Highlighting Parental Involvement in Aiken County Public Schools

By 2014, 90% of the district’s stakeholders will indicate satisfaction with the learning environment, social and physical environment and school-home relations as measured by the state report card survey. District Policy- KA School-Parent Community Relations Goals/Priority Objectives

The No Child Left Behind Act defines parental involvement as the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other activities.

NCLB requires the following:  District-and School-level Involvement Policies  School Parent Compact  Parent Involvement Funding

StudentsParentsTeachers/Schools More positive attitude toward school Higher achievement Better attendance Higher quality homework completed consistently Positive perception of home-school connection Greater understanding of how school works Greater confidence about ways they can help their children learn and be successful in school Positive views of teachers and the school Higher morale Improvement in student achievement Higher graduation rates Parental and community support for the school

Based on Joyce Epstein’s Typology (six types of parent involvement reflecting three levels of participation) Level 1 Improves Student Achievement Level 2 Improves School Climate Level 3 Improves School Effectiveness Type 1 – Parenting Type 2 – Communicating Type 4 – Learning at home Type 6 – Collaborating with community Type 3 – Volunteering in schools Type 6 – Collaborating with community Type 5 – Decision-making

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 1 Parenting Adult Ed (High School Diploma/GED) Adult Education/Parenting Collaborative Grant Family Literacy ESL Adult Education Freedman Parenting Center – Family Literacy 21 st Century Afterschool Programs Special Education Department-Parent Engagement Framework Center for Innovative Learning at Pinecrest Parent Resource Fairs Fall/spring carnivals

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 2 Communicating Registration Open House/Other activities in the school Dive-ins (schools visit neighborhoods to facilitate parent/child activities) Alert Now Phone System (District/Schools) District/School Websites Parent Portal Student work sent home Progress reports Student report cards State school report cards Notes home, agendas, newsletters, memos, phone calls School marquees Student-Parent Handbooks Transition Fair for rising 6 th graders Academic Booster Club Local Radio/TV Stations/Newspaper School Board Meetings

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 4 Learning at home Family Nights Parent and Child Together (PACT) Parent Share Fairs Parent Workshops Parent –Teacher Conferences Newsletters and flyers with tips for parents School Websites Compass Learning accounts Type 6 Collaborating with the community Civic Clubs Public Education Partners (PEP) Alternative Learning Parent Engagement Subcommittee Adult Education (Career/Job Fair) USC-Aiken, Aiken Tech First Steps Faith based organizations United Way/other businesses and industries Chamber of Commerce Leadership of Aiken/Leadership North Augusta

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 3 Volunteering Parent Compact (to help recruit and organize volunteers) School surveys to recruit for volunteers State report card survey for parents to evaluate their contribution to their child’s success at school Volunteer coordinators train volunteers in schools Mentoring Tutoring Field Trips Turtle Express

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 6 Collaborating with the community Civic Clubs Public Education Partners (PEP) Alternative Learning Parent Engagement Subcommittee Adult Education (Career/Job Fair) USC-Aiken, Aiken Tech First Steps Faith based organizations United Way/other businesses and industries Chamber of Commerce Leadership of Aiken Leadership North Augusta

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENTBEST PRACTICES Type 5 Decision-making Individual Education Plans (IEPs) 504 Plans Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) PTO/PTA School Improvement Councils Area Advisory Councils School Booster Clubs CATE Advisory Board AdvanceEd District Title I Planning Team District Title I Survey School surveys

The most promising opportunity for student achievement occurs when families, schools, and community organizations work together.

Parents + Teachers = Partnership for Student Success

Questions, comments…