Parental Involvement Staff Training Module 3: Implementation and Coordination of Parental Involvement Programs Presenter: [Name] Schools and LEAs must educate their staff (including teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff) on how to work with parents as equal partners. Schools and LEAs may involve parents in developing this training in order to improve its effectiveness. Specifically, the content of the training should include the following topics: The value and utility of the contributions of parents; How to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents; Implementation and coordination of the LEAs and/or schools parental involvement policy/plan and the parent programs within the LEA; and How to build ties between parents and the school [Section 1118(e)(3) and (6), ESEA]. This presentation satisfying the requirement to provide staff development in the “Implementation and coordination of the LEAs and/or schools parental involvement policy/plan and the parent programs within the LEA

Agenda Welcome and Introductions Housekeeping and Ground Rules Parental Involvement Policies/Plans LEA- and School-Level Involvement beyond participation in LEA or school activities Review, follow-up, and next steps

Housekeeping and Ground Rules Restrooms Cell phones, blackberries, etc. Breaks and lunch Ground Rules Keep the children in mind All ideas are important Everyone participates

Objectives Participants will be able to: Describe the Parental Involvement Policies/Plans (PIP) for the LEA and School; Identify how PIPs are developed; List ways classroom activities support the implementation of the PIPs; and Describe examples of parental involvement beyond participation in LEA or school activities.

Federal Legislation Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorized as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Section 1118 describes the LEA and schools responsibilities for implementing parental involvement activities Section 1118 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, reauthorized as No Child Left Behind requires that LEAs and schools implement parental involvement programs. The federal legislation ensures that parents have the information they need to make well-informed choices for their children, effectively share responsibility with their children’s schools, and help those schools develop effective and successful academic programs. Three decades of research provide convincing evidence that parents are an important influence in helping their children achieve high academic standards. When parents collaborate with schools, participate in school activities, and are part of the decision-making for their child’s education, children achieve at higher levels. In short, when parents are involved in education, children do better in school and schools improve.[1] [1] Lewis, Anne C.; Henderson, Anne T., Urgent Message: Families Crucial to School Reform, 1998

State Legislation FS 1002.23 the Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act 1) The purpose of the Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act is to: a) Provide parents with specific information about their child's educational progress; b) Provide parents with comprehensive information about their choices and opportunities for involvement in their child's education; and c) Provide a framework for building and strengthening partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, LEA school superintendents, and other personnel. The Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act [FS 1002.23] also requires the implementation of specific parental involvement activities. There is some overlap of the federal and state requirements; however, the federal requirements are more extensive.

Parental Involvement Policies Parental Involvement Policies/Plans (PIPs) must: Be developed with the input of parents; Describe the steps the LEA and school will take to involve parents in the education of their child; and Be correlated to other plans of the school and district. Parental Involvement Policies/Plans (PIPs) must: Be developed with the input of parents. At our school the PIP is developed by [name of group (School Advisory Council, Parent Advisory Council, etc.)]; Describe the steps the LEA and school will take to involve parents in the education of their child; and Be correlated to other plans of the school and district.

School-Level PIP Requirements Convene an Annual meeting Offer a flexible number of meetings related to parental involvement Involve parents in an organized, ongoing, and timely manner in planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs. Provide parents timely information about the Title I program, curriculum at the school, assessments used to measure student progress, and the expected proficiency levels; Convene an annual meeting at a time convenient for parents of participating children Offer a flexible number of meetings and may provide with Title I funds, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services related to parental involvement Involve parents in an organized, ongoing, and timely manner, in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs. This should include the planning, review, and improvement of the school parental involvement policy, as well as the joint development of the school-wide program plan under section 1114 (b)(2) Provide parents of participating children timely information about the Title I programs, description and explanation of the curriculum at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; Provide parents of participating children opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children; Develop with the input of parents Parent-School Compact; Provide assistance to parents to build their capacity to help their child; Coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities that teach parents how to help their children at home; and Accessibility: Ensure that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents of participating children in a format and language the parents can understand and provide full opportunities for the participation of all parents.

School-Level PIP Requirements Host regular parent meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate in decision-making activities; Develop and use Parent-School Compacts; Provide assistance to parents to build their capacity to help their child; Coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs; and Accessibility for the participation of all parents.

Review PIPs How can classroom activities support the implementation of the PIP and help improve the AYP status/data of the school? Review the school’s PIP with participants. Review the six requirements and the AYP data for your grade group. Brainstorm activities that your grade group/subject area add-to/revise to implement the six requirements and improve the AYP status of the school? Groups work together for 15-20 minutes brainstorming activities and then share with the group how they can support parents, implement the PIP, and improve the AYP status. Ask someone to record unduplicated responses. For example: Title I Annual Meeting. The AYP data for 3rd grade indicates a need in reading. How can the third grade team expand the information to parents on reading?

Review What are Parental Involvement Policies/Plans (PIP)? How PIPs are developed? What components are included in the PIP? Are PIPs correlated to other plans? Which ones? How can classroom activities support the implementation of the PIPs? Tell one example of how you will involve parents next week.

Follow-up: Parent Training Analyze student achievement data and identify an academic area in which parents can help their child at home. Develop a workshop/training session for parents Present the information to parents Analyze results of the same indicators after the implementation of the strategies Submit evidence to [name] by [date] For follow-up individual teachers or groups of teachers must develop a training session to parents based on student performance data. The training session must be completed no later than [date]. Participants must submit evidence to [name] of the completion of the project including the following: Sign-In sheets, handouts, presentation materials, content covered, data indicating the need and results. Analyze student achievement data and identify an academic area in which parents can help their child at home. Develop a workshop/training session for parents Ensure that activities are correlated to student achievement, Provide presentation materials, handouts, and take-home activities Present the information to parents Develop and implement an advertising plan to ensure parent participation Provide materials for those parents who were unable to attend Analyze results of the same indicators after the implementation of the strategies

Closing Thought Programs designed with strong parent involvement produce students who perform better than otherwise identical programs that do not involve parents as thoroughly, or that do not involve them at all. ~ Anne T. Henderson