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September 14, 2017

Members, Partners and Stakeholders,

NAFSCE joins with educators, business leaders, economists and the vastmajority of U.S. citizens in condemning the Trump Administration's action torescind DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which has allowed800,000 young immigrants brought to this country as children to serve in themilitary, seek higher education and hold jobs. The elimination of DACA goes against everything NAFSCE stands for. One ofour core values, that of equity in education, is driven by our belief that allstudents, regardless of family background, ethnic origin or socialcircumstances should be given the opportunity to reach their educationalpotential. To force DREAMers back into the shadows, or to deport them fromthe only home many have ever known, not only runs counter to our values aseducation professionals. It runs counter to our core values as human beings. In his statement regarding the elimination of DACA, President Obama said,"What makes us American is our fidelity to a set of ideals - that all of us arecreated equal; that all of us deserve the chance to make of our lives what wewill; that all of us share an obligation to stand up, speak out, and secure ourmost cherished values for the next generation." While recent efforts by the administration and congressional leaders to reachan agreement on DACA are encouraging, we are far from having resolution onthis matter. NAFSCE encourages our members, supporters and stakeholdersto stand up and speak out against the elimination of DACA and the likelyeffect on some of the most promising members of the next Americangeneration.

To express your opposition to the Trump Administration's action in rescindingDACA, we invite you to visit one of these sites:

Anti-Defamation League Table Talk and Ideas for ActionTeaching ToleranceWe Are Here To StayMomsRising.org

Best regards,

Vito BorrelloNAFSCE Executive Director

NAFSCE Programs

Wednesday, Oct ober 4 , 2017, 3pm ETÂ Wednesday, Oct ober 4 , 2017, 3pm ETÂ

Voices from the Field: What Families, Teachers andAdministrators Have To Say About Partnering ForStudent Success.Scholastic's Teacher & Principal SchoolReport (Fall 2016) showcases the results of anational survey of more than 4,700 publicschool Pre-K-12 educators on critical issuesaffecting schools and districts across thecountry. Both teachers and principals acrossall school poverty levels hold strong, positiveviews around the importance of familyinvolvement in student learning and the needfor partnerships between schools andparents.

Learning Heroes, whose mission is to help parents support their children's educationalsuccess, commissioned a national survey of more than 1,400 K-8 public school parents, incollaboration with Univision Communications and in partnership with the National PTA,National Urban League, NCLR, and UNCF (United Negro College Fund). Their reportexplores parents' kitchen table anxieties, their aspirations for their children, their role intheir children's academic and developmental success, and their needs to help theirchildren succeed.

Join us to hear what families and school staff have to say about working together andwhat they need to be successful.

Our Presenter:

Ron Mirr is Senior Vice President of Learning Supports andFamily and Community Engagement (FACE) at Scholastic.Ron has nearly 30 years of experience working with K-12schools and social service agencies on how to engagefamilies and community partners in the learning process. Heis a co-author of the Family Engagement Assessment-a toolthat measures a school's capacity for developing effectivepartnerships with families. At Scholastic, Ron focuses on

helping schools address barriers to learning by engaging families and strengtheningwrap-around services for students.

NAFSCE Members may register now.

General registration begins September 20, spacepermitting.

Professional Learning

43rd Fami ly Involvement Conference, Harri sburg, PA43rd Fami ly Involvement Conference, Harri sburg, PADate: October 15 - 18, 2017Location: Harrisburg, PA

The Family Involvement Conference is presented bythe Pennsylvania Coalition for Parent Involvement incollaboration with NAFSCE. This gathering bringstogether school administrators, teachers, communitymembers, and parents around the common belief thatactive family involvement in the education process isthe key to effective schools and student achievement. Learn more

2018 National Fami ly Engagement Summit2018 National Fami ly Engagement SummitDate: March 20 - 23, 2018Location: Richmond, VA

The National Family Engagement Summit will helpsupport your goals to promote collaborative family andschool partnerships and strengthen the capacitybuilding of your staff. With three keynote speakers,five breakout sessions and multiple networking breaks,the 2018 Summit is your opportunity to learn fromsome of the nation's top experts in education. Save

A supporter of DACA protests the Trumpadministration's decision to end the program.

FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

$125 if you sign up before October 2nd.Learn more

Policy News

Progress on Funding for Statewide Famil yProgress on Funding for Statewide Famil yEngagement CentersEngagement CentersOn Sept. 12, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment (DeSaulnier-Thompson #166) to provide $10 million in funding for Statewide Family EngagementCenters. As most of you know, this funding would provide grants to states to promote andimplement evidence-based family engagement strategies. Although included in ESSA, theSFECs have not been funded by Congress. While this is a great first step, the program willstill need to be voted on as part of the final bill sent to the Senate, and finally to thePresident for signature.

NAFSCE would like to recognize the National PTA for their advocacy efforts on behalf ofSFECs. Please watch future NAFSCE News editions and www.nafsce.org for further newsand suggestions for how your advocacy can make a difference on this important issue.

