1. September 23, 2015 Times: 7:45am-8:45am; 11:30am-12:30pm; 4:00pm-5:00pm Location: Drama Room

2.  Children do better in school and feel better about themselves.  Teachers understand the needs and concerns of students and parents.  Parents understand their child and be more involved in the child’s education.

3.  Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding (Title I funds) to supplement the school’s existing programs. These funds are used for…  Identifying students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help these student’s meet the State’s challenging content standards.  Purchasing supplemental staff/programs/materials/supplies  Conducting parental Involvement meetings/trainings/activities  Recruiting/Hiring/Retaining Highly Qualified Teachers  Being a Title I school also means parental involvement and parents’ rights.

4.  Any Local Educational Agency ( School District) with a Title I Allocation exceeding $500,000 is required by law to set aside 1% of it’s Title I allocation for parental involvement.  Of that 1%, 5% may be reserved at the school district for system-wide initiatives related to parental involvement. The remaining 95% must be allocated to all Title I schools in the district. Therefore each Title I school receives its portion of the 95% to implement school-level parental involvement.  You, as Title I parents, have the right to be involved in how this money is spent.

5.  Salaries + Benefits = $210,375.50 (Includes Teachers, Academic Coach, and Parent Facilitator)  Non-Salary Funds = $34,484.50 (Technology, Supplies, Thinking Maps, Professional Development)

6.  Focus on Meeting our Academic, Safe, Secure, and Disciplined Learning Environment, Community Engagement and Fiscal Responsibility goals as indicated in our School Accountability Plan.  To continue improving/upgrading technology for our students/staff  To provide professional development for our teachers  To increase our business partners  To improve parent/community engagement  To continue working to close the achievement gap for all subgroups  To continue working to increase our CCRPI score  Implement/Incorporate Thinking Maps

7. 2014CCRPI SCORE – 58.2 40.914.103.2--3 Stars 2013CCRPI SCORE – 70.5 42.415.5102.6--NA 2012CCRPI SCORE – 63 Achieveme nt points Progress Points Achieveme nt Gap Points Challenge Points Financial Efficiency Rating School Climate Rating 41.813.752.5--NA Legend: Achievement: Utilizes All Indicators Progress: Utilizes Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs) Achievement Gap: Utilizes Lowest Quartile Scale Scores Challenge Points: ED/EL/SWD Performance Points + Exceeding the Bar Points (not to exceed 10 points)

8. Georgia’s Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Wavier

9. House Bill 251 Public School Choice for 2014-2015 Under State Law- House Bill 251, parents or guardians may request to have their child transferred to another public school within the school district of residence, as long as the school district has determined that there is available classroom space at the school after all assigned students have been enrolled. In order to process the Public School Choice request, parents or guardians must complete and submit a “Transfer Request Form.” The transfer request form and a complete list of school choice options are listed on the Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s website. Requests to transfer will not be accepted after 4:00PM on Friday, June 30, 2014.

10.  Planning team  Needs Assessment  School-Wide Goals  Research based strategies  Completion of Budget  Evaluation of plan

11.  Student academic assessments  Information on proficiency levels  Additional assistance provided struggling students  Coordination and integration of federal funds and programs  School programs including migrant, pre-school, school choice, and supplemental educational services as applicable.  Parental Involvement Strategies, including the school Parental Involvement Plan

12.  Students in Math and ELA are taught using the Common Core Curriculum  Students in Science and Social Studies are taught using the Georgia Performance Standards or Georgia Standards of Excellence.  All Connections teachers (Art, Spanish, Music, Band, P.E., Health, Technology, Family and Consumer Science) teach the required curriculum specific to their courses.  At SWMS, one of our primary focuses for this school year is to align Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments in each of our classrooms.

13.  The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.  To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.  These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

14.  Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)  Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)  GoFars (Science)  Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS)  End of Course Tests (EOCT)- students taking 9 th grade courses for credit.  Common Assessments

16.  District Parent Policy  School Parent Policy  Compacts  Budget  Volunteer opportunities  Parent decision making opportunities

17.  How can parents become involved at the school?  Parents have a right to request opportunities for regular meetings for parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions about the education of their children.  The school must respond to any such suggestions from parents as soon as practicably possible.

18. IMPACT ON YOUR CHILDREN  Students with involved parents, no matter their income or background, are more likely to:  Earn higher grades and test scores  Be promoted, pass their classes  Attend school regularly  Have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school  Graduate and go on to post- secondary education HOW TO BE INVOLVED  Listen to your child read  Assist your child with homework  Monitor the teachers’ websites for news  Volunteer with tutoring, in the Media Center, and at PBIS events  Attend workshops hosted through the SWMS Parent Center

19.  You, as Title I Parents, have the right to request the qualifications of your child’s teachers.

20.  Paula Connelly, Parent Facilitator: paula.connelly@sccpss.com  Tavares Brown, Title I Coordinator tavares.brown@sccpss.com (912) 395-3540