Stronger Together: Our Budget, Your Future

Volume IX, Issue 3

March 2016 FEATURE Secretary of Education John King and the Department. Stronger Together: Our Budget, Your Future The budget builds on ED’s On February 9, President Obama’s continued efforts to invest in fiscal year 2017 budget was education – from high-quality unveiled, reflecting the early learning to making college Administration’s ongoing efforts more affordable and accessible – to ensure equity and excellence in and improving outcomes for all education, expand opportunity, students. and ensure all children can achieve their full potential The President’s budget focuses through a high-quality, well- on: rounded education that prepares  increasing equity and them to thrive in college, careers, excellence in education, and life. from preschool through college; The President’s budget request  providing support for for education supports teachers and school implementation of the recently leaders; passed Every Student Succeeds  promoting access, Act (ESSA), and aligns with affordability, and critical priorities of Acting completion in higher they need to get their first job." education; and In a LinkedIn post, President  increasing socioeconomic Barack Obama credits his first diversity in schools. job for getting him on the path to where he is today. This budget reflects the President’s strong belief that ED Calls for Equity for Students education is a vital investment in of Color with Disabilities America’s economic In order to address data that competitiveness, in its show children of color with communities, and in its people. disabilities are more likely to be Learn more about the 2017 educated in settings outside of budget. the general classroom and removed from the classroom for discipline reasons, which is a violation of the federal IDEA law, ED issued a proposed new rule to address the Obama's Teen Job at Ice disparities that exist. Acting Cream Shop Inspires New Secretary King said, “this effort Jobs Initiative is not about reducing the number A $5.5 billion White House of children who are identified as proposal called the Summer having a disability. It's a matter Opportunity Project hopes to of making sure the right services "significantly increase the are getting to the right children percentage of youth in evidence- in the right way … (it’s) something based summer opportunity we can and must fix. And we can programs, decrease the do it with this proposed rule.” percentage of youth experiencing Comments can be made to the violence over the summer, and -- Federal Register notice until May more broadly -- make sure that 16. young Americans have the support COMBATING CHRONIC resources for parents, educators, ABSENTEEISM and community leaders. On February 19, the White House BLUE RIBBON and the Department announced two campaigns to address and SCHOOLS eliminate chronic student absenteeism: the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Success Mentors Initiative -- with 10 initial participating cities -- and a multi- million dollar Ad Council campaign to engage parents on this issue. Chronic absenteeism is a nationwide challenge with Nationally recognized schools devastating consequences for five realize the importance of family to seven million students, and, in and community engagement. Each low-income communities, the month a Blue Ribbon School will be impact is more prevalent. These highlighted for their work in efforts are a part of the Every engaging and partnering with Student, Every Day campaign and parents for the academic success are in response to the MBK Task of all children. Force’s recommendation that 2015National Blue Ribbon School federal agencies launch a cross- - Drachman Montessori sector national absenteeism Magnet School initiative to improve the outcomes The Drachman school community for young people, including those considers families as partners in in underserved communities. To their children’s education. learn more about what is being Working together, school staff, done and how to help combat families and the greater chronic absenteeism see video on community plan, construct, and how one mentee has been inspired evaluate how they can help by her mentor, read the blog post students to achieve their and visit a new web site with greatest potential. The partnership promotes the EFFECTIVE importance of daily attendance, good grades, and a positive feeling PRACTICES about being at school. Friday CAFÉ The Drachman school community The idea for Friday CAFÉ came also provides an atmosphere that from people working in the field prepares the children to go on to of family engagement in middle, high school and college. Connecticut (CT) schools and Their policy outlines ways to communities. There was no establisha strong partnership to professional organization in the help students succeed as they state or network for peer-to-peer build a cohesivecollaboration: learning and resource sharing. —offering meetings for families to give input about the Title I The CT State Department of budget; Education (CSDE) held focus —offering a variety of meeting groups with school and district times making information available staff responsible for family and to all parents; community engagement to learn —usingstudent-teacher-parent about their work and the compacts to describe the challenges they face. The responsibilities of each for high consensus was clear – working in student academic achievement; this field can be isolating. Staff and wanted to network and learn from —offering parents ways to be others in the field thus, the involved in the Drachman development of the Friday CAFÉ community. To learn more, click (Community and Family here (p. 14 and 15) or connect Engagement). Friday CAFÉ takes hereor contactDr. Jesús Celaya, place one Friday morning a month. Drachman Montessori Magnet Membership is broad, including School, Tucson Unified not only people who work directly SchoolDistrict at with families - parent liaison, [email protected] or call partnership coordinator, home- 520- 225-1500. school facilitator, or family resource specialist - but also diversity of the community, the educators and administrators who University and KC Public Library supervise them and want deeper branches provide tours, events understanding of the benefits of (for school, family and greater family and community community), activities, and engagement. assistance with homework, as well To learn more go to as scheduled time to complete http://fridaycafe.org/about- library card applications. KC Public friday-cafe/ Library provides books, resources, presentations, and more to Reaching Out to English families, students, and educators Language Learners in the school district! For more Webster University has formed information about the project partnerships with multiple contact Phyllis Harris, community agencies and Kansas Pathfinders Professional City Public Schools to offer Development, LLC at comprehensive family and [email protected] or call 816- community engagement education. 695-7480. Anna Francesca Webster’s Culturally Responsive Garcia, Kansas City Public Instruction for English Language Library’s Education Librarian can Learners, a U.S. Department of be contacted at Education-funded project, [email protected] or call provides helpful course curriculum 816.701.3701 or Julie Robinson, and an ESL certification to Refugee and Immigrant Services teachers in the school district to Outreach Manager at enhance their knowledge, skills, [email protected] or application, and instruction for call 816.701.3587 or working with diverse children and 816.206.8231. families. Through this project Webster plans to build a community of readers with the KC

