HAMMOND — The Louisiana Statewide Family Engagement Center has launched a new program to support Louisiana public and charter schools by providing resources to help them grow. 

The program, Louisiana Family Friends Schools, aims to encourage family engagement within schools. 

Louisiana Family Friendly Schools works on a four-level basis: learning, listening, leveraging and leading, with leading being the top level. The program works by recognizing the level a school is at and then encouraging growth from that level. The school can reapply for a higher recognition level after one year.

Each level also includes a "Family Engagement Enhancement Stipend" ranging from $100 to $3,000, depending on what level the school is at. The money is intended to be reinvested into family engagement efforts. 

The schools are ranked by across five areas: relationship building, communications, shared responsibility for learning, advocacy and family voice and community partnership. These areas are measured through family survey results, communication plans, family learning resources and family leadership participation. 

The program is operated by the Hammond-based Center for Literacy and Learning. Schools can apply now through Oct. 1.