The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are crafting a new policy statement on family engagement and are holidng a public forum to solicit input on Wednesday, July 22, 4:00-5:30 PM ET, as well as inviting additional comments until the end of the week.

Previously, these two departments have released a joint policy statement on Expulsion and Suspension Policies in Early Childhood Settings, and they are finalizing a statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs, for which they debuted the first public draft at FPG’s National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute.

Libby Doggett, deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Linda Smith, deputy assistant secretary and inter-departmental liaison for early childhood development for the Administration for Children and Families, will lead the public forum on family engagement.

Research indicates that family engagement in children’s learning and development can impact lifelong health, developmental, and academic outcomes. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, both departments recognize family engagement as a top priority and a key strategy in promoting children’s learning.

The agencies already have developed research-based family engagement frameworks and, as they develop the family engagement policy statement, they are soliciting input on several questions:

1. What are the key messages to communicate in a federal policy statement on family engagement?

2. What are barriers to implementing effective family engagement?

3. What are the most effective family engagement strategies that have been implemented at the local or state levels?

4. How can effective family engagement from birth through elementary school be promoted at the state and local levels?

5. What family engagement outcomes are states and local programs targeting? How do they measure progress on these outcomes?

6. How can school principals, early childhood program directors, LEA administrators, and other leaders promote and systematically embed family engagement at the local level?

The departments also are urging all individuals and organizations to submit input before, during, or after the July 22 public forum until 5:00 PM ET on July 24 to: James.Summerville@ed.gov