Massachusetts Statewide Family Engagement Center
Where families, schools & communities thrive together.
MASFEC helps Massachusetts families engage in their children's wellness and educational success. We build the capacity of educational and healthcare institutions to partner with families and communities, from prenatal to adulthood.
A program of the Federation for Children with Special Needs
About Us
Family engagement that moves student success forward
The Massachusetts Statewide Family Engagement Center (MASFEC) promotes family engagement in children's educational and healthcare experiences, building the capacity of families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support student success and well-being.
Our programs support families, districts, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations working to build meaningful partnerships that improve student learning, health, and success.
A program ofThe Federation for Children with Special Needs
Get in Touch with MASFEC →
FCSN provides training, outreach, and information to families across Massachusetts. “Building an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming world. Together.”
Visit fcsn.org →News & Updates Latest
NEWS · Jun 2026
FCSN at the DESE Family Engagement Convenings
REPORT · Jul 2026
What We Heard from Families: A Look at School Discipline
NEW · Jul 2026
So, You Want to Run a Focus Group with Families?
GUIDE · Mar 2026
Guide for Families of English Learner Students
TIP SHEETS · Dec 2025
ELE One-Pagers in the Languages You Speak
All news & updates →Resources
Everything in one clear, organized place
Streamlined so families and professionals can find what they need — fast. Start with a featured resource, browse by topic, or search the full library.
For Families
Featured Resource
Navigating ELE for Families — Guide, Tip Sheets & Videos
All of MASFEC's English Learner Education resources for families in one place: the interactive ELE Guide, printable tip sheets, and short videos that explain how English Learner Education works in Massachusetts schools: what the letters from your school mean, what supports your child can receive, and the choices that are yours to make.
Watch in your language
Video availability varies by language.
Read & print
Browse by Topic
Special Education & IEPs
Plain-language guides to special education, evaluations, and your rights.
- Family Guide for Students with Disabilities in Boston Public Schools
- What is special education?
- Federal Layoffs and Special Education: The Facts for Families
- What is a SEPAC?
- What is Intelligence Testing? - Tip Sheets For Families
Navigating Your School
How Massachusetts schools work, school options, conferences, and report cards.
- School Options in Massachusetts
- Preparing for a Caregiver-Teacher Conference
- Understanding Massachusetts Schools
- School Navigation Resources
- Understanding District Report Cards
Early Childhood & Play
Activities and guides for young children, from play to self-regulation.
- Super Symmetry: Symmetry Activities for Preschoolers
- Self-Regulation Activities for Young Children
- Language Play: a guide for parents
- Pretend Play: a guide for parents
- Winter Activities for Young Children
Middle School Families
Friendships, healthy habits, discipline, and the myths about middle school.
- Middle School Friendships
- Developing Healthy Habits for Middle Schoolers
- Teens and Materialism
- Debunking Myths About Middle School
- Fostering Study Skills in Middle School
Reading & Literacy
Reading lists, picture books, and tips for raising strong readers.
- Picture Books on Neurodiversity
- Picture Books About Gender
- Recommended Reading
- An Indigenous Reading List for Thanksgiving
- Summer is a Great Time for Reading
Wellbeing, Identity & Community
Feelings, identity, immigration, and support for the whole family.
- Talking to Students and Families About Increased Immigration Enforcement
- Small Children, Big Feelings
- Six Surprising Benefits of Universal Free Lunch
- Supporting Your Child’s Identity Development
- Accessing Your Rights as an Unhoused Family
For Professionals
Featured Resource
Welcoming Newcomer Families Hub
A dedicated home for those supporting newcomer families — trainings, a community of practice, and resources by age and language.
Find Resources Here →Browse by Topic
Welcoming Families Communications Toolkit
Ready-to-use materials that help schools communicate with and welcome every family.
- Transform Your School's Communication with Our Welcoming Families Toolkit
- Working with Interpreters in Schools
- Welcoming Your Afghan Students
- Supporting our Immigrant, Newcomer, and Multilingual Communities: A Letter from MASFEC
Family Engagement Frameworks & Tools
The guiding principles and key elements of effective family engagement.
- Family Engagement Frameworks Modules
- Strengthening Partnerships
- What is Family Engagement? For Providers
- Self Paced Course on the MA Family Engagement Framework
- Family, School, and Community Partnership Fundamentals
Family Engagement Practices
Practical methods for listening to, and partnering with, families.
- What's a Listening Session?
- Progressive Stacking for Better Discussions
- So, You Want to Run a Focus Group with Families?
- Meeting Families Where They Are
- What is a Cultural Broker?
IEPs & Special Education for School Teams
Professional development and leadership resources for the new MA IEP.
- MA IEP Professional Development Resources
- IEP School Leadership Resources
- IEP Implementation Workbook
- Family Engagement and the Special Education Evaluation Cycle
Attendance & Chronic Absenteeism
A series on what works, and what does not, for student attendance.
- Why Attendance Awards Don’t Work
- Chronic Absenteeism and English Language Learners
- Creating a Culture of Attendance
- Battling Chronic Absenteeism: The Basics
- Data Collection: The First Step in Managing Chronic Absenteeism
Career & Technical Education Outreach
Toolkits, flyers, videos, and translation tools for reaching families about CTE.
See all 7 in the library →For Everyone
Families and professionals together
Supporting Multilingual & Newcomer Students
For families and the professionals who work with them.
- The Benefits of Multilingualism
- Welcoming Newcomers: Advice for Middle School and Above
- Teaching Children to Welcome Newcomers
- Resources: Immigration Enforcement and Schools
- Preparing Families for Immigration Enforcement Actions
Research & Reports on Family Engagement
The evidence base behind MASFEC’s work.
- Dual Capacity-Building Framework | SEDL
- A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement
- Beyond Random Acts: Family, School, and Community Engagement as an Integral Part of Education Reform
- Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement
- What We Heard from Families: A Look at School Discipline
Resource Library
Browse everything MASFEC has published
236 guides, tip sheets, videos, and articles from masfec.org, organized by audience and topic. Start typing to search, or filter below.
Showing 236 resources
- Talking to Students and Families About Increased Immigration Enforcement
- What is Family Engagement? For Families
- Family Engagement Frameworks Modules
- What's a Listening Session?
- Small Children, Big Feelings
- Six Surprising Benefits of Universal Free Lunch
- Super Symmetry: Symmetry Activities for Preschoolers
- Self-Regulation Activities for Young Children
- Transform Your School's Communication with Our Welcoming Families Toolkit
- Middle School Friendships
- The Benefits of Multilingualism
- Developing Healthy Habits for Middle Schoolers
- MA IEP Professional Development Resources
- Strengthening Partnerships
- Progressive Stacking for Better Discussions
- Family Guide for Students with Disabilities in Boston Public Schools
- Strengthening Partnerships: Train the Trainers
- Guide for Families of English Learner Students
- IEP School Leadership Resources
- Teens and Materialism
- Why Attendance Awards Don’t Work
- Language Play: a guide for parents
- Picture Books on Neurodiversity
- Positive Solutions Train the Trainer
- IEP Implementation Workbook
- Snow Science for Preschoolers
- Debunking Myths About Middle School
- Barriers to Parent-School Involvement for Early Elementary Students
- Pretend Play: a guide for parents
- School Options in Massachusetts
- Physical Play: a guide for parents
- Chronic Absenteeism and English Language Learners
- What is Family Engagement? For Providers
- CTE Outreach Toolkit
- Why Attendance Matters
- Preparing for a Caregiver-Teacher Conference
- Picture Books About Gender
- Self Paced Course on the MA Family Engagement Framework
- DESE Office of Student and Family Support
- Understanding Massachusetts Schools
- Resources for Families and Professionals Supporting Transgender Youth
- Parenting Books About Middle School
- CTE Outreach Flyers
- Welcoming Your Afghan Students
- Working with Interpreters in Schools
- Winter Activities for Young Children
- Family Perspectives on Attendance: A Multilingual Lens on Barriers, Belonging, and Systemic Gaps
- Building Empathy in Young Children
- Picture Books about Individuals with Disabilities
- Federal Layoffs and Special Education: The Facts for Families
- Meeting Families Where They Are
- An Indigenous Reading List for Thanksgiving
- Universal Design for Family Engagement
- Chronic Absenteeism and LGBTQIA+ Youth
- Picture Books and Math!
- Accessing Your Rights as an Unhoused Family
- Best Practices in Meaningful Family & Student Engagement
- Talking About Relationships in Middle School
- Truth and Consequences: Middle School Discipline
- Recommended Reading
- Chronic Absenteeism and Disability
- Creating a Culture of Attendance
- Family-Friendly CTE Overviews
- Data Literacy Tip Sheets
- A Ramadan Reading List
- Fall Science
- Monster Math! Halloween Activities for Preschoolers
- What is Family Math?
- What is Intelligence Testing? - Tip Sheets For Families
- Family, School, and Community Partnership Fundamentals
- Supporting our Immigrant, Newcomer, and Multilingual Communities: A Letter from MASFEC
- Families of Middle Schoolers
- Night Activites
- A Queer Reading List for Middle Schoolers
- Additional Resources
- What is Co-design?
- Novak: What is Universal Design?
- Supporting Your Child’s Identity Development
- Talking to Your Kids About Gender
- Working Together to Support Student Attendance
- MASFEC & FCSN: Reflections from the Field
- Measuring the Impact of Home Visits
- An Election Reading List
- School Navigation Resources
- A Reading List for Lunar New Year
- Celebrating Juneteenth
- National Report Spotlights APPLE
- Teaching Children to Welcome Newcomers
- Frameworks Institute Offers Strategies for Building a Culture of Family Engagement
- Better Together Family Engagement Summit
- Incorporating Play into Your Classroom: FAQs
- Supporting Sibling Relationships
- Picture Book Biographies for Curious Kids
- Fostering Study Skills in Middle School
- Painless Pre-Writing Activities
- Data Collection: The First Step in Managing Chronic Absenteeism
- Incorporating Play into Your Home: FAQs
- What is a Cultural Broker?
- The Family Institute for Student Success (FISS) Graduations
- FCSN at the DESE Family Engagement Convenings
- Summer is a Great Time for Reading
- Welcoming Newcomers: Advice for Middle School and Above
- Ways to Build Positive Relationships with Schools
- What is special education?
- Celebrating the End of the School Year!
- Keys to Building Positive Relationships with Families
- Communication Strategies that Support Family Engagement
- Family Engagement and the Special Education Evaluation Cycle
- Curriculum: Tech Basics for ESOLs
- Accentuate The Positive: Helping Your Middle Schooler Accept Themselves
- Addressing Chronic Absenteeism with Community Partnerships
- Tips for Caregiver-Teacher Conferences
- Getting Ready for Kindergarten
- What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screening? Tip Sheet for Families
- CTE Translation Tools
- Learn and Have Fun with Mathu
- Online Resources for Curious Kids
- Exercising the Empathy Muscle
- Building An ELPAC Community for Student Success: Watch the Webinar Recording!
- Battling Chronic Absenteeism: The Basics
- Attendance Tips for Families
- February Family Literacy Calendar
- Tips for Creating a Student Snapshot
- Caregiver Self Care Strategies that won't add to your To-Do List
- What is Family Engagement? Sherri's view
- Tips for Communicating with Families
- 3 Tips To Help Your Child Grow Into A Self Advocate
- Powerful Parents
- December Family Literacy Calendar
- Self Care for Middle School Parents
- Support Parents: Find One, Become One!
- CTE Videos
- What is Educational Achievement Testing? Tip Sheet for Families
- Cell Phones Part 1: Is Your Child Ready for a Cell Phone?
- Initial Learnings, Still Time to Respond! 2021 Family Engagement Survey
- Creating Clear Attendance Policy
- National Review of Statewide Family Engagement Centers
- Language Access Needs
- Diwali: Bringing Light into the Darkness
- New Partnership with National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages
- Dual Capacity-Building Framework | SEDL
- What is Family Engagement? Jen's View
- We Need To Talk About Teacher Burnout
- Community Council Members Wanted
- When You're Stuck Inside
- Cell Phones Part 2: Establishing Rules Around Devices
- Family Literacy Calendars
- Engage Other Families at Events: Using 3 Questions
- Strengthening Partnerships Principles
- Resources: Immigration Enforcement and Schools
- May Family Literacy Calendar
- A Rhyming Picture Book Roundup
- Career & Technical Education: Insights from Language-Diverse Families
- Talking to Children About Violence at the US Capitol
- Preparing Families for Immigration Enforcement Actions
- Engaging Engagement?
- An Introduction to Ramadan
- Understanding District Report Cards
- What We Heard from Families: A Look at School Discipline
- Family Engagement | Resources
- June Family Literacy Calendar
- Navigating DESE's District Report Card Website
- CTE Outreach: Social Media
- What is Achievement Testing? Video
- Dispelling the Myth of "English Only": Understanding the Importance of the First Language in Second Language Learning
- Helping Your Child with Financial Literacy
- So, You Want to Run a Focus Group with Families?
