Maine Releases Family Engagement Framework for Schools
The Maine Department of Education has released guidance to help schools build stronger relationships with families and support student learning.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Maine Department of Education released Building Bridges: A Framework for Family Engagement in Maine, which provides guidance for building strong relationships between schools and families. The framework covers shared terminology, benefits, foundational principles, strategies for connecting families to student learning, and a continuum of family leadership development.
Why it matters
Strong family-school partnerships play an important role in supporting student success, including improving school attendance and helping families connect with resources and services. The framework gives Maine schools a common reference point for strengthening these ties.
The framework outlines a nine-step approach schools can use to develop family engagement strategies. The 2026 Maine Family Engagement Survey is a five-minute online survey available in six languages, and results have not yet been reported.
The players
Maine Department of Education
The state agency responsible for public K-12 education in Maine, overseeing curriculum standards, school funding guidance, and student support programs.
Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM)
A statewide partnership working to strengthen collaboration between families, schools, and communities across Maine, and the partner for the 2026 family engagement survey.
The details
The Maine DOE Office of School and Student Supports will offer a Friday Lunch and Learn series for educators, with each 45-minute session held from noon to 12:45 p.m. Sessions include a brief presentation followed by breakout discussions where participants share ideas and successful practices.
Timeline
November 2026: Family Engagement Awareness Month and the start of the Lunch and Learn series
November 13, 2026: First Friday Lunch and Learn session for educators
April 2027: Scheduled conclusion of the Lunch and Learn series
Roadmap
The framework extends federal parent-involvement expectations under the Every Student Succeeds Act into concrete, state-specific guidance for Maine schools. It moves family engagement from a general goal toward a structured, measurable practice with defined steps and leadership pathways.
Maine educators can join the free 45-minute Lunch and Learn sessions to explore practical ways to connect with families. Parents and guardians can complete the five-minute survey in six languages to help shape statewide family support resources.
The takeaway
Regular, structured communication between families and schools can make a measurable difference in attendance and access to services. Parents and educators in Maine can start by taking the family survey or joining a Lunch and Learn session.
What happens next
The Lunch and Learn series for educators begins November 13, 2026 and continues through April 2027, with sessions held Fridays from noon to 12:45 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education to see how schools across Maine are working with families.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Maine DOE Newsroom.
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