Louisiana Migrant Education Program Parent Advisory Council ** PAC **

Purpose of PAC O Title I-C Sec 1304 (c)(3): In the planning and operation of programs and projects at both the State and local agency operating level, there is consultation with parent advisory councils for programs of 1 school year in duration, and that all such programs and projects are carried out-- O “(A) in a manner that provides for the same parental involvement as is required for programs and projects under section 1118, unless extraordinary circumstances make such provision impractical; and O “(B) in a format and language understandable to the parents;

Why is the opinion of parents important? The parents help develop programs to satisfy the needs of their children and all the migrant students in their district. The involvement of parents is a vital component to the success of students. The migrant education program requires that all districts that participate in the program include migrant parents in the best possible manner.

What is the Role of the PAC? O The PAC advises the Louisiana State Department of Education’s Migrant Education Program on concerns of migrant parents that relate to the planning, operation, and evaluation of MEP programs in which their children participate

What is “planning?” O Help identify areas of need and goals O Discuss strategies and timelines in accomplishing goals O Discuss use of MEP funds and other resources O Discuss migrant parent role in goals and strategies

What is “operation?” O Help establish, implement or support programs aimed at meeting identified need or goals O Provide support to efforts/programs aimed at improving academic achievement of migrant students O Help facilitate and conduct parent events and activities

What is “evaluation?” O Provide input to help provide the LEA with information to evaluate the effectiveness of the program O Provide suggestions to improvements of the program O Help identify obstacles and barriers that impact migrant student academic achievement or migrant parental involvement

Why is it important to include the suggestions of parents? The parents should be involved in the development of policy in the school (including the school improvement plans) The parents share the responsibility of high achievement integrated in the pacts/contract between the school and parents. The schools have the capacity to include the parents in the following: professional development/training and partnering between the organizations and businesses in the community.

Why Do We Need A Migrant Education Program? Children of migrant workers face a myriad of academic, health and social problems due to their mobile lifestyle.  For many, English is a second, and sometimes third, language.  The dropout rate is high.  In many cases the migrant student also contributes to the family’s economic well-being by working or by caring for younger brothers and sisters while the parents are at work.

Obstacles that affect Academic Learning  Barriers in learning a new language  Differences in educational plans, methods of instruction and graduation requirements in different high schools  Changing homes  Inconsistencies in grade level assignments  Poverty  Differences in cultural and social expectations  Health problems in children  Problems in locating local health services

WHY DO WE NEED A PAC?

According to the State Migrant Comprehensive Needs Assessment Update: Fall 2015 Parent Surveys indicated needs in the following areas: O School tutoring in math & reading O Summer programs O High School credit accrual O After School tutoring

According to the State Migrant Comprehensive Needs Assessment Update: Fall 2015 Although still perceived as a need, the areas that received fewer responses were: O Dropout Prevention Programs O High School Equivalency Programs O Programs for preschool children

According to the State Migrant Comprehensive Needs Assessment Update: Fall 2015 Also noted: 1. Students completing the surveys in Spanish do not believe their parents and/or guardians can help them with their homework.

According to the State Migrant Comprehensive Needs Assessment Update: Fall Parents that completed the survey in Spanish do not believe their children’s teachers have a good understanding of the unique challenges faced by migrant students.

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) for Louisiana Updated: October 2015 O Service Delivery Plan outlines the services that can and will be provided to migrant students based on the results of the State needs assessment. The State MEP and the District MEPs must align services paid with migrant funds to the State Service Delivery Plan.

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O Key Areas of Concern: O Literacy O Numeracy O School Readiness O Graduation and Career Readiness

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O 80% of Migrant Parents who participate in a migrant sponsored or co-sponsored parental involvement activity will report being more engaged in their child’s academic progress O Strategy: Facilitate family attendance at school-sponsored literacy/numeracy events LITERACY & NUMERACY:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O Evaluated by: O LEA’s O Collected by: O Parent Surveys, Agendas and Sign in Sheets O When: O July of each year LITERACY & NUMERACY:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O 80% of Migrant Parents who participated in migrant sponsored parental involvement activity will report being more knowledgeable about early childhood resources O Strategy: O Develop relationship with community agencies and faith-based organizations that provide early childhood and school readiness services O Conduct home visits to provide resources to families on school readiness and developmental milestones SCHOOL READINESS:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O 100 % of parents with 3-5 year old Migrant students will receive assistance in registering their children in Pre-K programs. O 50% of Migrant families with children 0-5 years of age will receive resources to help the children develop school-readiness skills before entering Pre-K SCHOOL READINESS:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O Evaluated by: O LEA’s O Collected by: O Parent Surveys, Home Visit Logs, Workshop Agendas and Sign in Sheets O When: O July of each year SCHOOL READINESS:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O 80% of Migrant Parents who participated in migrant sponsored parental involvement activity will report being more engaged in their child’s academic success and more knowledgeable about graduation requirements and college and career readiness programs O Strategy: O Design graduation planner for families with students in grades 9-12 High School Graduation & Career Readiness:

State Migrant Service Delivery Plan (SDP) O Evaluated by: O LEA’s O Collected by: O Parent and Student surveys O When: O July of each year High School Graduation & Career Readiness:

What’s Your Plan????