Parent Engagement: The Law, Assessment, Strategies and Evaluation District (LEA) and School/Building Expectations and Requirements

2 NCLB Definition “… the participation of parents in regular, two way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.”

3 Section 1118 (Parent Involvement) of NCLB Addresses the Following Topics: District Parent Involvement Policy District Parent Involvement Policy Reservation of Funds Reservation of Funds School/Building Parent Involvement Policy School/Building Parent Involvement Policy Building Capacity for Involvement Building Capacity for Involvement Shared Responsibilities Shared Responsibilities Parent Compact Parent Compact

4 DISTRICT PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

5 District (LEA) Parent Involvement Policy The law reads: “Each local educational agency may receive funds… only if such agency implements programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in programs assisted under this part… Such… shall be planned and implemented with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children.”

6 The Planning Process Plan Study Gather Data Do Student Achievement

7 Required Components of District Parent Involvement Policy The written policy shall describe how the LEA will involve parents in: Development of the plan Development of the plan The process of school review and improvement… The process of school review and improvement…

8 Required Components The LEA Will Provide: Coordination Coordination Technical assistance Technical assistance Other support Other support Assistance in planning and implementing activities to improve student academic achievement Assistance in planning and implementing activities to improve student academic achievement

9 Required Components The LEA Will: Build the schools’ and parents’ capability for strong parental involvement Build the schools’ and parents’ capability for strong parental involvement Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies

10 The LEA will Annually Evaluate Content and effectiveness Content and effectiveness Identify barriers to greater participation: Vision to See, Faith to Believe and Courage to Do Identify barriers to greater participation: Vision to See, Faith to Believe and Courage to Do Revise, if necessary Revise, if necessary

11 RESERVATION OF FUNDS

12 Reservation of Funds Reserve not less than 1% of such agency’s allocation … except that this paragraph shall not apply if 1% of such agency’s allocation … is $5,000 or less Reserve not less than 1% of such agency’s allocation … except that this paragraph shall not apply if 1% of such agency’s allocation … is $5,000 or less (B) Parents of children receiving services under this part shall be involved in decisions regarding how funds reserved … are allotted for parental involvement activities (B) Parents of children receiving services under this part shall be involved in decisions regarding how funds reserved … are allotted for parental involvement activities (C) Not less than 95% of the funds … shall be distributed to schools served under this part (C) Not less than 95% of the funds … shall be distributed to schools served under this part

13 SCHOOL PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

14 School Parent Involvement Policy Each school will distribute to parents of participating children a written parental involvement policy, agreed to by parents

15 School Policy Requirements Annual meeting Annual meeting Convenient time Convenient time Parents invited/encouraged to attend Parents invited/encouraged to attend Explain Title I programs Explain Title I programs Rights of parents to be involved Rights of parents to be involved

16 School Policy Flexible meetings Flexible meetings Use funds to provide transportation, child care, or home visits related to parent involvement Use funds to provide transportation, child care, or home visits related to parent involvement

17 School Policy Requirements Involve parents in planning, reviewing, and improvement of programs Involve parents in planning, reviewing, and improvement of programs –Including improvement of parental involvement and Title I program plans

18 School Policy Requirements A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school Forms of academic assessment used Forms of academic assessment used The proficiency level students are expected to meet The proficiency level students are expected to meet Respond to any suggestions as soon as possible Respond to any suggestions as soon as possible Parental comments to be attached to the submitted Title I Plan Parental comments to be attached to the submitted Title I Plan

19 DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL

20 Developing Capacity For Parent Involvement Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents: Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents: –To communicate –Work as equal partners –Implement and coordinate programs –Ensure effective involvement of parents

21 Developing Capacity For Parent Involvement Provide assistance to parents in understanding: Provide assistance to parents in understanding: –State’s academic content standards –State and local academic assessments –How to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators

22 Developing Capacity For Parent Involvement Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children Support a partnership with the school, parents, and the community Support a partnership with the school, parents, and the community Improve student academic achievement Improve student academic achievement

23 Developing Capacity For Parent Involvement Coordinate and integrate involvement in programs such as Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First Coordinate and integrate involvement in programs such as Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First Send information related to school and parent programs in a format parents can understand Send information related to school and parent programs in a format parents can understand Provide other support for parental involvement as parents request Provide other support for parental involvement as parents request

