Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA What s New

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) What’ s New and a Little Different

Family and Community Engagement (FCE) NCLB/ESEA (Sec. 1118) ESSA (Sec. 1116) Section 1118 – Parental Involvement Section 1116 – Parent and Family Engagement Title: Parental Involvement • Law references parent involvement • Law references parents ØLanguage change to family and community engagement Reservation of Funds: • at least 95% of the 1% must be distributed to schools ØAt least 90 percent of the 1% must be distributed to schools. Ø Priority can be given to ØParents and family members high- need schools.

District-Level FCE - District. Policy Level Ø Policy must establish the agency’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family engagement. Ø Expanded language for coordination, technical assistance and other support to necessary to build the capacity of schools to include meaningful consultation with: o employers, o business leaders, and o philanthropic organizations, or individuals with expertise in effectively engaging parents and family members in education ØCoordinate and integration of parent and family engagement strategies is not specific to any federal program as it was before. It now states “with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs”.

District-Level FCE - District. Policy Level ØMore specific regarding an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the district policy to identify: o barriers of involvement o needs for parents to be more involved to support learning at home o strategies to support successful home-school interactions ØThe findings are to be used to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental and family engagement. Ø LEAs may establish a parent advisory board as a way of involving parents.

Use of Funds – District Level FCE - District Level ØDistricts shall do at least one of a number of options: o Professional development which may be provided jointly to education professionals and parents and family members (reflects some concepts from the dual-capacity framework) o Disseminate information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement; o Support programs that reach parents/family members at home, in the community, and at school. o Collaborate with community-based organizations; or other activities. o Engage in other activities and strategies the LEA determines are appropriate and consistent with it’s parent and family engagement policy.

School-Level FCE - District. Policy Level ØBuilding capacity of instructional and non-instructional staff to be more specific to identify teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, principals and other school leaders, and staff. Ø Coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies under this part with parent and family engagement strategies, to the extent feasible and appropriate, with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs.