Please consider this a formal invitation to the National Family School Community Engagement Summit, September 13-14, 2010, at the Westin Hotel, Courthouse Square, in Alexandria, VA. Please register by August 22nd at http://www.regonline.com/National_FSC_Engagement_Summit. An energizing and substantive program is being planned. We look forward to seeing you at this very important event where we will craft policy ideas intended to positively impact our school communities. Note that the special rate at the Westin for conference participants closes on August 23rd.
You are invited to participate in a very significant, invitation-only effort.
Never before have issues related to meaningful family and community engagement in schools been more present and urgent. It is clear that engaged families are an essential element in school improvement and student success. Family and community engagement is a key to school improvement-helping students earn higher grades, avoid unsafe behavior, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer and enroll in larger numbers in higher level programs. Strong school-family-community partnerships foster higher educational aspirations and more motivated students.
Building on the momentum of four state level summits conducted this past year by broad-based coalitions in these states, the National Education Association, in close collaboration with a coalition of 20 organizations with a special interest in this issue will host a National Summit on Family/School/Community Engagement on September 13 and 14, 2010 at the Westin Hotel at Court House Square in Alexandria, Virginia.
The purpose of this summit is to build a strong consensus to guide a cohesive national approach to policy and programs focused on increasing meaningful family and community engagement to support student learning and success. The goal is to have direct influence on national policy. The summit will result in the development of a comprehensive, inclusive approach to national policy that leverages the learnings from state summits and focuses on a national strategy.
Participants in the national summit will include representatives from all 50 states-ranking education agency staff and NEA affiliate leadership-teams of activists from the summit states, leaders from over 30 national stakeholder groups, representatives from the US Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.
The program will include presentations by major leaders in the arena of family, school and community engagement. It will focus on building policy consensus through small group discussion and group decision-making. We will keep you posted as keynote speakers are confirmed.
The fee is $100. You may register online at: http://www.regonline.com/National_FSC_Engagement_Summit
This registration fee will cover the cost of meeting materials, breakfasts, lunches and a reception the evening of September 13, 2010. A reduced room rate of $209 plus tax is available at the Westin if reservations are made by August 23, 2010. You must make your own reservations. Complete information on the Summit is available at this online address.
The Summit is a critical and important endeavor. Your participation is needed to craft policy and program recommendations and outcomes with the depth necessary to have significant national impact. Please go to http://www.regonline.com/National_FSC_Engagement_Summit for more information and to register for the National Summit on Family/School/Community Engagement.
If you have any questions, please contact Pat Orrange, via e-mail - orrange1534@aol.com.