Dear CA-FEN Members and Partners:

As we reflect on 2025, we are grateful and proud of what we accomplished together in these uncertain times. This past year brought tremendous growth for CA-FEN. We became an independent fiscally sponsored project and expanded our network across California's county offices of education. We gathered insights from over 400 educators and convened our members in powerful conversations that planted "seeds for a movement."

Notably, we achieved all of this while navigating an increasingly complex political and educational landscape that continues to shift beneath our feet. Yet it is precisely in these times that our work matters most.

As we begin 2026, we do so with clear eyes, full hearts, and renewed commitment, knowing that the connections between families, educators, and students aren't just nice to have—they're essential anchors in the storm. As we did last year, we again will turn to you, our members and partners to help chart the path forward together, building on our momentum to create lasting change for California's children and families.

Araceli Simeón

Executive Director

2025 Highlights

• Became an independent fiscally sponsored project of Charitable Ventures.
• Formed an Advisory Board to provide strategic advice and support to CA-FEN.

• Maintained a monthly newsletter showcasing network members and the research findings emerging from their initiatives.

• Collected over 400 educator surveys, which will inform our “State of Practice” report. The research was led by Professor Emeritus Dr. Ritblatt formerly with San Diego State University and supported by statistical consultant volunteer, Dr. Charles Van Liew. Outreach was led by Antoinette Hernadez.
• Began identifying evidence-based practices for teachers to strengthen family engagement. This work is being led by West Ed’s Parent Teacher Academic Teams, Family Engagement Lab, High Expectations, and Parent Teacher Home Visits.

• Co-sponsored training focused on effective family engagement practices in collaboration with the California Partnership for the Future of Learning, Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), High Expectations LLC, and five community school teams from Anaheim Elementary School District.

• The California County Office of Education (COE) Practitioners Network expanded its reach, now engaging about 75% of the 58 COEs. Leadership of the network is shared by the Orange County Department of Education, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
• A pre-service network for institutions of higher education and county offices of education that lead teacher preparation and induction programs is emerging under the leadership of CA-FEN and Pepperdine University.
• We hosted our 3^rd Annual Convening in December to share preliminary findings from the educator survey and family engagement practice. Nearly 50 CA-FEN members participated and offered feedback to inform future campaigns. Participants praised how CA-FEN models a community of care and described the gathering as planting "seeds for a movement." The event was sponsored by the Heising-Simons Foundation, Pepperdine University, The Loken Foundation, and NAFSCE.

2026: Research and Exploration for Campaign Development

This year will be dedicated to listening to our members and partners to explore and identify priorities and further develop campaigns slated to launch in 2027. Specifically, we aim to achieve three goals:

1. Engage CA-FEN members and networks to develop two campaigns: increasing awareness of high-impact family engagement practices for teachers, and advocating for the system changes needed to help teachers and families work together to better support students.
2. Establish an effective communications system to engage members in the campaigns and measure outcomes.
3. Strengthen networks representing county offices of education and pre-service programs through joint fundraising; expand representation and elevate the voices from early educators and families in CA-FEN.

If you are a family engagement champion or practitioner in California, we invite you to join the network! Stay connected and sign up for our newsletter to receive timely information related to research, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved.



Input Opportunity

The California State Board of Education is developing a Portrait of a Graduate/Learner, a shared vision for what all students need to thrive in school, career, and life. They are seeking input from educators, students, families, and community members across California. The Portrait will not create new requirements for local school districts; rather, it will serve as a guiding framework to inform the Board’s future decision-making.

The survey takes just 2 minutes to complete, and every perspective helps ensure this vision reflects the diverse experiences of California’s communities. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CA_portrait_survey

For more information, please visit our website at www.ca-fen.org

CA-FEN is a project of Charitable Ventures