ESEA-NCLB Reauthorization and Family Engagement: Federal Policy Update

Vito Borrello

Mollie Van LieuLegislative Committee Member Senior Policy StrategistNational PTA

National PTA

• Family Engagement • Family Engagement in Education Act • ESEA overview• Family Engagement in ESEA/waiver process• Discussion

Agenda

Family Engagement DefinitionFrom Dr. Heather Weiss from Harvard Family Research ProjectFirst, family engagement 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 in which families are committed to actively supporting their children's learning and development.

Second, family engagement is continuous across a child's life and entails enduring commitment but changing parent roles as children mature into young adulthood.

Third, effective family engagement cuts across and reinforces learning in the multiple settings where children learn- at home, in pre-kindergarten programs, in school, in after school programs, in faith-based institutions, and in the community.

Family Engagement: Reframing the Work

From the National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group

Research | Positive Student OutcomesStudies show that family engagement leads to:

• Higher grades and test scores

• Enrollment in higher-level programs/classes

• Grade promotion and advanced credit accumulation

• Adaptation to school and improved attendance

• Better social skills and behavior

• On-time graduation and post-secondary matriculation Henderson, A., & Mapp, K. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.

Research from Anthony Byrk Anthony S. Bryk is the ninth president of The Carnegie

Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

His current research and practice interests focus on the organizational redesign of schools and school systems and the integration of technology into schooling to enhance teaching and learning

The following were essential in improving Chicago’s Urban Schools

1. A coherent instructional guidance system2. The school’s professional capacity3. Strong parent-community-school ties4. A student-centered learning climate5. Leadership that drives change

Need for Teacher Preparation in Family Engagement

30% of current teachers surveyed have a satisfactory relationship with families

Gen Y teachers fear that their lack of preparation to engage families will lead to failure and burnout

National Standards for Family School Partnerships1) Welcoming all Families2) Communicating Effectively3) Supporting Student Success4) Speaking up for Every Child5) Sharing Power6) Collaborating with Community

Title I

Section 1118, Title I: mandates that school districts reserve at least 1% of their Title I funds for family engagement• Written policy for family

engagement

Title V

Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) • Competitive grant

administered by ED, 62 statewide centers building capacity of states and school districts to engage families

Family Engagement in existing ESEA law

ESEA Reauthorization │Family Engagement in Education

PTA views reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as an opportunity to:

1. Define what systemic, integrated, and sustainable family engagement in education is (and what it is not);

2. Set forth framework for investment in family engagement at local, state, and federal levels; and

3. Incentivize local and state innovation in family engagement as a driver of education reform efforts via research-based strategies, practices, and policies.

ESEA Reauthorization│Family Engagement in Education Act

H.R. 2662 and S.1291 in 113th Congress• House: Thompson (R-PA)/McCarthy (D-NY)• Senate: Reed (D-RI)/Coons (D-DE)/Whitehouse (D-RI)

Provision

Title I, Local Education Agencies

• Embeds standards in local plans

• Increases set-aside from 1 to 2%

Family Engagement in Education Act | 113th CongressProvision

Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund

• Repeals PIRC and moves authorized activities within Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund (Title I)

• Mandatory use of Family Engagement and

Responsibility Fund (.3% reservation from administrative funds)

• Competitive grant process judged/awarded by state

educational agency (SEA) • Reports outcomes to SEA and ED via Title I reporting

mechanisms

Provision

Statewide Family Engagement Centers

• Mandatory state-level reservation of no less than .3% Title I-A allocation (from administrative funds) to fund:

1) Statewide Family Engagement Center2) Local Family Engagement Center(s)3) SEA Capacity-building activities (optional) • Special rule: states with $60 m allocation or less do not need

to establish both statewide and local centers

Family Engagement in Education Act | 113th Congress

Provision

Local Family Engagement Centers

• Mandatory use of funds (at least one) for Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund with priority on high-need/hard to serve areas.

• To be accompanied by small state exemption,

where statewide center can serve both purposes. In states receiving < $60 million annual Title I-A Allocation

Family Engagement in Education Act | 113th Congress

Provision

Capacity-building for State Educational Agency

• Optional use of funds from Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund remainder after grants to establish State and Local centers

Family Engagement in Education Act | 113th Congress

Small State: AK; DC; DE; HI; ID; ME; MT; ND; NH; RI; SD; VT; WY

Provision

Research and Evaluation for Family Engagement in Education

• Amend Title I, Part E (National Assessment) to require biennial report, dissemination of best practices by ED. No additional funds.

