The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes, under Title IV, Part E grants from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) directly to entities to establish Statewide Family Engagement Centers. These centers provide parent education programs and family engagement in education programs or provide comprehensive training and technical assistance to:
- State education agencies (SEAs)
- Local education agencies (LEAs – Districts and Charter Schools)
- Other organizations that provide these programs
Grants to establish Statewide Family Engagement Centers are not awarded to states by USED; they are awarded directly to the entity that operates the center. The awards are typically five-year awards, averaging about $1 million annually. Some awards are lower but generally no less than about $600,000 annually. It is important to note that the funding provided for this program is insufficient to establish centers in all states. There have been 20 grants awarded over the past five years.
Family Engagement in Education Program Requirements and Notices
Title I, Section 1116(g) requires LEAs in states where a Statewide Family Engagement Center is in operation to notify parents and organizations that work with parents and families of the existence of the center. Title I calls these centers "Family Engagement in Education Programs".
TransACT's ESSA ParentNotices Collection includes the notice "PFE-10 - Programs for Family Engagement in Education" to notify parents and organizations that a Statewide Family Engagement Center is operating in the state. This notice includes information about the activities of Statewide Family Engagement Centers and the center's contact information.
States with Statewide Family Engagement Centers in Operation
Nineteen states have Statewide Family Engagement Centers in operation. The complete list of grantees, their applications, and grant amounts is available on the USED website. If your district is in one of these states, it must notify parents regarding the Statewide Family Engagement Center in operation in your state.
The states with Statewide Family Engagement Centers in operation are Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia.
Who We Are
ParentNotices is parent engagement software that school districts and state education departments use to support compliant and equitable parent engagement. ParentNotices subscribers can access over 200 expertly written and translated notices that are legally reviewed where applicable to comply with federal education laws. ParentNotices supports administrators in a compliant parent engagement plan and can serve as evidence of implementation in the event of a state monitoring visit.
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