Family Engagement in Education Act of 2013 - 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:
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 at least 75% of those reserved funds to be distributed to schools served under the school improvement program.
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 the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences to develop recommended metrics on family engagement in education for states and LEAs and to make recommendations on the integration of those metrics into state accountability and longitudinal data systems.
Directs the Secretary of Education to conduct research on effective family engagement in education.
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.
Repeals programs authorizing the Secretary to award grants to: (1) nonprofit organizations and consortia of those organizations and LEAs to establish parental information and resource centers, and (2) local nonprofit parent organizations to support local family information centers.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1291 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1291
To strengthen families' engagement in the education of their children.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 11, 2013
Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
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 2013''.
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. Research and evaluation for family engagement in education.
Sec. 11. High-quality teachers and principals.
Sec. 12. Definitions.
Sec. 13. Repeal of Parental Assistance and Local Family Information
Centers.
Sec. 14. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 15. Government Accountability Office study and report.
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) Research on school improvement has identified
meaningful partnerships with families and communities as 1 of 5
critical ingredients necessary to turnaround chronically low-
performing schools.
(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 increase student
success and foster school improvement by strengthening 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 shall reserve not
less than 0.3 percent and 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--
``(1) shall establish a Statewide Family Engagement Center
under section 1006;
``(2) shall establish at least 1 Local Family Engagement
Center under section 1007; and
``(3) may allocate any funds remaining after carrying out
paragraphs (1) and (2) for building State educational agency
capacity for family engagement activities under section 1008.
``(c) Special Rule.--If a State's allocation under section 1122 for
a fiscal year is less than $60,000,000, and such State determines that
such allocation is insufficient to establish a center of sufficient
size and scope to meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (b), such State may use its allocation for activities under
section 1008.''.
(b) Statewide 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. STATEWIDE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--From the funds reserved under section
1005, each State shall award a grant or contract to a statewide
nonprofit organization to establish a Statewide Family Engagement
Center to provide comprehensive training, technical assistance, and
capacity-building to local educational agencies, organizations that
support family-school partnerships, and other organizations that carry
out parent education and family engagement in education programs.
``(b) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--Each statewide nonprofit organization
that desires a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the State at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the State may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
``(A) A description of the applicant's approach to
family engagement in education, including the use of
strength-based strategies.
``(B) A description of the applicant's plan for
improving statewide capacity for family engagement in
education, that includes--
``(i) management capacity and governance;
``(ii) statewide leadership;
``(iii) systemic services for family
engagement in education;
``(iv) capacity-building for local
educational agencies, and schools served under
this title; and
``(v) student learning and school
improvement.
``(C) A description of the applicant's experience
in providing training, information, and support to
local educational agencies, schools, and nonprofit
organizations on family engagement in education
policies and practices that are effective for low-
income parents and families, limited English proficient
individuals, minorities, parents of students with
disabilities, parents of homeless students, foster
parents and students, parents of migrant students, and
parents of Indian and Native Hawaiian students, where
applicable.
``(D) An assurance that the Statewide Family
Engagement Center will--
``(i) be governed by a board of directors,
the membership of which includes parents of
school-aged children;
``(ii) have a process for outreach and
consultation with--
``(I) parents of children from
birth through young adulthood;
``(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 a State
educational agency, a local educational
agency, and an Indian tribe;
``(iii) operate a center of sufficient
size, scope, and quality to ensure that the
center is adequate to serve the State
educational agency, local educational agencies,
and community-based organizations;
``(iv) serve urban, suburban, and rural
local educational agencies and schools;
``(v) work with--
``(I) the State educational agency,
local educational agencies (including
local educational agencies receiving
funds under section 7113), and schools;
``(II) Local Family Engagement
Centers assisted under section 1007;
``(III) parent training and
information centers and community
parent resource centers assisted under
sections 671 and 672 of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act; and
``(IV) other organizations and
agencies;
``(vi) use not less than 20 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 that focus on
successful transition to school;
``(vii) provide assistance to the State
educational agency, local educational agencies,
Indian tribes, 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;
``(viii) work with the State educational
agency, local educational agencies, Indian
tribes, and schools to determine parental needs
and the best means for delivery of services to
address such needs; and
``(ix) meet the requirements for matching
funds under subsection (d).
