| State Policy |
State PolicyStates play a vital role in family engagement. Our federal system gives State Education Agencies (SEAs) significant responsibility for ensuring compliance with federal requirements. In addition, State policy can:
Statewide Family Engagement CentersSince 2018, 12 Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) representing 13 states have been funded to create systemic partnerships with State Education Agencies to provide technical assistance and training to schools, districts, community
partners, and SEAs, as well as to provide parenting education and family engagement programming. NAFSCE works in partnership with the centers in Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Massachusetts to enhance their efforts to provide high impact, evidence based programs at the state and local level. Additionally, NAFSCE works with
the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) as well as each of the SFECs to create a robust network that participates in knowledge sharing and networking
to enhance the services in their own states. Click on the links below to learn more about SFECs and access their resources.
State Family Engagement FrameworksThe State Consortium on Family Engagement (Consortium) was a collaborative project lead by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to support participating State Education Agency (SEA) state teams to establish a statewide Family Engagement Coalition and collaboratively develop a statewide Birth-to Grade 12 Family Engagement Framework. NAFSCE provided state teams with monthly, customized technical assistance; reviewed and provided feedback on materials developed by the teams; co-planned and co-facilitated four in-person meetings; and conducted and provided states with an Opportunity Canvas, a research-based review of the state’s existing family engagement infrastructure. Effective State PracticesStates carry out a wide variety of core functions in their day-to-day work. While state education agencies (SEAs) may not be working in local communities with families, and often do not hear from families directly, there are many activities they do engage in every day which can strengthen the essential conditions for strong family-school-community partnerships, as well as reduce barriers to these partnerships. From writing, releasing, reviewing, and monitoring applications for state and federal grants to licensing teachers to designing and implementing school improvement systems, there are a variety of functions states have which can positively impact family, school, and community engagement.
State of the States: Family, School, and Community Engagement Within State Educator Licensure RequirementsNAFSCE recently completed a landscape assessment of current state licensure requirements regarding family engagement preparation, and engaged stakeholders in discussions regarding current practices and policies related to pre-service family engagement preparation. The resulting report, State of the States: Family, School, and Community Engagement Within State Educator Licensure Requirements , analyzes the current minimum requirements for educator preparation programs (EPPs) set by the 50 U.S. states and six U.S. territories that license educators and administrators, highlighting the professional practice standards and field requirements most directly addressing family, school, and community engagement. State Leaders NetworkThe Family Engagement State Leaders Network, convened monthly by AIR/SEDL, formed in 2012 to connect leaders across state education agencies (SEAs). The Network builds SEA capacity to implement, scale-up, and sustain initiatives in family and community engagement that support student success. Membership includes SEA staff or SEA appointed consultants with responsibility for family engagement. Participation in this group is free and voluntary, and family engagement leaders from all SEAs are welcome to participate. To join, please email Lacy Wood at lwood@air.org. State Policy on Family EngagementESSA State PlansThirty-six states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have submitted their 2017 plans for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The law gives states significant new leeway to set student achievement goals and calls for looking beyond test scores in gauging school performance. Click on the state name below for details on their submitted plan.
Education Week provided a useful side-by-side comparison of each of the submitted state plans. Tell us about what is happening in your state. It is our goal for NAFSCE.org to be the first stop for SEA’s seeking resources on improving their policies to support high-impact family engagement.
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7/5/2024NAFSCE News - July Edition
7/5/2024NAFSCE News - June Edition
10/6/2025 » 10/10/2025
2025 National Assembly for Family Engagement in Education