24 SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

25 Shared Responsibilities for High Student Academic Achievement Jointly develop a school-parent compact Jointly develop a school-parent compact Outlines how the parents, the school staff and students, will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement Outlines how the parents, the school staff and students, will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement

26 PARENT COMPACT

27 Parent Compact School’s responsibility: School’s responsibility: –Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction –Supportive and effective learning environment –Enable children to meet State’s academic achievement standards –Identify challenges confronting the parents’ ability to help their children

28 Parent Compact Parent’s responsibility: Parent’s responsibility: –Support their child’s learning –Participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time

29 Parent Compact On-going communication between teachers and parents: On-going communication between teachers and parents: –Annual parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools to discuss the individual child’s achievement –Frequent reports to parents on children’s progress –Access to staff and opportunities to volunteer and participate in child’s class

30 Section 1111 of NCLB Addresses the Following Topics Related to Parent Involvement Annual Report Cards Annual Report Cards Parents’ Right to Know: Parents’ Right to Know: –Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualifications –Student Achievement –Non-Highly Qualified Teachers

31 SECTION 1112 OF NCLB ADDRESSES THE TOPIC OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT AS RELATED TO LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENTS

32 Section 1116 of NCLB Addresses the Following Topics Related To Parent Involvement Progress Review Progress Review Schools Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring Schools Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring Choice – Schools Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action and Restructuring Choice – Schools Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action and Restructuring Supplemental Services – Schools in the Second Year of Improvement, In Corrective Action, or in Restructuring Supplemental Services – Schools in the Second Year of Improvement, In Corrective Action, or in Restructuring Schools Identified for Restructuring Schools Identified for Restructuring

33 QUESTIONS

34 Parent Involvement Resources US Department of Education (USED): Engaging Parents in Education (USED): e/index.html e/index.html Partnership Schools: Simple Solutions Educational Services:

35 Parent Involvement Resources Alliance for Parental Involvement: The Center for Comprehensive School Reform: Joyce Epstein - Center on School Family and Community Partnerships:

36 Parent Involvement Resources National Campaign for Public School Improvement: 50 Ways to Involve Parents: mncomm/pa1lk20.htm mncomm/pa1lk20.htm Parent Engagement Information and Tools: ment_Part_1_ _111426_7.pdf ment_Part_1_ _111426_7.pdf

37 Effective Learning Environment Resources Brucato, John M. (2005), Creating a Learning Environment: An Educational Leader’s Guide to Managing School Culture. Scarecrow Education. Brucato, John M. (2005), Creating a Learning Environment: An Educational Leader’s Guide to Managing School Culture. Scarecrow Education. Dermody, Julie. (2003). Creating Caring Schools, Developing the caring classroom. Classroom Leadership, vol.6, #7. Dermody, Julie. (2003). Creating Caring Schools, Developing the caring classroom. Classroom Leadership, vol.6, #7. Irvin, Judith, et. al. (2007). Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy, chpt.1 Student motivation, engagement, and achievement. ASCD publication. Irvin, Judith, et. al. (2007). Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy, chpt.1 Student motivation, engagement, and achievement. ASCD publication.

38 Effective Learning Environment Resources Freiberg, H. Jer. (1999), School Climate: Measuring, Improving and Sustaining Healthy Learning Environments. Routledge 1 Edition. Freiberg, H. Jer. (1999), School Climate: Measuring, Improving and Sustaining Healthy Learning Environments. Routledge 1 Edition. Perkins-Gough. (2008). The Positive Classroom Special Report / School Climate: Urban Parents’ Views. Educational Leadership, vol. 66, #1, pgs Perkins-Gough. (2008). The Positive Classroom Special Report / School Climate: Urban Parents’ Views. Educational Leadership, vol. 66, #1, pgs

39 Effective Learning Environment Resources Victor-Reed, Evelyn and Stronge, James H. (2001). More Strategies for Educating Everybody’s Children, chpt 2 Diverse teaching strategies for homeless children. ASCD publication. Victor-Reed, Evelyn and Stronge, James H. (2001). More Strategies for Educating Everybody’s Children, chpt 2 Diverse teaching strategies for homeless children. ASCD publication. Willis, Clarissa Ann, (2008). Creating Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children: What to do on Monday Morning. Corwin Press. Willis, Clarissa Ann, (2008). Creating Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children: What to do on Monday Morning. Corwin Press.

40 Questions and Answers Contact your regional Office of School Improvement consultant: Region Region Region Region Region Region Region Region Region Region