``(c) Use of Funds.--A statewide nonprofit organization that
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to
provide training, technical assistance, and capacity-building in
coordination with the State educational agency, local educational
agencies, Indian tribes, and organizations that support family-school
partnerships to--
``(1) 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) assist the State educational agency in developing and
implementing 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;
``(3) assist in the development, implementation, and
assessment of family engagement in education policies and plans
under sections 1112 and 1118; and
``(4) supplement the family engagement activities under
section 7115 and coordinate with the Bureau of Indian Education
and Indian tribes to improve family engagement in education
policies and programs, where applicable.
``(d) Matching Funds for Grant Renewal.--For each fiscal year after
the first fiscal year for which a statewide nonprofit organization
receives a grant under this section, the organization shall demonstrate
in the application that a portion of the services provided by the
organization, as determined by the State, is supported through non-
Federal contributions, which may be in cash or in-kind.
``(e) Submission of Information.--Each statewide nonprofit
organization that receives a grant under this section shall submit to
the State, 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 1505 and reporting on the
recommendations provided by the special advisory committee and the
actions taken in response to such recommendations.
``(f) 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.
``(g) 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. 1007. 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)(2), 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) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the State
shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to serve
communities with the greatest need, as determined by the State.
``(d) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible entity'
means a private, nonprofit organization or Indian tribe 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.
``(e) 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 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
structure and operate a center of sufficient scope and quality
adequate to serve the needs of the local area in which it is
located;
``(4) 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, parents of Indian and Native Hawaiian students,
and parents of migrant students;
``(5) a description of the collaboration with the local
educational agency or school personnel in the area to be served
by the center;
``(6) a description of the steering committee, a majority
of whose members are parents of students in schools that
receive funds under part A, who will be targeted for services
by the Local Family Engagement Center, that will direct and
implement the activities of the Local Family Engagement Center;
``(7) a description of how the entity will coordinate its
efforts with the Statewide Family Engagement Center;
``(8) information that the applicant is capable of meeting
milestones or deadlines as the State educational agency may
prescribe; and
``(9) such other information as the State educational
agency determines necessary.
``(f) 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) assisting parents and families in supporting on-time
graduation, including understanding early warning indicators
that a student is at risk of not graduating on time;
``(3) 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 career and technical education opportunities;
``(4) training parents and families on effective ongoing
communication with their children, teachers, principals,
counselors, administrators, and other school personnel;
``(5) 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;
``(6) providing advocacy services to ensure that families
can fully participate in their children's education;
``(7) providing supports such as transportation, childcare,
and meals to facilitate family engagement in education in
programs implemented or assisted by the Center; and
``(8) improving the coordination, availability, and
effectiveness of integrated services and comprehensive supports
for children and families.
``(g) Evaluation and Annual Report.--A State educational agency
shall--
``(1) evaluate the effectiveness of the grants funded under
this section and section 1006; 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.
``SEC. 1008. STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY CAPACITY FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES.
``Each State may use funds reserved under section 1005(b)(3) 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 in education;
``(2) carrying out the State's responsibilities under
sections 1006 and 1007;
``(3) developing and implementing a statewide data
collection and evaluation system on family engagement in
education metrics to identify schools that would benefit from
training and support related to family engagement in education;
``(4) reviewing local educational agencies' family
engagement in education policies and practices as provided by
sections 1112(b)(1)(P) and 1118(i), and evaluating the use of
funds under this section;
``(5) coordinating technical assistance and support to
local educational agencies, including local educational
agencies receiving funds under section 7113, with schools that
would benefit from training and support related to family
engagement in education;
``(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 in partnership with 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.''.
(c) 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. Statewide Family Engagement Centers.
``Sec. 1007. Local Family Engagement Centers Program.
