Overview
The Center to Advance Family Engagement for Marginalized Learners (Family CAFÉ) assists local education agencies in Ohio and Texas—including those with a high percentage of military-connected youth—to improve results for learners with disabilities. Family CAFÉ will develop, pilot, and refine a local education agency model that empowers family members to advocate for their children’s needs and take an active role as decision-makers in their children’s education.
Project Design
Model demonstration
Purpose
Help schools and families work together to improve outcomes for students with disabilities who are considered highly mobile (e.g., military-connected families)
Deliverables
Family CAFÉ creates and shares practical tools, resources, and training programs that support both families and educators.
Family CAFÉ offers the following to enhance family engagement at participating campuses:
- Professional learning opportunities for educators and staff focused on effective communication, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) laws and procedures, and best practices for engaging families and managing conflicts
- Opportunities for collaboration with Family CAFÉ coaches to ensure that district and campus services are responsive to families’ needs
- Family-friendly resources to build understanding of IDEA rights and supports available for students with disabilities
Procedures
- Year 1 (2024–2025): Develop Family CAFÉ model, materials, and resources and recruit partners
- Year 2 (2025–2026): Implement model at Site 1 (Ohio, fall of 2025) and begin Site 2 (Texas, spring of 2026)
- Year 3 (2026–2027): Complete implementation of model at Site 2 (Texas, fall of 2026) and begin implementation at Site 3
- Year 4 (2027–2028): Complete implementation at Site 3
- Year 5 (2028–2029): Refine model, analyze data, and disseminate resources and findings
Participants
Three school campuses (one in Ohio and two in Texas), families of students with disabilities in Ohio and Texas enrolled in partner schools, and collaborating educators and community members