Pursuant to federal law, the district and the parents of students participating in Title I district programs have jointly developed the following parent and family engagement policy. The policy shall be implemented by the superintendent or designee according to the timeline set forth in the policy and incorporated into the district’s Title I plan.
Involvement with Title I planning
The district shall hold an annual meeting for parents and families of students in Title I programs, as well as school Title I staff, principals of schools receiving Title I funds and other interested persons to discuss the Title I program plan, review implementation of the Title I plan, discuss how Title I funds allotted for parent and family engagement activities shall be used, and invite suggestions for improvement.
District support for parent involvement
The district shall provide coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in building the capacity for strong parent and family engagement to improve student academic achievement and school performance.
This coordination, assistance and support shall include:
- creation of a District Parent Advisory Council to provide advice on all matters related to parent and family engagement in programs supported by Title I funds
The district, with the assistance of parents, shall develop and implement a district professional development plan to enhance the skills of teachers, pupil services personnel, principals and other staff in:
- the value and utility of contributions of parents
- how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners
- implementing and coordinating parent programs
- building ties between parents and the school
Coordination of parent and family engagement activities with other district programs
The district shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement programs and activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, the Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, and district preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their child.
This will include:
- quarterly meetings of staff involved in these programs
- coordination of written materials to parents regarding these meetings
- parent participation welcome at all meetings
- programs being combined with parent night/open house
Student learning
The district shall coordinate and integrate Title I parental involvement strategies with those of other educational programs in the district. The purpose of this coordination shall be to improve the academic quality of the schools served, including identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in activities authorized by law, particularly by parents who:
- are economically disadvantaged
- have disabilities
- have limited English proficiency
- have limited literacy
- are of any racial or ethnic minority background
- are parents of migratory children
The integration of Lake County School District programs will be accomplished through:
- translated correspondence
- common identification procedures in programs
- staff sharing of resources and information
The district shall provide to parents, as appropriate, information to help them understand the state’s academic content and achievement standards, state and local academic assessments, the requirements of Title I, how to monitor students’ academic progress and how to work with school staff to improve the achievement of students. The district shall develop written materials and training for staff to help parents work with students to improve student achievement.
This will be accomplished through the identification of parents’ needs through surveys. Programs will then be developed through the joint efforts of parents and staff. These would include opportunities for:
- training for parents in literacy through
- parent classes
- parent nights
- training for parents in use of technology
School-based parent involvement activities
Parents will be encouraged to become involved in the activities of schools with Title I programs. This will be accomplished through:
- sending support materials home on a regular basis
- encouragement of parental involvement in the classroom by staff and volunteer coordinators
The following standards developed by the National Parent Teacher Association will be used as a guide:
- Communicating – communication between home and school is regular, two-way and meaningful
- Parenting – parenting skills are promoted and supported
- Student learning – parents play an integral role in assisting student learning
- Volunteering – parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought
- School decision making and advocacy – parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families
- Collaborating with the community – community resources are used to strengthen schools, families and student learning
Method of communicating with parents
All information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities shall be sent to parents in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
Annual evaluation
The district shall conduct, with the meaningful engagement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this policy. Effectiveness shall be measured in part by improvements in student academic achievement and in school performance.
The evaluation shall address the needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers and strategies to support successful school and family interactions. The evaluation shall specifically address challenges to greater participation by parents in activities authorized by law, particularly by parents who:
- are economically disadvantaged
- have disabilities
- have limited English proficiency
- have limited literacy
- are of any racial or ethnic minority background
- are parents of migratory children
The district shall use the findings of the evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parent and family engagement and to revise, if necessary, this policy.
The district shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.
Development of school-level Title I parent involvement policy
Each school receiving Title I funds shall jointly develop with, agree on, and distribute to parents and family members of students participating in the Title I program (hereafter referred to as “parents”) a written School-Level Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy establishing the district’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family engagement in accordance with the requirements of federal law.
The policy shall contain a school-parent compact or agreement that outlines how parents, school staff and students will share the responsibility of improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help students. At a minimum, the compact shall include the provisions contained in the sample exhibit (KB-E-1) attached to this policy.
Adopted: Prior to November 2015
Revised: November 2015
Revised: September 2020
LEGAL REFS.: 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. (Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act)
Title I, Part A, Section 1112 (a) (parent role in the development of district Title I plan)
Title I, Part A, Section 1112 (e) (information for parents concerning teacher qualifications, assessments and language instruction)
Title I, Part A, Section 1112 (g) (parent involvement and notifications in districts using Title I funds to provide language instruction to limited English proficient students)
Title I, Part A, Section 1114 (b)(2) (eligible school that desires to operate a schoolwide program must develop a comprehensive plan)
Title I, Part A, Section 1115 (b)(2)(E) (Targeted Assistance Program must include parent involvement strategies)
Title I, Part A, Section 1116 (a) (parent and family engagement policy)
Title I, Part C, Section 1304 (c)(3) (parent involvement and in projects and programs for the education of migratory children)
C.R.S. 22-11-101 et seq. (Education Accountability Act of 2009)
CROSS REFS.:
Administrative policies:
AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment
AEA, Standards Based Education
IHBIB, Primary/Preprimary Education
IKA, Grading/Assessment Systems
Lake County School District R-1, Leadville, Colorado