- October Family Literacy Calendar
- School Reopening Resources for Teachers
- Acceleration Roadmap: Pathway to an Equitable Recovery
- Conversation Tips and Activities
- Beyond Random Acts: Family, School, and Community Engagement as an Integral Part of Education Reform
- Parental Effort, School Resources, and Student Achievement
- What is a SEPAC?
- Family Engagement and the American Rescue Plan
- March Family Literacy Calendar
- Choosing a High School
- Family Engagement is Making Headlines
- Family Fun Home Activities
- Guidelines for Choosing Read-Aloud Books
- What are Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screeners? Video
- Tips for After Caregiver-Teacher Conferences
- An Anti-Racist Reading List for Middle Schoolers
- Reflecting on Visions of Community
- Understanding Childhood Trauma
- Google Classroom Help
- Summer Learning and Enrichment: Tips for Childcare Providers
- Help for IXL Learning
- November Family Literacy Calendar
- Understanding District and School Report Cards
- Summer Learning Fun: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- Reading Rockets | Tips for Parents of Babies
- The Family Advocacy Wall of Fame
- Money as You Grow: Help for parents and caregivers
- What did we learn? Needs assessment 2021
- April Family Literacy Calendar
- Early Math Tips for Families
- Taking It To the Next Level: Strengthening and Sustaining Family Engagement through Integrated, Systemic Practice
- Reading With Your Child
- Equity in Action: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- Equity-Driven Family Engagement with the MA Statewide Family Engagement Center
- Parent Tips for Raising Strong Readers and Writers
- More Tips for Choosing Read-Aloud Books
- Figuring It Out: School Reopening Webinar
- A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement
- What is Intelligence Testing? Video
- How Parents Can Encourage Teens to Read
- Back-to-School: Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs
- September Family Literacy Calendar
- January Family Literacy Calendar
- Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement
- Techniques to Enhance Read-Aloud Experience
- Reading Rocket | Tips For Parents of Kindergartners
- Tips For Parents With Kindergarteners
- MASFEC Mindfulness on Wednesdays with Andrea!
- PTA National Standards for Family School Partnerships: Implementation Guide | PTA
- Reading Rocket | Tips For Parents With Toddlers
- Top 10 Things You Should Know About Reading
- How Parents Can Encourage Teens To Read
- SHARING BOOKS AND ACTIVITIES DURING THE FIRST FOUR YEARS
- Beyond caring: Mapping the gaps between expert, public, practitioner, and policymaker understandings of family, school, and community engagement
- Reading Rocket | Tips For Parents With Preschoolers
- Literacy Instruction
- A Family Guide to Distance Learning
- Should you worry about your child's behavioral health?
- Introducing Mindful Mondays for Educators
- Reading Aloud with Children of All Ages
- Massachusetts Fundamentals
- Reading Rockets | Tips For Parents of 1st Graders
- Zoom for Families
- Reading Fun: Owl Buddy Bookmark
- Reading Rocket | Tips for Parents of 2nd Graders
- Beyond Random Acts
- Định nghĩa về Cơ Quan Giáo Dục Địa Phương Có Nhu Cầu Cao
- Dual Language Learners – resources
- Some Special Education Concepts
Looking for something older? See the newsletter archive or the full set of MASFEC tip sheets.
Professional Development
Trainings that build family–school partnerships
When families, schools, and communities work together, young people thrive. These are the trainings MASFEC offers. Upcoming dates and registration are posted on the FCSN training calendar at fcsn.org/ppd.
Statewide Family Engagement Framework
MA's framework for meaningful family–school partnership.
See details & dates →Positive Solutions: Train the Trainer
Equip your team to lead the Positive Solutions series.
See details & dates →Trauma Trainings for School Districts
Trauma-informed practices for district teams.
See details & dates →Parent Consultant Training Institute
Train parent leaders to guide families through special ed.
See details & dates →2026–27 cohort selected
APPLE Institute: Family Partnerships
Build authentic partnerships between families and schools.
See details & dates → Scroll for more trainings. Dates and registration live on the FCSN training calendar.
Contact Us
Let's build family engagement together
Questions, partnership ideas, or training requests? The MASFEC team is here to help your family, school, district, healthcare provider, or community organization.
