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Keystone Policy Center (Keystone) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to create and lead a new Statewide Family Engagement Center in Colorado (SFEC). Keystone will the SFEC in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) – Office of Family School Community Partnerships; National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement; Center for Rural School Health and Education at the University of Denver; Family Leadership Training Institute; Coaction Collective; RM Consulting; and evaluator Dr. Steve Sheldon of Johns Hopkins University.
The partner organizations combine expertise in family-school-community partnership (FSCP) with a fluency in navigating Colorado’s education systems and contexts. In particular, Keystone’s close working relationship with the Office of Family School Community Partnerships at the Colorado Department of Education will be a critical asset to ensure our programs are aligned, sustainable, and reach communities across the state.
Keystone Policy Center’s Role
As one of the 12 organizations selected throughout the United States to receive the latest round of SFEC grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Keystone is now tasked with carrying out parent education and family engagement programs at the state, district, school building, and household levels across Colorado. With the grant funds, Keystone plans to undertake several initiatives that align with the goals of the SFEC program:
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- Develop clear expectations and guidance to implement evidence-based FSCP practices and structures at the state, district, and building level
- Increase implementation of FSCP practices and structures at each of these levels by cultivating the mindsets and skills of leadership and staff
- Equip families with the self-belief, knowledge, and skills to fully realize their potential as academic partners and active collaborators in decision-making.
The five-year grant from the Department of Education will total just under $5 million.
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