If students are to be successful, their parents or guardians must be actively involved in their education. Colonies North ES developed this policy to describe how we involve parents and family members in the development of this policy and the School-Parent-Student Compact; to help parents and family members help their children achieve in school; and to make sure parents with limited English proficiency or disabilities and parents of migratory students can participate in their children’s education. This policy was developed jointly, and reviewed annually, with parents and members of the School Advisory Team and Parent & Family Engagement Committee.
School-Parent-Student Compact - This compact explains how school staff and parents will share the responsibility for each student's academic success. The compact was developed jointly with parents and members of the School Advisory Team and Parent & Family Engagement Committee.
Annual Title I Meeting - Each year we invite parents to an Annual Title I Meeting. Notice is sent to every parent through phone contact by every students’ teacher and messaging on the marquee. Meetings are held on several different days and times, and parents have a choice of which to attend. At the meetings we discuss Title I law and requirements, the rights of parents and students, benefits of programs offered, and other topics. We help parents and family members to attend these meetings by providing home visits by our family liaison and Communities In Schools to reach those families who, otherwise, have limited communication with the school.
Policy Involvement – Parents can be involved in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs, including contributing to the review of this Parent and Family Engagement Policy, the School-Parent-Student Compact, and School Improvement Plan. Parents may serve as members or provide input to the School Advisory Team (SAT), Parent and Family Engagement Committee (PFEC), Title I Advisory Council, and other district/campus committees. We help the parents and family members to attend these meetings by providing home visits concerning parent and family engagement.
Program Involvement - Throughout the year we give families timely information during our annual Meet the Teacher and Parent Orientation Nights, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Student-Led Conferences, Academic Family Nights, Parent and Family Engagement programs, and APTT Nights and Literacy Workshops. We describe our curriculum and standards, share our expectations for students, explain how student performance is measured, and how to monitor student progress. We explain how each individual child and our school as a whole is doing on state tests and other measures of performance. Through the School Advisory Team (SAT), Parent and Family Engagement (PFEC), Title I Advisory Council, and other district/campus committees we offer opportunities to respond to parent suggestions, share experiences and concerns, and participate in decisions concerning services and programs offered at our school.
Building Capacity for Parent and Family Engagement - Activities to build parent and family engagement are described throughout this policy. It is part of our role to teach parents and families how to help their children learn and how to be involved in decision-making about the education of their children. We will also provide other reasonable support for parent and family engagement activities as requested.
Parent Training - Training and materials are provided during Parent and Family Engagement
Programs, Counselor Coffees, APTT Nights and Literacy Workshops. These presentations share information with parents and family members to help them work with their children to improve academic achievement.
Our school strives to coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement activities among the different programs available on our campus. Shared parent and family engagement activities are sponsored for Title I schools such as Learning Tree, Family Literacy Program, Family Involvement Programs, Families and Schools Together Program (FAST), Head Start, Migrant Education Program, Title III Bilingual/ESL, and Pre-K 4 SA.
The development of school-business partnerships that include activities for parents and families is encouraged. Community-based organizations and businesses are given information about opportunities for working with parents and family members.
Staff Training - Training is also given to teachers and other staff members. All school staff view the District Parent and Family Engagement Presentation which emphasizes the importance of parents as partners and the building of ties between home and school. When possible, parents and family members are involved in the development of this training.
Accessibility - Participation and involvement of all parents and families is important. Information related to student achievement, school performance, school and parent programs, meetings and other opportunities for participation is sent home in the home language whenever possible. Some of the standard information sent home in Spanish includes this policy, School-Parent-Student Compact, announcements, newsletters, report cards, school profiles, and student test results.
For parents and families whose home language is other than English or Spanish, we attempt to provide translation services. For parents of migrant students, we ensure they are informed of anything they may have missed during times of migration. Interpreters for the deaf and other adaptations are provided whenever needed. We ensure the ability of parents with disabilities to participate by providing handicapped access to classrooms and buildings where meetings are held.
Date Reviewed/Evaluated: May 21, 2020
Date Distributed: September 21, 2020
This policy complies with the Northside Independent School District’s policies for parent and family engagement.
EHBD (Legal) and EHBD (Local)
