School Goals for Parent Engagement Welcoming Environment Theresa Arreguin, PACE Administrator Emily Kuwahara, Special Education Administrator Jennifer McConn, LRE Specialist Theresa

LAUSD GOALS 2015-2016 At the Los Angeles Unified School District, our goals are: 1.  100 percent graduation 2.  Proficiency for all 3.  100 percent attendance 4.  Parent and community engagement 5.  School safety Theresa

School Goals for Parent Engagement 1. Provide a welcoming environment for families and invite them to participate as equal partners in the education of their children. 2. Provide parents opportunities to acquire necessary information, knowledge, and skills to support their children’s education at home and at school. 3. Engage parents in the school’s volunteer program so they can participate in supporting school-wide, classroom, and parent involvement activities. 4. Respond to parent concerns and/or complaints to ensure child’s educational needs are met. 5. Comply with all LAUSD, State, and Federal requirements regarding parent involvement. Theresa

CONNECTIONS School Quality Improvement System Social-Emotional/Culture-Climate Domain Student/Staff/Parent Culture-Climate Survey Jen http://coredistricts.org/school-quality-improvement-system-waiver/

School Goals for Parent Engagement Goal #1: Welcoming Environment Provide a welcoming environment for families and invite them to participate as equal partners in their children’s education Emily

Objectives Overview benefits and components of a welcoming environment Increase awareness of: -setting a positive tone -customer Service etiquette -responding to common IEP requests Emily Display slide and read the objective.

Benefits of a Welcoming Environment It creates a positive, student-centered school climate. Parents become stronger partners and are involved both at the school and helping their children at home. Parents and community have a sense of belonging and become loyal members of the school community. Trusting relationships among staff and families lead to improved student outcomes. Theresa School invitingness an important predictor of parent involvement An inviting environment is especially important to making stronger connections with families of children with disabilities or in communities with diverse culture, language, and economic factors. It is equally important at all school levels – elementary, middle, and high school. Source: Beyond the Bake Sale by Anne Henderson, Karen Mapp, Vivian Johnson, and Don Davies

Key Components of a Welcoming Environment Physical Environment Welcoming School Staff Communication School-Wide Practices Theresa Physical environment – both inside and outside the school. Key areas include parking areas, signage, entrances, offices, and hallways. Welcoming school staff – attitudes and behaviors of staff. Key components include phone etiquette and interactions between staff, students, and parents Communication – key for schools to provide information. Key components include phone calls, newsletters, forms, bulletin boards, and the school’s website School-wide practices – can enhance or undermine a welcoming environment. This is difficult to observe. Examples of practices include back to school postcards or phone calls, home visits, picnics, etc. Source: How Welcoming is Your School? from the Connecticut Welcoming Schools Initiative

Setting the Tone - Mindset Believe in the Potential of All Students and Engage Parents as Partners in Developing that Potential Value differences Celebrate the diversity Promote integration Ensure equity Create meaningful educational opportunities for all of our students Ensure that every student completes high school with the skills and resources they need to pursue their post-secondary goals Emily The language above comes from the Sharyn Howell, Associate Superintendent for the Division of Special Education. The vision and goals for students with disabilities is the same as the vision and goals for all students. Please ensure that your mindset for ALL students really does encompass ALL students and subgroups within the district. June 2013

Setting the Tone Activity Key Tips for Administrators Read key tips and mark text for purposes such as: -Affirms a practice I currently display. - Indicates a practice I would like to further develop. - Indicates a practice I would identify as top priority. Theresa Pass out Key tips 1-2 minutes to review Follow protocol Share at your table group

Welcoming Environment Customer Service Theresa School Choice-What do others think about our school? YELP-Write a review Message the business Reviews/1-5 star ratings Tip Partner talk-Share Best customer service experience with a business -If time allows Partners will create a 5 star yelp review

Five Star Customer Service Etiquette Theresa Quick guide of do’s and don’ts

Communicating with Parents of Students with Disabilities Jen – explain activity Emily – model possible staff response for first scenario

KEEP YOUR THOUGTS POSITIVE BECAUSE OUR THOUGHTS BECOME YOUR WORDS KEEP YOUR THOUGTS POSITIVE BECAUSE OUR THOUGHTS BECOME YOUR WORDS. KEEP YOUR WORDS POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR WORDS BECOME YOUR BEHAVIOR. KEEP YOUR BEHAVIOR POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR BEHAVIOR BECOMES YOUR HABITS. KEEP YOUR HABITS POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR HABITS BECOME YOUR VALUES. KEEP YOUR VALUES POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR VALUES BECOME YOUR DESTINY. ~MAHATMA GANDHI Emily