Introduction to Home/School Compacts Parent Involvement Introduction to Home/School Compacts

What is a Compact? A written commitment/agreement indicating how all members of a school community: parents, teachers, principals, students, and concerned community members, agree to share responsibility for student learning.

Purpose of Compact A compact defines the job description and development of a partnership between the school, parent and student and how all will share the responsibility to improve student achievement by: Student learning; Communication; and Building partnerships with trainings and volunteering.

Compact Requirements Title I Part A In addition to adopting a school parental involvement policy, each school shall jointly develop a school-parent compact with parents, which needs to target: The school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction – school section; The importance of ongoing communication between parents and teachers through, at a minimum, annual conference, reports on students progress, access to staff, and opportunities to volunteer and participate in and observe the educational program – school section; and The parents’ responsibility to support their children’s learning – parent section.

Description of Responsibilities The schools responsibility section must have: How the school will provide high-quality curriculum and instruction; How to present a supportive and effective learning environment; and Others as needed. The parents responsibility section must have: How families will support their children’s learning environment; How parents can participate in making decisions relating to their child’s success; and The students responsibility section must have: How students can communicate with family and school staff about any problems or extra help needed; and

Planning for the Compact Create a Committee – school personnel, parents/family members and students (middle school) Create Compact – establish your compact with shared responsibility Implement Compact – publicize compact, have all parties sign agreement Evaluate and Modify Yearly – On a yearly basis evaluate compact for improvements or statements not working District Goal – should align with District vision and mission statements District Goal

Strategizing together When writing your compact keep these suggestions in mind: Compacts define responsibilities to all participating partners; Compacts should be specific to schools’ academic goals; The compact should represent the ideas of the entire school community; Offer clear statements; Include information that helps staff, parents and students to understand what is expected; Number of responsibilities should be equal for all partners Statements should support all groups; and Be specific in your statements i.e. how often homework should be done, read how many minutes.

Sample of a Elementary Compact As a Member of the School I Pledge to: Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction. Communicate regularly with families about student progress through annual conferences, report on student progress, provide access to staff and an opportunity to volunteer and participate in and observe the educational program. Provide meaningful, daily homework assignments to reinforce and extend learning (30 minutes for grades 1-3 and 60 minutes for grades 4-6). Actively work with families and school staff to make schools accessible and a welcoming place for families which helps each student achieve the school's high academic standards. Endeavor to motivate students to learn. Have high expectations and help every child to develop a love of learning. Provide a safe and caring learning environment. Respect students, staff and families of different cultural backgrounds. As a Parent I Pledge to: Communicate the importance of education and learning to my child. Ensure that my child attends school every day, gets adequate sleep, regular medical attention and proper nutrition. Participate at school in activities such as school decision making, volunteering and/or attending parent-teacher conferences. Regularly monitor my child's progress in school. Communicate with the teacher or the school when I have a concern. Read to my child or encourage my child to read every day (20 minutes K-3, and 30 minutes for grades 4-6). Provide a quiet time and place for homework and limit TV viewing. Respect the staff, students, and families of different cultural backgrounds. As a Student I Pledge to: Ask for help when I need it. Know and follow school and class rules. Communicate regularly with my parents and teachers about school experiences so that they can help me to be successful in school. Be responsible for delivering notices to my parents and encourage my parents to become involved in school activities. Study and read books every day instead of watching TV and playing video games. Complete assignments and homework. Work to resolve conflicts in positive, non-violent ways. Respect the school, staff, classmates and families of different cultural backgrounds.

Sample of a Middle/Jr. High Compact As a staff member, I will: Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction. Endeavor to motivate my students to learn. Have high expectations and help every child to develop a love of learning. Communicate regularly with families about student progress. Provide a warm, safe, and caring learning environment. Provide meaningful, daily homework assignments to reinforce and extend learning (30 minutes for grades 1-3 and 60 minutes for grades 4-6). Participate in professional development opportunities that improve teaching and learning and support the formation of partnerships with families and the community. Actively participate in collaborative decision making and consistently work with families and my school colleagues to make schools accessible and welcoming places for families which help each student achieve the school's high academic standards. Respect the school, students, staff and families. As a student, I will: Come to school ready to learn and work hard. Bring necessary materials, completed assignments and homework. Know and follow school and class rules. Ask for help when I need it. Communicate regularly with my parents and teachers about school experiences so that they can help me to be successful in school. Limit my TV watching and instead study or read every day after school. Respect the school, classmates, staff and families. As a parent/guardian or family member I will: Provide a quiet time and place for homework and monitor TV viewing. Read to my child or encourage my child to read every day (20 minutes K-3, and 30 minutes for grades 4-6). Communicate with the teacher or the school when I have a concern. Ensure that my child attends school every day, gets adequate sleep, regular medical attention and proper nutrition. Regularly monitor my child's progress in school. Participate at school in activities such as school decision making, volunteering and/or attending parent-teacher conferences. Communicate the importance of education and learning to my child. Respect the school, staff, students, and families.

Publicize the Compact Use the compact in all areas of your school programs such as: School newsletter; Website; Community events/assemblies; Back to School Night; Parent/Teacher Conference Week; and/or PTA/Booster club meetings.

Yearly evaluation of your Compact The compact is an evolving action plan. It focuses on all parties doing their equal part. Here are a few ideas to help schools evaluate the compact: School data – to evaluate whether your compact is helping achieve the academic goal; Parents, teachers, and students (Middle/Jr. High) should be included; Committee should review each bullet for effectiveness; and Committee should ensure that compact aligns with District and school plans. Schools are required to review the compacts each year and approve at the School Site Council Meeting.

Evaluating Questionnaire Ask your compact partners to answer these questions to see how well the compact is working: Is your staff, family, and students aware that the compact exists? Do partners know their commitments under the compact and are they fulfilling them? Is the compact used frequently in parent-teacher meetings and in other ways? How do parents, teachers, community members, and students use the compact? Are resources, including those from Title I, designated to help achieve the aims of your compact? How much? Are there any other possible resources available? Does your school community feel that the compact is a reasonably balanced statement of mutual responsibilities for student learning and school performance? Are there any new initiatives in the school, community, or District that could link with your compact to strengthen its impact?

Strengthen your Compact Use the following worksheet to design an improvement plan. Area identified for improvement: ____________________________________________ Why improvement is needed (based on progress towards standards and local, state, and national comparisons): _________________________________________________________________________ Improvement strategies: How will the committee strengthen the actions for this area? What specific actions will be taken with reference to learning, to communication, and to volunteering and training? How will each partner contribute to the effort? 1. _________________________________________________________________________ 2. _________________________________________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________________________________________ What specific changes are needed to the compact document itself? __________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion In order to make a compact successful all partners need to put statements into action. The compact’s success depends on the commitment all partners have for student achievement. For assistance please contact your Parent Involvement Liaison