• TITLE I PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

     

    The Board of Education believes that positive parental involvement is essential to student achievement, and thus encourages such involvement in school educational planning and operations.  Parental involvement may take place either in the classroom or during scheduled after school activities.  However, the Board also encourages parental involvement at home (e.g., planned home reading time and informal learning activities). 

    Title I Parental Involvement - District Level Policy

    Consistent with the parent involvement goals of Title I, Part A of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), the Board of Education will develop and implement programs, activities and procedures that encourage and support the participation of parents of students eligible for Title I services in all aspects of their child’s education.  The Board also will ensure that all of its schools receiving Title I, Part A funds develop and implement school level parental involvement policies, as further required by the NCLB.

    For purposes of this policy, parental involvement refers to the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.  At a minimum, parental involvement programs, activities and procedures at both the district and individual school level must ensure that parents:

    • Play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
    • Are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school; and
    • Are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.

    District- and school-level Title I parental involvement programs, activities and procedures will provide full opportunities for the full participation of all parents.

    As further required by the NCLB, parents of students eligible for Title I services will be provided an opportunity to participate in the development of the district’s Title I plan, and to submit comments regarding any aspect of the plan that is not satisfactory to them.  Their comments will be forwarded with the plan to the State Education Department. 

    Parent Participation in the Development of a District-wide Parental Involvement Plan

    The Board, along with the Superintendent of Schools and other appropriate district staff will undertake the following actions to ensure parent involvement in the development of the district wide parental involvement plan:

    1. Meetings will be flexibly scheduled during the morning, after school and during the evening.
    2. Email and telephone communication will be used to survey parents who may not be available to attend meetings in person.
    3. The district website and newsletter, superintendent's messages, mailings, and/or the Blackboard notification system will be used to communicate meeting times and alternative contact information.
    4.  

    Review of district wide parental involvement plan

    The Board, along with the Superintendent of Schools and other appropriate staff will conduct, with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement plan in improving the academic quality of Title I schools, including the identification of barriers to greater participation by parents in activities under this policy, and the revision of parent involvement policies necessary for more effective involvement. To facilitate this review, the district will conduct the following activities:

    1. Title I parents will be invited to attend an annual meeting facilitated by the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Instruction.
    2. The annual meeting shall be convened within 60 days after the start of the new school year.
    3. The district website, mailings, and/or the Blackboard notification system will be used to communicate meeting times and alternative contact information.
    4. Included in the meeting notice will be an overview of Title I programs and schedules.
    5. Title I parents will be provided with the opportunity to complete and submit review/evaluation forms should they be unable to attend the annual meeting.
    6. Should a Title I parent require a translator, one will be present at the annual meeting. 

    Development of School-level Parental Involvement Plans

    The Superintendent of Schools will ensure that all district schools receiving federal financial assistance under Title I, Part A are provided technical assistance and all other support necessary to assist them in planning and implementing effective parental involvement programs and activities that improve student achievement and school performance.  As appropriate to meet individual local needs, the superintendent will:

    1. Ensure that meetings are flexibly scheduled during the morning, after school, and during the evening.
    2. Ensure that e-mail and telephone communication will be used to survey parents who may not be available to attend meetings in person.
    3. Ensure that the Superintendent’s quarterly newsletter, the district website, mailings, and/or the Blackboard notification system will be used to communicate meeting times and alternative contact information.

    Building Capacity for Parental Involvement

    To build parent capacity for strong parental involvement to improve their child’s academic achievement, the district and its Title I, Part A schools will, at a minimum:

     

    1. Assist parents in understanding such topics as the state’s academic content and student achievement standards, state and local academic assessments, Title I requirements, how to monitor their child’s progress and how to work with educators to improve the achievement of their child.  To achieve this objective, the district and its Title I schools will:
    • Schedule parent information sessions, (e.g. during PTA, SEPTA, and Board of Education meetings)
    • Distribute, when appropriate, and post relevant information on the district website.
    • Collaborate with the Pupil Personnel Services and SEPTA to coordinate speakers and programs.

     

    1. Provide materials and training to help parents work with their child’s academic achievement.  To achieve this objective, the district and its Title I schools will:
    • Work in collaboration with the PTA to implement programs such as Parents as Reading Partners (PARP), A Million Minutes of Reading, and Reflections.
    • Distribute, when appropriate, the curriculum guides, assessment preparation information, and  support in understanding student assessment reports.
    • Offer onsite opportunities, such as PTA meetings, for parents to learn about the curriculum, assessments, and student assessment information.
    • Communicate with the North Merrick Public Library regarding our literacy programs.

     

    1. Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff in understanding the value and utility of a parent’s contributions and on how to:
    • Reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners.
    • Implement and coordinate parent programs.
    • Build ties between parents and the schools.

     

    1. Ensure that information related to school and parent-related programs, meetings and other activities is sent to the parents of children participating in Title I programs in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats, upon request, and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.

     

    Ref:      §1118 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

                8 NYCRR §§100.3(b)(3); 100.4(f); 100.5(d)(4); 149.3(16)

                U.S. Department of Education, Parental Involvement, Title I, Part A, Non-Regulatory Guidance, April 23, 2004

     

    Adoption date: 12-11-07