``Sec. 1008. 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 family
engagement in education 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, when applicable,
refer to the Statewide Family Engagement Center and the
applicable Local Family Engagement Center those local
educational agencies that would benefit from training and
support related to family engagement in education;
``(6) a description of the procedure assuring the State
educational agency will engage in timely, on-going, and
meaningful consultation with representatives of Indian tribes
and Native Hawaiian educational organizations located in the
State in the development of the State plan to serve local
educational agencies under its jurisdiction in order to improve
the coordination of activities under this Act, to meet the
purpose of this title, to meet the unique cultural, language,
and educational needs of Indian and Native Hawaiian students,
and to improve implementation of family engagement in education
programs and services for parents of Indian and Native Hawaiian
students;
``(7) a plan for using funds reserved under section 1005;
and
``(8) a description of the relationship, as applicable,
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.''.
(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 (T);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (P) the following:
``(Q) a description of how the local educational
agency will engage families in the development,
implementation, and assessment of local educational
agency plans;
``(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;
``(S) a description of the procedure assuring the
local educational agency will engage in timely, on-
going, and meaningful consultation with representatives
of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian educational
organizations located in the area served by the local
educational agency in the development of the local plan
in order to improve the coordination of activities
under this Act, to meet the purpose of this title, to
meet the unique cultural, language, and educational
needs of Indian students and Native Hawaiian students,
and to improve implementation of family engagement in
education programs and services for parents of Indian
and Native Hawaiian students; 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 and connected to
each other, school staff, and 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 ``subsection (e)'' and
inserting ``subsection (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, except that
this subparagraph shall not apply if 2 percent of such
agency's allocation under subpart 2 for the fiscal year
for which the determination is made is $10,000 or
less.''.
(d) Distribution.--Section 1118(b)(3)(C), as redesignated by
subsection (a), is amended to read as follows:
``(C) Distribution.--Not less than 75 percent of
the funds reserved under subparagraph (A) shall be
distributed to schools served under this part.''.
(e) 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 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) Providing technical assistance and
training to schools on the implementation and
assessment of family engagement in education
policies and practices.
``(v) 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 in education coordinators.
``(vi) Partnering with the Statewide Family
Engagement Center and the applicable 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.
``(vii) Supporting schools and eligible
entities in the development and implementation
of research-based family practices in programs
that emphasize the importance of family
engagement in education, including--
``(I) successful transitions from
early learning to kindergarten through
grade 12 settings;
``(II) improved understanding of
and shared responsibility for student
success;
``(III) use of student and school
data;
``(IV) importance of open,
effective communication between schools
and families;
``(V) early warning indicators that
a student is at risk of not graduating
on time;
``(VI) parent and community
advocacy to increase parent
participation; and
``(VII) improved understanding of
the parents' role in academic, social,
and financial preparation for
postsecondary education, including
career and technical education.
``(viii) Assisting schools in the
development, implementation, and assessment of
family engagement in education plans.
``(ix) Monitoring and evaluating the family
engagement in education policies and practices
funded under this section.
``(x) Supporting other activities approved
in the local education agency's plan for
improving family engagement in education.''.
(f) School Parental Involvement Policy.--Section 1118(c)(1), as
redesignated by subsection (a), is amended in the first sentence by
striking ``subsections (c) through (f)'' and inserting ``subsections
(d) through (g)''.
(g) 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 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. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Part E of title I (20 U.S.C. 6491 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1505. 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 2013, 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 that reserve
funds under section 1005 and local educational agencies that reserve
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.--From
funds appropriated to carry out this subpart, the Secretary shall
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 in education
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.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--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 1504 the following:
``Sec. 1505. Research and evaluation for family engagement in
education.''.
SEC. 11. 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. 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; and
(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.''.
SEC. 13. REPEAL OF PARENTAL ASSISTANCE AND LOCAL FAMILY INFORMATION
CENTERS.
(a) In General.--Part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking subpart 16; and
(2) by redesignating subparts 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, as
subparts 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, respectively.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to subpart 16 of part D
of title V;
(2) by striking the items relating to sections 5561, 5562,
5563, 5564, 5565, and 5566; and
(3) by redesignating the items relating to subparts 17, 18,
19, 20, and 21 of part D of title V, as subparts 16, 17, 18,
19, and 20 of part D of title V, respectively.
SEC. 14. 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
in education'';
(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. 15. 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 in education 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 Native
Hawaiian educational 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.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5671-5672)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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