Blog

Real, lasting change for students, families, and educators starts with understanding how your school or district works as a whole. MAEC’s Family Engagement Assessment Tool and Equity Audit help schools and districts better understand current practices, strengthen communication with families, and identify areas for improvement. Gather meaningful data to drive change Collecting data is the… Read More »

There is no “right” way to be a strong leader: every leader brings their own unique style, strengths, and approach. However, in our work across the country, we have consistently found that the most effective education leaders share these traits: Clear and consistent communication that is open and nonjudgmental Ability to have courageous conversations to… Read More »

On August 5, school teams from across Maine gathered at Thomas College to develop strategies and best practices for strengthening family engagement in their schools. The 2025–26 Family, School, and Community Engagement Community of Practice, hosted by the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) and the Maine Department of Education, gave participants a chance… Read More »

On May 6, 2025, MAEC hosted the inaugural Connections virtual event, bringing together over 300 family members and practitioners from 38 states. This conference offered 25 session that explored best practices in family engagement, including strategies for fostering partnerships between schools and communities. On the Same Team: High-Leverage School-Family Partnership Practices In our first spotlight of… Read More »

MAEC has learned that lasting change in schools depends on strong leadership at every level. Parents, teachers, staff, school administrators, and district administrators all play a part. After our 30+ years in the field, we have learned that school communities can succeed when these elements are in place: Resources: Funding and people-power is necessary to… Read More »

At MAEC, our mission is to create school systems where every student can succeed, no matter their background or zip code. With over 30 years of experience in the field, we have learned that lasting change happens when key conditions are in place: Strong leadership support and buy-in from the whole school community Confidence and… Read More »

July 23, 2025  Last month, members of MAEC’s Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) were invited by the Maine DOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning to join the Multilingual Learner Advisory Council meeting in Augusta, ME. As Maine’s statewide family engagement center, the CEFAM team partners with educators and organizations across the state to… Read More »

We’re proud to present Melissa Harding, a parent-leader from CEFAM partner organization MeCAP’s Maine Parent Ambassadors Program. She and her colleague, Joni Sprague, presented “Empowering Parents: Strategies for Successful Parent Engagement,” at the 2023 National Head Start Association Parent and Family Engagement Conference. Read below as she reflects on her growth as a leader and experience during the conference. What an… Read More »

MAEC developed its first equity audit in 1992. Over the past thirty years, we have adapted and expanded it based on our experience working with schools and school districts. We believe it serves as a vital tool to ensure every student has the opportunity for educational and personal success. Equity audits assess educational gaps and… Read More »

Communications Team Intern Jordan Gilliard draws from her experiences as a teacher during COVID-19 to identify issues contributing to teacher shortages. She shares personal examples of resources and strategies that supported her mental wellness, and advocates for systemic change in order to support teachers.    What have you observed or experienced while teaching during COVID-19?… Read More »