Bill Summary:

The bill establishes the position of family-school partnership coordinator (coordinator) in the department of education. The coordinator supports local education providers with researching, designing, and implementing research-based family-school partnerships and supports educator preparation programs that provide training to educators related to implementing family-school partnerships. The coordinator is required to prepare a report every year that describes innovations that advance family engagement practices and provides information about research and resources available to local education providers and educator preparation programs that may assist in implementing family-school partnerships. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

CEA Position Rationale: CEA supports meaningful parent-community-school engagement and has engaged with multiple locals to engage in this work, primarily through the "community schools" model. These strategies work best when the engagement is local, not done through state agencies. CEA supports the amended bill which makes clear that a district must ask for CDE support and resources--ensuring that local focused work takes priority.

Legislative Priorities: Mental Health and Socio-Emotional Health, Dismantle Inequitable and Racist Structure

Tier: 3