Impact data from a 5-year study of Statewide Family
Engagement Centers in each state demonstrates student and family
gains
LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently published results from
a five-year study of Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs)
led by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) in
Arizona and Nebraska demonstrate important family learning
gains. Parenting adults who participated in SFEC programming in
both states demonstrated increases in their technology skills and
their confidence to support their children's education, while also
making progress towards other important goals, including earning a
GED, improving their English skills, and becoming a better teacher
of their child. Additionally, participating Nebraska children demonstrated reading score
gains that surpassed matched peers.
Both the Arizona and Nebraska
SFECs were established in 2018 thanks to five-year grants from the
U.S. Department of Education; work was completed on each grant in
late 2023.
NCFL established the Arizona SFEC alongside a consortium of
state and local organizations–including Unite for Literacy,
Southwest Human Development, PBS Arizona, Make Way for Books, Read
on Arizona, and the Arizona
Department of Education. During the grant period, NCFL and its
partners created school-based family literacy programs in fourteen
public schools across six districts; instituted a statewide
professional development network for family literacy practitioners
and educators; and developed a Parent Leadership Council to
incorporate family voice into the education decision-making
process.
- Watch the Arizona SFEC impact video
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBr_uaukAE)
- Read the Arizona SFEC impact fact sheet
(https://familieslearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NCFL–SFEC-AZ-Results.pdf)
In Nebraska, NCFL worked
alongside Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Nebraska
Department of Education, and Unite for Literacy to serve families
across eight of the state's 19 Educational Service Units.
Throughout the five-year grant period, NCFL and its partners
developed a statewide professional development network to support
family-school partnerships; instituted school-based family literacy
programs in 14 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across the state;
and created parent leadership opportunities through representation
on the Nebraska SFEC State Advisory Board and other
opportunities.
- Watch the Nebraska SFEC impact video
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=454iOhBqddI)
- Read the Nebraska SFEC impact fact sheet
(https://familieslearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NCFL–SFEC-NE-Results.pdf)
The need for robust, cohesive family engagement systems is a
longstanding one.In A New Wave of Evidence, Henderson and Mapp note that children whose
parents are more engaged with their education are more likely to
have higher school attendance, achieve better learning outcomes,
demonstrate improved social emotional well-being, and be more
adaptable and comfortable in school settings. The Arizona and Nebraska SFECs worked to leverage
the power of family engagement in education while centering
socially, culturally, and economically diverse families who have
been historically underserved. These efforts were grounded in the
latest research and applied Mapp's Dual Capacity-Building
Framework as the gold standard in family engagement
practices.
Arizona PBS Senior Director of Education and Community Impact,
Kimberly Flack, is pleased with the
way the work of the Arizona SFEC helped expand access to early
childhood education resources for the state's families. "We have
been so appreciative of the opportunity to work alongside NCFL in
community," says Flack. "We were already doing early literacy work
with families to help children be prepared for kindergarten and to
help parents realize how they can assist their child with learning
with everyday activities. With NCFL, we were able to equip children
and families with numerous resources to help make this learning
even more robust."
"The partnership between Nebraska Children and Families
Foundation (NCFF), Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), and NCFL
exemplifies the power of collaboration in addressing the
educational needs of diverse communities and responding to the
educational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic," says
Joe DiCostanzo, NCFF Vice President
of Education. "This collaboration convened state-level decision
makers, including legislators, to underscore the critical role of
adult literacy in enhancing family success and improving student
outcomes."
"Through initiatives like "Together Better" and the Afghan
refugee family engagement program," says Zainab Rida, NDE Equity Officer &
Administrator of the Office of Coordinated Student Support
Services, "this partnership not only supports NDE's mission
but also enriches the lives of countless families across
Nebraska. By fostering meaningful
connections and promoting cultural sensitivity, NDE, NCFF and NCFL
are paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive educational
landscape."
NCFL President and CEO Dr. Felicia
Cumings Smith is pleased by the impact of NCFL's work
alongside partners in both states. "Families reach their full
potential when parents and children learn together," says Smith.
"Thanks to the work of strong partners from across the state, both
the Nebraska and Arizona SFECs
provided literary opportunities for the whole family while also
supporting parenting adults in developing the confidence to engage
with and advocate for their children's education. At NCFL, we know
that strong families are the foundation on which strong communities
are built. By engaging children and families in ways that are
meaningful and relevant to their learning journeys, the
Arizona and Nebraska SFECs have
planted the seeds of lifelong success in communities across both
states."
About the National Center for Families Learning
(NCFL)
NCFL is a national nonprofit that has worked for more
than 35 years to eradicate poverty through education solutions for
families. We believe education is a shared, nonpartisan
responsibility and that collaboration among families, schools, and
community members can lead to powerful learning experiences. NCFL's
vision is to establish coordinated and aligned family learning
systems in 60 communities by 2030, built with and for families, to
increase education and economic outcomes and create more equitable
communities. For more information on NCFL, visit
familieslearning.org. To learn more about our vision or become a
Family Learning Community partner, visit
familieslearning.org/60x30.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Foster
Parish, 703-472-5997, aparish@familieslearning.org
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SOURCE National Center for Families Learning