(2016, May) Useful to Parent Centers advocating for effective family engagement practices.
On May 5, 2016, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a policy statement on the implementation of effective family engagement practices from the early years to the early grades.
Read the full policy statement | ED-HHS Policy Statement on Family Engagement: From the Early Years to the Early Grades (PDF, 443KB)
Read the Executive Summary (PDF, 215KB)
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Background
ED and HHS have established the Early Learning Interagency Policy Board (IPB) to develop policy recommendations and improve program coordination and quality across federally funded early learning and development programs serving children from birth through age eight. Previously, ED and HHS have released policy statements on Expulsion and Suspension Polices in Early Childhood Settings and Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs based on public comments received.
It is the Departments’ position that strong family engagement is central in promoting children’s healthy development and wellness, including:
- social-emotional and behavioral development;
- preparing children for school;
- seamlessly transitioning them to kindergarten; and
- supporting academic achievement in elementary school and beyond.
When families and the institutions where children learn partner in meaningful ways, children have more positive attitudes toward school, stay in school longer, have better attendance, and experience more school success.