INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has released a video message for parents stressing the importance of family engagement to ensure children are healthy, safe, and engaged in learning.

The video released Monday came as part of the Indiana Department of Education's pledge to increase communication with parents with quarterly messages. The department made the pledge as it sought an extension of its waiver from federal No Child Left Behind rules.

A link the video and information on the department's new Parent Portal can be found at www.doe.in.gov/parentportal.

Ritz says her next family engagement message will focus on the 2014-15 state ISTEP test.