Five Questions About DACA AnsweredFive Questions About DACA AnsweredThe Trump administration announced Tuesdayit would end the Deferred Action for ChildhoodArrivals program, or DACA, in six months ifCongress doesn't find a more permanentsolution. Since it was enacted under PresidentBarack Obama, about 800,000 immigrants whowere children when they arrived in the U.S.illegally have received protections from theprogram. National Public Radio addresses whowill be affected when DACA ends, why theprogram remains controversial and whathappens next.

DeVos Announces Review of Obama- era SexualDeVos Announces Review of Obama- era SexualAssault GuidelinesAssault GuidelinesEducation Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Thursday thatthe department will review Obama-era guidance oncampus sexual assault, citing concerns that the currentpolicy denies due process to individuals accused.

Do you volunteer at your child's school?

Ask the Experts

More Than 7 Mi llion Chi ldren Are Chronically AbsentMore Than 7 Mi llion Chi ldren Are Chronically AbsentFrom School, Putting Them at Ri sk Academically, ButFrom School, Putting Them at Ri sk Academically, ButThere Are SolutionsThere Are SolutionsA September 2017 report produced by Attendance Works and the Everyone GraduatesCenter center provides a national and state analysis of how many schools face high levelsof chronic absence and discusses the implications for state and local action. The reportincludes examples of attendance initiatives from communities across the U.S. that showhow chronic absence can be turned around, even when it reaches high levels in a schoolor district or among a particular student population. It also shares how partners such asbusinesses, nonprofits and local governments can team up with educators and addsupport and resources.

When i t Comes to Parent Involvement, Income MatterWhen i t Comes to Parent Involvement, Income Matterss

Responses to an Education Weeksurvey bear out what manyeducators already knew: there is astrong relationship betweenfamily income levels and theability of parents to engage withtheir child's school. Learn moreabout the takeaways from thisEducation Week research.

Every Fami ly Has Something to Contribute to SchoolEvery Fami ly Has Something to Contribute to SchoolCommuni ty; It Might Just Take a Fresh ApproachCommuni ty; It Might Just Take a Fresh Approach

Andrew J. Whitaker

As families send their children back into the classroom, thesefirst weeks of the school year are a critical time for parentsand teachers to create connections that will make it easier toaddress any sticky issues that come up later, according to anexpert on teacher training at Arizona State University,Margarita Jimenez-Silva. But work and family responsibilitiescoupled with the demands on teachers' time can make thatdifficult. Creativity can combat that.

In the Trenches

U sing Facebook as a Mechanism for Educating OthersU sing Facebook as a Mechanism for Educating OthersAbout Auti smAbout Auti smCara Thulin knew she couldn't send herfreshman son off to Kickapoo High School witha sign that read: "I'm autistic, please cut mesome slack." Instead, the Springfield mom didwhat she hoped was the next best thing: Shemade her case on Facebook.

Cape School Admini strators Helping Students andCape School Admini strators Helping Students andFami lies in NeedFami lies in Need

Franklin Elementary parent liaison Terri Wrightsaid the majority of Franklin's families are in need,and her supply closet helps address that. "Wehave household items, tissues, toothbrushes,toothpaste, deodorant -- all the works," Wrightsaid, adding if she doesn't have it, she hasresources she can use to find an item a familyneeds.

OKC School Di strict Streamlines New Super SaturdayOKC School Di strict Streamlines New Super SaturdayEventsEventsOklahoma City Public Schools will resume Super Saturdays - community fairs with freeworkshops, free resources, free food and free child care for families and others who

support district students. Session topics include family wellness, family leadership,college and career readiness and learning at home. Workshops address family disasterpreparedness, family communication, weight loss, immigrant rights, and moneymanagement.

ClassTag Offering Meaningful Communication andClassTag Offering Meaningful Communication andIncreasing PerformanceIncreasing PerformanceThere's a lot of research out there that supports the notion that more parentalinvolvement equals better academic outcomes. While forthe most part this is correct, what really drives betteracademic outcomes is meaningful parental engagement.The best mix of parental involvement without getting toooverbearing is hard to manage. Nibletz's Andrea Bakersays one parental engagement platform, Classtag, has itdown.

Opinions in the Field

A Student's Perspective on Fami ly EngagementA Student's Perspective on Fami ly EngagementAiyana Thomas, a 17-year-old Baltimore City College High School student and blogger believesthat "Parental involvement is one of many things that help students overcome obstacles and italso gives students the extra push needed to be great. All parents are different, some areproactive; others need an invitation. It is the educators' duty to invite them."

Three Tips for Bui lding Relationships wi th NewcomerThree Tips for Bui lding Relationships wi th NewcomerFami liesFami lies"As you begin to work with your English Learner students, pleasedon't forget about engaging their parents. I would argue it's evenmore important for our newcomer families [to practice familyengagement] as they learn how we 'do school' in America." byLaura Gardner

Rather Than Be a Helicopter Parent, Strive to Be aRather Than Be a Helicopter Parent, Strive to Be aHummingbi rdHummingbi rd

"Rather than constantly hovering, perhaps weshould become "hummingbird parents," staying atthe edge of engagement, but buzzing in regularlyyet briefly for quick support. Striking this balancewill allow our children to feel both supported andindependent, while keeping quality relationshipswith educators intact.." -By Tami Silverman

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