Families InvolvementAction Team FIAT TRAINING March 4, 2010

You Said WHAT! FIAT FIAT NNPS/Joyce Epstein NNPS/Joyce Epstein PIRC PIRC FFWT FFWT PEs PEs ATP ATP

FIAT Team Who? Who? Terms of team? Terms of team? Who should be the chair person? Who should be the chair person? What is the chair persons role? What is the chair persons role? Characteristics to look for when picking teams Characteristics to look for when picking teams How often do you meet How often do you meet Committees Committees *All features are flexible to fit school conditions and needs.

What are the roles of your FIAT? School joins the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) School joins the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) Organize into committees Organize into committees Develop a one year action plan based on your ASIP, create a budget and identify sources of funding Develop a one year action plan based on your ASIP, create a budget and identify sources of funding FIAT team and action plan are introduced and shared with entire school community FIAT team and action plan are introduced and shared with entire school community Meet regularly as a whole team and establish goals and guidelines for teamwork. How will you communicate? What decision making process will you see? when will you allow time to discuss issues and solve problems? Meet regularly as a whole team and establish goals and guidelines for teamwork. How will you communicate? What decision making process will you see? when will you allow time to discuss issues and solve problems? Gather ideas and plan programs and activities Gather ideas and plan programs and activities Publicize activities and team meetings. Publicize activities and team meetings. Evaluate your work and report regularly on progress in meeting the plan. Evaluate your work and report regularly on progress in meeting the plan.

Proper Implementation of FIAT Meets at least once a month during the school year Meets at least once a month during the school year Average attendance to monthly meetings is at least 75% of membership Average attendance to monthly meetings is at least 75% of membership The principal regularly attends meetings (75% of meetings) The principal regularly attends meetings (75% of meetings) Principal and FIAT chair debrief regularly on the course of Action Plan implementation (at least once a month) Principal and FIAT chair debrief regularly on the course of Action Plan implementation (at least once a month) Mid-year reports on implementation are completed and submitted to Title 1/Kathy Fossum Mid-year reports on implementation are completed and submitted to Title 1/Kathy Fossum By the end of the school year, all action steps are completed By the end of the school year, all action steps are completed

Benefits of Partnerships: Results of Research What will well-designed and well-implemented family and community involvement activities DO? For STUDENTS Higher grades and test scores Higher grades and test scores Better attendance Better attendance Improved behavior at home and at school Improved behavior at home and at school Better social skills and adjustment to school Better social skills and adjustment to school More classes passed and credits earned More classes passed and credits earned Increased enrollment in more challenging academic programs and graduation on time Increased enrollment in more challenging academic programs and graduation on time

Research cont. For PARENTS Stronger sense of support from school and other parents Stronger sense of support from school and other parents More awareness of student progress and effective responses to problems More awareness of student progress and effective responses to problems Increased self confidence about guiding student through school Increased self confidence about guiding student through school Appreciation of teachers work and skills Appreciation of teachers work and skills Increased feeling of ownership of school Increased feeling of ownership of school

Research cont. For TEACHERS Increased respect for families strengths and efforts Increased respect for families strengths and efforts Increased understanding of families goals for their children Increased understanding of families goals for their children Greater readiness to involve all families in new ways Greater readiness to involve all families in new ways Use of community Resources to enrich studens experiences Use of community Resources to enrich studens experiences Increased satisfaction with teaching Increased satisfaction with teaching

6 Types of Parent Involvement Parenting Parenting Communicating Communicating Volunteering Volunteering Learning at home Learning at home Decision making Decision making Collaborating with the community Collaborating with the community

Type 1 - Parenting (Basic Responsibilities of Families) Housing, health, nutrition, clothing, safety Housing, health, nutrition, clothing, safety Understand child and adolescent development and parenting skills for all age levels Understand child and adolescent development and parenting skills for all age levels Home conditions that support children as students at all grade levels Home conditions that support children as students at all grade levels

Type 2 - Communicating (Basic Responsibilities of Schools) School-to-Home Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, connect ed, s, websites Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, connect ed, s, websites Information to help families Information to help families *understand school programs and childrens progress state tests, report cards and other assessments *choose or change courses, placements, programs and activities Home-to-School Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions and interactions Two-way channels of communication for questions, suggestions and interactions

Type 3 - Volunteering (Involvement at and for the School) Volunteers In schools or classrooms In schools or classrooms Assist administrators, teachers, students or parents as aides, tutors, coaches, boosters, monitors, lecturers, chaperones, mentors and in other ways For schools or classrooms For schools or classrooms Assist school programs and student activities from any location at any time For audiences Attend assemblies, performances, sports events, recognition and award ceremonies, celebrations and other student activities For audiences Attend assemblies, performances, sports events, recognition and award ceremonies, celebrations and other student activities

Type 4 - Learning at Home (Involvement in Academic Activities) Information for families on… how to help at home with homework how to help at home with homework required skills to pass each subject required skills to pass each subject curriculum-related decisions by and for the student curriculum-related decisions by and for the student development of students other skills and talents development of students other skills and talents

Type 5 - Decision Making (Participation and Leadership) School Council or School Improvement Team School Council or School Improvement Team FIAT Team FIAT Team PTA/PTO membership, participation, leadership, representation PTA/PTO membership, participation, leadership, representation Title 1 advisory and other school or district committees Title 1 advisory and other school or district committees Independent advisory and advocacy groups Independent advisory and advocacy groups

Type 6 - Collaborating with the Community Community contributes to schools, students and families Business partners Business partners Health Services Health Services Senior citizen organizations Senior citizen organizations Government and military agencies Government and military agencies Other groups, agencies and organizations, Other groups, agencies and organizations, schools, students and families to contribute to the community schools, students and families to contribute to the community Service learning and other special projects Service learning and other special projects

NNPS Model – 4 focus areas Academic 1: Reading or writing Academic 1: Reading or writing Academic 2: Math Academic 2: Math Safe Drug-free Schools: Improve student behavior, attendance Safe Drug-free Schools: Improve student behavior, attendance Climate of Partnership: Improve school climate and culture to be more family friendly Climate of Partnership: Improve school climate and culture to be more family friendly

Lets Go to Work!