State Leadership for Family Engagement:

The Dual Capacity Framework identified common barriers that prevented strong family–school partnerships—and these challenges directly impacted student success. During the webinar, participants explored how these barriers could be addressed through practical tools, open communication, and intentional collaboration. ​ Panelists: • Dr. Carrie Stephenson, Superintendent, Montrose County School District • Allie Freismuth, Coordinator, School and Family Engagement, Montrose County School District • Chris Lehman, Principal, Pomona Elementary, Montrose County School District • Sherri Drost-Chacon, School Principal, PEAK Academy, Montrose County School District The session examined the core challenges outlined in the Dual Capacity Framework and how they showed up in everyday district and school settings. Attendees also learned how Montrose County School District had been overcoming these barriers through targeted educator training and authentic family listening. ​ Key Takeaways: • Understood the main barriers to strong family–school partnerships • Heard real examples of how Montrose County drove change • Gained concrete tools and strategies to strengthen family engagement in districts and schools

In this recorded webinar, systems leaders from Colorado and Connecticut share how State Education Agencies can strengthen family-school-community partnerships through the Statewide Family Engagement Center program. ​ Key takeaways include: Why family-school-community partnerships (FSCP) matter at the state level Real-world examples from state leaders driving change Practical steps to build sustainable FSCP systems Facilitator: Diana Suarez, Coaction Collective, Founding Partner Panelists: Dr. Darcy Hutchins, Colorado Department of Education, Director of Family Engagement Kate Garvin, Rocky Mountain Family Engagement Collective, Sr. Director, SFEC Program Dr. Veronica Marion, Connecticut Statewide Family Engagement Center, Director Dr. Judy Carson, Connecticut State Department of Education Lacy Wood, Consultant Watch to learn evidence-based strategies that can shift mindsets, strengthen infrastructure, and equip state leaders to advance family engagement systems. ​ Resources: SACPIE – https://www.cde.state.co.us/sacpie Coffee Chats – https://www.cde.state.co.us/familyengagement/fscp-coffee-chat Promising Partnership Practices – https://www.cde.state.co.us/familyengagement/promising P–12 Family, School, and Community Partnerships Framework – https://www.cde.state.co.us/familyengagement/p-12_fscp_framework Colorado SFEC – www.RMFEC.org Core Competencies – Google Drive Link Systemic FSCP “How To” Guide – https://www.cde.state.co.us/familyengagement/systemicfscp_howto A special thanks to our facilitator and panelists—Diana Suarez, Dr. Darcy Hutchins, Dr. Judy Carson, Dr. Veronica Marion, and Lacy Wood—for sharing their experiences and strategies, and to everyone who contributed in the chat. It was my pleasure to share about the RMFEC with this team. ​ We hope the ideas and examples from this session spark new ways for you to strengthen partnerships in your own state, district, or organization.

Principals, transform family engagement in your school! Learn actionable strategies to: • Strengthen communication with families • Deepen relationships • Build a culture of partnership ​ Discover a free professional development opportunity for your teachers to create lasting impact. Watch now and lead the way! A practical, energizing session for principals ready to strengthen trust, communication, and meaningful partnerships with families.

Watch our debut webinar from our family engagement series, where we delved into cutting-edge strategies. We were joined by local and national experts as they revealed insights on optimizing funding for family engagement initiatives in schools and districts. Check out this recorded webinar to enrich your understanding and drive positive change in education! Ten smart, flexible ways to turn state funding into high-impact family engagement—without reinventing the wheel.