Public Library as a major partner in this effort. Recognizing the EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR ALL Under the new Computer Science for All initiative, the President requested $4 billion for states and $100 million for school districts in his 2017 budget ParentCamp USA proposal to increase access to ParentCamp USA is an computer science in P-12 schools. ”unconference” which allows From existing funds National parents, educators, and students Science Foundation and the to come together to talk about Corporation for National and the things that matter most to Community Service plan to invest them. The camps are free and more than $135 million to support open to the community. and train computer science teachers; and calling on more Schedule of future ParentCamps: governors, mayors, education Grand Prairie, TX Feb 25 leaders, business CEOs, Washington, D.C. April 18 philanthropists, creative media, Glen Ellyn, IL April 30 and technology professionals to Washington, D.C. May 18 get involved in the efforts (fact Pittsburgh, PA June 19 sheet). For information about these The White House welcomed ParentCamps and others go to: “Champions of Change” in http://www.parentcamp.org/. computer science for discussions on increasing access to computer STEM Webinar - Scholarships, science and improving upon Internships and Careers existing standards (blog post). On Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM (EST) there will be a webinar for high school seniors and juniors, university students, educators, https://kids.usa.gov/watch- administrators and parents to videos/science/aerospace- learn about scholarships, engineer/index.shtml and internships and science career https://www.youtube.com/playlist opportunities in the federal ?list=PL5SUN-qc7GC74QVHa- government from top Department CzQaOyy5Z1_R-BU, and of Defense leaders. The webinar can people live on the moon is hosted by Defense Threat https://kids.usa.gov/watch- Reduction Agency and will include videos/science/people-on- live Q&A time. To learn more moon/index.shtml about the webinar and to register, go to With the elections approaching https://www.signup4.net/public/a Kids.gov invites children to take a p.aspx?EID=DTRA35E&OID=50. look at the U.S. Government’s legislative process. What's the difference between RESOURCES presidential executive orders and executive actions? Click the link to find out. Tools for Students https://kids.usa.gov/government/ This month Kids.gov features presidential-orders- interviews with two engineers, a actions/index.shtml communications engineer and an aerospace engineer from NASA View a new infographic for How a and a discussion about living on Bill Becomes a Law: the moon. Follow the links to view https://kids.usa.gov/government/ the videos: how-a-bill-becomes-a- Communications Engineer: law/index.shtml. There is also a https://kids.usa.gov/watch- PDF/Printable version: videos/science/communications- https://gsa-cmp- engineer/index.shtml fileupload.s3.amazonaws.com/Bill- Aerospace Engineer: Law-Accessible.pdf For teachers and home schoolers, Park website, and Scholastic has link to the Lesson Plan: developed activities. https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/les Every Kid in the Park is quite son-plans/government/how-a-bill- active on Twitter, so please also becomes-law/index.shtml. amplify there, if you are able: @EveryKidInAPark . And on Every Kid In the Park Prepares Facebook: goo.gl/07EQl5 for A Second Year! As part of President Obama’s commitment to protect our Education Matters nation’s unique outdoor spaces and ensure that every American has the opportunity to visit and enjoy them, the Every Kid in a Park initiative allows fourth graders nationwide to obtain a pass for free entry for them and their The Center for Faith-based and families to more than 2,000 Neighborhood Partnerships has a federally managed lands and monthly bulletin called Education waters nationwide for an entire Matters highlighting key year starting September 1, 2015. information and issues around The second year of this annual education. The information shared program will begin on September contributes to creating a culture 1, 2016. Parents, teachers, and of education excellence in various community organizations can lead communities. It can be accessed fun, educational outings for kids at: currently in the 4th grade to any http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/fbnp/ national park, national forest, or resources/ under the ‘Resource’ other federal land or water site tab. For any questions or follow- across the country. More up, contact the Center for Faith- information to help plan trips is based and Neighborhood available at the Every Kid in a Partnerships directly at 202- 453-6340. TIP OF THE requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of MONTH each year as Women’s History Month. March is Women’s History Join in paying tribute to Month women whose commitment have proved invaluable to society. Tip: Read about the committed women who made invaluable changes, visit http://womenshistorymonth. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress gov/. passed additional resolutions