• Government Accountability Office

(GAO) report on implementation

Family Engagement in Education Act | 113th Congress

Family Engagement in Reauthorization

Provision Senate Democrat

House Republican

Retention of 1% at local level for family engagement X X

Improvements to local family engagement (includes research based standards for family-school partnership)

X

Increase local reservation to 2% X

Inclusion of Family Engagement in state plan X

Authorization of Statewide Family Engagement program infrastructure X X

Statewide Family Engagement Center in each state? XEstablishment of Family Engagement and Responsibility Fund

ESEA-NCLB(Elementary and Secondary Education Act – No Child Left Behind)

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act• Governs Federal investment in K-12 education• Enacted in 1965

• Reauthorized as NCLB in 2001/2002• “No Child Left Behind” is the name given to the 7th reauthorization

of the ESEA • Expired in 2007• Automatically extended upon expiration, but needs to be

reauthorized

• Reauthorization of ESEA• House and Senate Committees passed bills in 2013• ESEA flexibility

What is ESEA-NCLB?

• ESEA-NCLB comprised of 10 Titles I. Improving the Academic Achievement of the DisadvantagedII. Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and

PrincipalsIII. Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and

Immigrant StudentsIV. 21st Century Schools V. Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative ProgramsVI. Flexibility and Accountability VII. Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Education VIII. Impact Aid Program IX. General ProvisionsX. Repeals, Redesignations, and Amendments to Other Statutes

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Title I Largest Funding Stream in ESEA-NCLB

• More than $14 billion

Formula grants to states• Combination of 4 formulas , complicated

Targeted to schools and districts with high concentration of “disadvantaged” students

• Title I School/District = approx 40% + low-income students

May be used for preschool – high school• 12% to preschool/K• 65% to 1-6• 23% to 7-12

Title I

Levels of Educational NeedMost CriticalCriticalLess CriticalLeast Critical

Educational Needs Index for U.S. Counties

ESEA Reauthorization│113th Congress

HOUSEo Majority Party: Republicans

o Ratio: 233 (R) : 200 (D) : 2 (I)

SENATEo Majority Party: Democrats

o Ratio: 54 (D) : 46 (R) : 2 (I)

ESEA Reauthorization│113th CongressHOUSE (R-majority)• Committee: Education and the Workforce• Bill: H.R. 5, Student Success Act• Focus: maximum flexibility

SENATE (D-majority)• Committee: Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

(HELP)• Bill: S. 1094, Strengthening America’s Schools• Focus: reform of current structure

ESEA Reauthorization│House

H.R. 5 Student Success Act

• Committee Composition: 23 (R) : 18 (D)• Passed Committee: 23 (R) YES : 16 (D) NO

• No Democrats vote yes• Bill passes Committee on June 19, 2013

• House Composition: 233 (R) : 200 (D) : 2 (I)• Passes House: 221 (R) YES : 207 NO

• No Democrats vote in favor of bill• 12 Republicans vote against bill• Bill passes House on July 19, 2013

• Sent to SENATE - HELP Committee on July 24, 2013

House Bill│PTA Response

Concerns:• No state and local maintenance of effort; • No cap on alternate assessment on alternate

achievement standards for special needs; and • Essentially block grants

Plus:• AYP eliminated• Family Engagement at state and local level

ESEA Reauthorization│Senate

S. 1094, Strengthening America’s Schools Act• HELP Committee Composition: 11 (D) : 10 (R) : 1 (I)• Passes HELP Committee: 12 (D+I) YES : 10 (R) NO

• No Republicans vote in favor of bill• Bill passes Committee on June 12, 2013

• Senate Composition: 54 (D) : 46 (R) : 2 (I)• Yet to be debated on Senate Floor• House Bill was Sent to Senate HELP Committee on July

24, 2013

Senate Bill│PTA ResponseConcerns:• “Four size fits all” turn around models• Highly Qualified Teacher• Family Engagement• Lacked comprehensive equityPlus:• Early Childhood• Equity protections within school districts• School to Prison • Teacher Evaluations based on multiple measures• AYP replaced• Family Engagement at state and local level

ESEA Reauthorization│Where are we going this year?

ESEA Reauthorization│Let us count the ways...

• Bills dramatically different• Senator Harkin retiring • Senator Alexander introduced voucher bill• Chairman Kline term limits • Election Season• Waiver extended for one year

ESEA Reauthorization│Does it matter?

ESEA Flexibility

Effort to provide regulatory relief to States• States have to adopt all three policy priorities:– Higher standards– Differentiated accountability system– Teacher/principal evaluation system based on growth

• 42 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are approved for ESEA flexibility

• ED recently announced invitation for one year extension for the Window 1 an 2 waiver states

ESEA Reauthorization│Waivers

ESEA/Family Engagement Impact | State and Local

Your State’s Waiver Story and Discussion

Mollie Van LieuSenior Policy Strategist

National PTAmvanlieu@pta.org

Office: (703) 418-1240Cell: (717) 476-183

Vito BorrelloNational PTA Legislative

Committee Member