-based organizations
that support family members in areas such as assistance in
understanding State and local standards and measures of
student and school academic achievement and strategies for
supporting school academic achievement; and
``(I) work with State educational agencies, local
educational agencies, and schools to determine parental needs
and the best means for delivery of services to address such
needs.''.
(e) Uses of Funds.--Section 5564 (20 U.S.C. 7273c) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5564. USES OF FUNDS.
``Grantees shall use grant funds received under section
5562 to provide training, technical assistance, and capacity
building to State educational agencies, local educational
agencies, and organizations that support family-school
partnerships, to enable those agencies and organizations--
``(1) 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--
``(A) to engage in activities that will improve student
academic achievement, including understanding how they can
support learning in the classroom with activities at home and
in afterschool and extracurricular programs;
``(B) to communicate effectively with their children,
teachers, principals, counselors, administrators, and other
school personnel;
``(C) to become active participants in the development,
implementation, and review of school-parent compacts, family
engagement in education policies, and school planning and
improvement;
``(D) to participate in the design and provision of
assistance to students who are not making adequate academic
progress;
``(E) to participate in State and local decisionmaking;
``(F) to train other parents; and
``(G) to help the parents learn and use technology applied
in their children's education;
``(2) to develop and implement, in partnership with the
State educational agency, a statewide family engagement in
education 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
``(3) to develop, implement, and assess family engagement
in education policies and plans under sections 1112 and
1118.''.
(f) Administrative Provisions.--Section 5565 (20 U.S.C.
7273d) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5565. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
``(a) Matching Funds for Grant Renewal.--For each fiscal
year after the first fiscal year for which an organization or
consortium receives assistance under this subpart, the
organization or consortium shall demonstrate in the
application that a portion of the services provided by the
organization or consortium is supported through non-Federal
contributions, which may be in cash or in-kind.
``(b) Submission of Information.--Each organization or
consortium receiving assistance under this subpart shall
submit to the Secretary, on an annual basis, information on
the activities it has carried out using grant funds received
under section 5562, including reporting on metrics developed
under section 5567.
``(c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall reserve
not more than 5 percent of the funds appropriated to carry
out this subpart to 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.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subpart shall
be construed to prohibit a Statewide Family Engagement Center
from--
``(1) having its employees or agents meet with a parent at
a site that is not on school grounds; or
``(2) working with another agency that serves children.
``(e) Parental Rights.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of this subpart--
``(1) 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 subpart; and
``(2) no program or center assisted under this subpart
shall take any action that infringes in any manner on the
right of a parent to direct the education of their
children.''.
(g) Family Engagement in Indian Schools.--Section 5566 (20
U.S.C. 7273e) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5566. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN INDIAN SCHOOL.
``The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education, shall establish, or enter into
contracts and cooperative agreements with local Indian
nonprofit parent organizations to establish and operate,
Local Family Engagement Centers and shall establish a
national Indian Family Engagement Coordinating Council
modeled on the State Family Engagement Coordinating Council
as described in section 1007.''.
(h) Research and Evaluation for Effective Family Engagement
in Education.--Subpart 16 of part D of title V (20 U.S.C.
7273 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 5567. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN
EDUCATION.
``(a) Development of Metrics for Family Engagement.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Family
Engagement in Education Act of 2011, the Director of the
Institute of Education Sciences, after consultation with the
advisory committee established under subsection (b), shall
develop recommended metrics on family engagement in education
for State educational agencies and local educational agencies
that receive funds under section 1118 and provide
recommendations on the integration of metrics into State
accountability and longitudinal data systems.
``(b) Advisory Committee.--The Secretary shall appoint an
advisory 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) Research for Effective Family Engagement in
Education.--The Secretary shall reserve not more than 5
percent of funds appropriated to carry out this subpart to
conduct research on effective family engagement in education,
including through awarding grants and entering into contracts
with eligible entities. Such research may include--
``(1) exploratory research to discover the underlying
processes or components of family engagement programs that
are associated with improved education outcomes for students;
``(2) research to--
``(A) develop culturally sensitive strategies or programs
for improving family engagement in education; and
``(B) rigorously evaluate the impact of such strategies or
programs on students' education outcomes; and
``(3) research to--
``(A) develop professional development programs intended to
enable school personnel to support parental involvement in
education; and
``(B) rigorously evaluate the impact of such programs on
students' education outcomes.''.
SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.
Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (32);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (20) through (31) as
paragraphs (21) through (32), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
``(20) Family engagement in education.--The term `family
engagement in education' means a shared responsibility--
``(A) 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; and
``(B) that is continuous from birth through young adulthood
and reinforces learning that takes place in the home, school,
and community.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(44) Tribally controlled schools.--The term `tribally
controlled schools' means schools administered by Indian
tribes or their delegates pursuant to the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et
seq.).''.
SEC. 13. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
The Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by striking--
(1) ``parental involvement'' and ``parent involvement''
each place the terms appear and inserting ``family
engagement'';
(2) ``involvement of parents'' each place the term appears
and inserting ``engagement of families'';
(3) ``parental information and resource center'' each place
the term appears and inserting ``Statewide Family Engagement
Center'';
(4) ``parental information and resource centers'' each
place the term appears and inserting ``Statewide Family
Engagement Centers''; and
(5) ``involve parents'' each place the term appears and
inserting ``engage families''.
[[Page S2847]]
SEC. 14. GOVERNMENT 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 educational 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 described in
section 1118.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives a report containing the findings and
recommendations resulting from the study conducted under this
section.
SEC. 15. FEDERAL COORDINATION OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN
EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.
(a) Staffing.--Not later than 6 months after the 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.
(b) Duties.--The duties of the Director shall include the
following:
(1) Articulating a national vision of family engagement in
education.
(2) Coordinating 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, community school programs, and other related
initiatives, such as Promise Neighborhoods.
(4) Ensuring consistency in family engagement in education
policies and programs within the Department.
(5) Ensuring 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 subpart 16 of part D of title V of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 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 Education Sciences, by contract, or by
competition, innovation, research and evaluation on family
engagement in education consistent with the requirement of
section 5567(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965.
(9) Disseminating effective and innovative practices on
family engagement to State educational agencies, Statewide
Family Engagement Centers and Local Family Engagement
Centers, parent training and information centers and
community parent resource centers assisted under sections 671
and 672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
administrators of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), and others.
(10) Coordinating innovation, research, training, and
technical assistance activities among Statewide Family
Engagement Centers, Local 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 Congress on family
engagement in education, including a summary of activities,
performance, and outcomes under sections 1006, 1008, 1112,
and 1118, and subpart 16 of part D of title V of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(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 of
1965 on the website 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 in
education shall--
(1) cooperate with the efforts of the Director described in
subsection (a);
(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.
____________________