Family Engagement Outreach Team The Office of Communications and Outreach contacts work with state and local education agencies to empower parents with the information to help them be full partners in the education and academic progress of their children.

Jacquelyn Pitta Jonava Johnson Diana Huffman Region II Region IV Region VIII (NJ, NY, PR, VI) (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) Financial Square 61 Forsyth St. S.W., 1244 Speer Blvd. Suite 615 32 Old Slip, 25th Floor Suite 18T15 Denver, CO 80204-3582 New York, NY 10005 Atlanta, GA 30303 303-844-3544 646-428-3906 404-974-9450 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Helen Littlejohn Taylor Ramsey Shirley Jones Region VIII Region II Region V (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (NJ, NY, PR, VI) (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) 1244 Speer Blvd. Suite 615 Financial Square 500 W. Madison St. Denver, CO 80204-3582 32 Old Slip, 25th Floor Suite 1427 303-844-3546 New York, NY 10005 Chicago, IL 60661 [email protected] 646-428-3899 312-730-1706 [email protected] [email protected] Linda Pauley Region X Elizabeth Williamson Elaine Venard (WA, OR, ID, AK) Region III Region VII 915 Second Ave., Room 3362 (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) (IA, KS, MO, NE) Seattle, WA 98174 100 Penn Square East 8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2043 206-607-1655 Suite 513 Kansas City, MO 64114-3302 [email protected] Philadelphia, PA 19107 816-268-0404 215-656-6015 [email protected] Carrie Jasper [email protected] Headquarters 400 Maryland Avenue S.W. Room 5E310 Washington D.C. 20202 202-401-1524 [email protected]

______Contributors: Dr. Phyllis Harris, Elaine Venard, Aba Kumi, Judy Carson, Arlene Hernandez, and Anna Leach Advisors: Vicki Myers and Libby Doggett Family, School, and Community Engagement is edited by Carrie Jasper and designed by Barbara Julius of the U.S. Department of Education. To subscribe, unsubscribe or comment on this newsletter, please contact [email protected]. Family, School and Community Engagement can be found online at http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/engagingfamilies/index.html______Note: This document contains information about and from public and private entities and organizations for the reader’s information. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any entity or organization or the products or services offered or views expressed. This publication also contains hyperlinks and URLs created and maintained by outside organizations. They are provided for the reader’s convenience; however, the Department is not responsible for the accuracy of this information.