In recent years, the federal Department of Education (ED), and state and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs, respectively) have been increasing the emphasis on the need to engage parents and families of students in their children's education. Initiatives have sprung up across the fifty states and Washington, D.C. to help officials at the state, school district, and school levels establish two-way communication with parents, provide information transparency, and better incorporate family feedback into decisions that will affect their children's education. Academic research on parental engagement in education also provides evidence for the effectiveness of engaging families in open dialogues with their children's schools. For example, according to the CDC, "Research shows that parent engagement in schools is closely linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills." The R5CC team carried out a 50-state scan to examine state parent/family engagement approaches. This topical brief provides examples of state approaches to parental engagement, highlights federal efforts in this area, and includes a summary of parental engagement initiatives in Region 5 states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.