6172.4(a)

Instruction

Title I Parent Involvement

The Board of Education endorses the parent involvement goals of Title I and encourages the regular participation by parents of Title I eligible children. The education of children is viewed as a cooperative effort among the parents, school and school community. In this policy, the “parent” also includes guardians and other family members involved in supervising the child’s schooling.

Pursuant to federal law, the District will develop jointly with, agree on with and distribute to parents of children participating in the Title I program, a written parent involvement policy.

At the annual meeting of Title I parents, parents will have opportunities to participate in the design, development, operation and evaluation of the program for the next school year. Proposed activities shall be presented to fulfill the requirements necessary to address the requirements of parental involvement.

In addition to the required annual meeting, additional meetings shall be held, at various times of the day and/or evenings, for parents of children participating in the Title I program. These meetings shall be used to provide parents with:

1. Information about programs provided under Title I;

2. A description and explanation of the curriculum in use, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet;

3. Opportunities to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children; and

4. The opportunity to bring parent comments, if they are dissatisfied with the school’s Title I program, to the district level.

The parents of children identified to participate in Title I programs shall receive from the school Principal and Title I staff an explanation of the reasons supporting each child’s selection for the program, a set of objectives to be addressed, and a description of the services to be provided. Opportunities will be provided for the parents to meet with the classroom and Title I teachers to discuss their child’s progress. Parents will also receive guidance as to how they can assist in the education of their children at home.

Each school in the District receiving Title I funds shall jointly develop with parents of children served in the program a “School-Parent Compact” outlining the manner in which parents, school staff and students share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement in meeting State standards.

6172.4(b)

Instruction

Title I Parent Involvement

The “School-Parent Compact” shall:

1. Describe the school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment enabling children in the Title I program to meet the State’s academic achievement standards;

2. Indicate the ways in which each parent will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning, such as monitoring attendance, homework completion, monitoring television watching, volunteering in the classroom, and participating, as appropriate, in decisions related to their child’s education and positive use of extra-curricular time; and

3. Address the importance of parent-teacher communication on an on-going basis, with at a minimum, parent-teacher conferences, frequent reports to parents, and reasonable access to staff.

(cf. 1110.1 - Parent Involvement)

Legal Reference: Improving America’s Schools Act, P.L. No. 103-382, Sec. 1112 Local Education Agency Plans

Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA), P.L. 103-382

P.L. 107-110, “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” Title I – Improving The Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged, Sec. 1118

Policy adopted: February 10, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut

6172.4(a)

Instruction

Title I Parent Involvement

In order to achieve the Title I parent involvement desired by Board of Education policy on this topic, these regulations guide the development of each school’s annual plan designed to foster a cooperative effort among the parents, school and community.

A. Guidelines

Parent involvement activities developed at each school will include opportunities for:

· volunteering;

· parent education;

· home support for child’s education;

· parent participation in school decision-making.

B. Roles and Responsibilities

1. Parents - it is the responsibility of the parent to:

· actively communicate with school staff;

· be aware of rules and regulations of school;

· take an active role in the child’s education by reinforcing, at home, the skills and knowledge the student has learned in school;

· utilize opportunities for participation in school activities.

2. Staff - it is the responsibility of the staff to:

· develop and implement a school plan for parent involvement;

· promote and encourage parent involvement activities;

· effectively and actively communicate with all parents about skills, knowledge and attributes student is learning in school and suggestions for reinforcement;

· send information to parents of Title I children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.

3. Community - community members who volunteer in the schools have the responsibility to:

· be aware of rules and regulations of the school;

· utilize opportunities for participation in school activities.

6172.4(b)

Instruction

Title I Parent Involvement (continued)

B. Roles and Responsibilities (continued)

4. Administration - it is the responsibility of the administration to:

· facilitate and implement the Title I Parent Involvement Policy and Plan;

· provide training and space for parent involvement activities;

· provide resources to support successful parent involvement practices;

· provide in-service education to staff regarding the value and use of contributions of parents and how to communicate with and work with parents as equal partners;

· send information to parents of Title I children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.

Regulation approved: September 14, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut