State education task force sets goals and timeline for parent engagement; public-comment rules and new website presented

The Louisiana Department of Education’s task force on parent and family engagement reviewed its charge, timeline and operating rules and received presentations on public-comment procedures and a new family-resources website.

The task force’s first directive, taken from the resolution that created it, is “to engage with state and national stakeholders and providers to identify research on best practices relative to effective strategies for increasing parent and family engagement and education,” the group was told. The panel was asked to compile resources, identify data sources and develop recommendations that emphasize public–private partnerships. The group’s final report is due December 31 of this year; members will receive and amend a draft at subsequent meetings and vote on the final report at the meeting before submission.

The timeline and scope matter because the task force’s recommendations are intended to guide local practice and inform any future legislation. The resolution asks the group to focus…