The framework, developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, and Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, provides a shared understanding and guidance to increase family engagement in early childhood programs, schools, and after school programs at the state and local levels.

(a) The State Board of Education shall develop and distribute to all local and regional boards of education a model program to encourage the participation of parents and the community in the local or regional educational system. The model program shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment of school-based teams with representatives of parents, students, teachers, administrators, local or regional boards of education and community groups and organizations assembled to: (1) Foster model agreements between parents and their children with the cooperation of the school, such agreements to cover goals and objectives for the student for the school year; (2) adopt agreements to foster cooperation and improve communication between such representatives regarding matters such as academic rights and responsibilities, codes of social conduct and disciplinary policies; and (3) develop agreements to encourage community residents to take an active role in improving the school and to become school volunteers. The model program developed by the state board shall provide model agreements for the use of school-based teams in the development of their own local or regional agreements.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop a program to encourage local and regional boards of education to develop and implement plans to involve parents of students in the educational process in that district and to increase community involvement in the schools. The local programs shall include, but not be limited to, providing regular contact with all parents, including opportunities for parents to meet with their children’s instructors for the purpose of reviewing the curriculum of their child’s program, and developing strategies for parents to actively assist in the educational process. Such local programs shall also include the development of written materials designed to familiarize parents with their child’s curriculum and to detail specific activities parents and students may undertake together to enrich the child’s education experience and development. The State Board of Education shall develop such program on or before July 1, 1998, and shall immediately distribute the materials explaining the program to all local and regional boards of education.