Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 - Amends title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to authorize states to reserve school improvement funds to: (1) award grants to nonprofit organizations that partner with local educational agencies (LEAs) or schools to establish and operate Local Family Engagement Centers that assist families in becoming engaged in their childrens' education, (2) establish a State Family Engagement Coordinating Council to coordinate and integrate family engagement activities across the education spectrum, and (3) develop and implement a statewide family engagement in education plan.
Requires each state school improvement plan to include a plan for strengthening family engagement in education.
Requires each LEA and school receiving school improvement funds to develop policies and practices for family engagement in education that meet specified principles and standards.
Increases the percentage of school improvement funds that LEAs must reserve for family engagement activities.
Requires states and correctional facilities to work with family members and aftercare providers in developing educational services and transition plans for youth following their stay in state and local institutions for neglected or delinquent youth.
Requires states to use part of their grant under part A (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund) of title II of the ESEA to train teachers and principals to effectively engage families in their children's education.
Replaces a Fund for the Improvement of Education program under title V of the ESEA that provided for the establishment of parental information and resource centers with a new program that awards matching grants to statewide nonprofit organizations to establish Statewide Family Engagement Centers that provide comprehensive training, technical assistance, and capacity building to states, LEAs, and organizations that support family-school partnerships to assist them in developing and implementing family engagement programs.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish Local Family Engagement Centers and a national Indian Family Engagement Coordinating Council for Indian schools.
Requires the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences to develop recommended metrics on family engagement in education for states and LEAs, and make recommendations on the integration of those metrics into state accountability and longitudinal data systems.
Directs the Secretary to conduct research on effective family engagement in education.
Requires that there be established in the Department of Education dedicated staff, including a Director, for family and community engagement.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1821 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1821
To strengthen families' engagement in the education of their children.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 10, 2011
Mr. Platts (for himself and Mrs. McCarthy of New York) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen families' engagement in the education of their children.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Family Engagement in Education Act
of 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 1
percent or more 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 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 applicant'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 or act as 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 applicant'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 applicant 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 the program
implemented or assisted by the work of the Local Family
Engagement 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 monitoring and
implementation 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--
``(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 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 programs funded under this
subpart 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 operated under
this subpart, 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.
Subpart 16 of part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7273 et seq.) is amended
to read as follows:
``Subpart 16--Family Engagement in Education Programs
``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 State and local educational agencies
in the implementation and enhancement of 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 family 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.
``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.
``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 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.
``(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;
``(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 section;
``(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.
``SEC. 5564. USES OF FUNDS.
``(a) In General.--Grantees shall use grant funds received under
this section 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.
``(b) Administrative Provisions.--
``(1) Matching funds for grant renewal.--For each fiscal
year after the first fiscal year for which an organization or
consortium receives assistance under this section, 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.
``(2) Submission of information.--Each organization or
consortium receiving assistance under this section shall submit
to the Secretary, on an annual basis, information on the
activities it has carried out using grant funds received under
this section, including reporting on metrics developed under
section 5566.
``(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 section 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
section--
``(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 section; and
``(2) 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.
``SEC. 5565. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN INDIAN SCHOOLS.
``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.
``SEC. 5566. METRICS 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''.
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 the Workforce 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 section 5562 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 5566(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,
1118, and 5562 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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