2015 PAFPC SEVEN SPRINGS MAY 3-6 Develop Effective Title I Policies and Resources for Your School

Workshop Goals Discuss LEA requirements of Section 1118 of NCLB relating to Parent Involvement. Discuss necessary requirements for parent involvement to achieve monitoring compliance. Provide best practices from schools across Pennsylvania to enhance your own parent involvement programs.

NCLB Definition of Parent Involvement Parent involvement: the participation of parents in regular, two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, ensuring—  that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;  that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;  that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child; and  that other activities are carried out, such as those described in Section 1118 of NCLB.

Parent Involvement in Title I Section 1118 of No Child Left Behind To receive Title I funds, school districts must involve Title I parents in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the Title I program. If the plan is not satisfactory to parents, LEAs must submit parent comments with the plan.

Areas of LEA Responsibility for Parent Involvement Development of the Title I Plan LEA Parent Involvement Policy Annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the LEA Parent Involvement Policy Reservation of Funds  1% of Title I allocation if over $500,000  95% of these funds must be distributed to buildings for parent involvement activities  Funds reserved in excess of 1% may be used for district wide parent activities. Parent Right to Know Requirements Involvement and outreach to parents of LEP students If Schoolwide, must have a parent as part of the Schoolwide team.

Parent Involvement in the Title I Plan The Title I Plan (for the Title I program for the following year) must be jointly developed with the parents of participating children.  If the Plan is not satisfactory to parents, LEA must submit parent comments with the plan when it is submitted to the state. It must be updated annually. HOW?  Meetings, workshops, etc.

LEA Parent Involvement Policy Each LEA that receives Title I, Part A funds must develop a written parental involvement policy that establishes the LEA’s expectations for parental involvement. Policy must be developed jointly with, and agreed upon with, the parents of children participating in Title I.

LEA Parent Involvement Policy Must include a description of:  How parents will be involved in development of the Title I plan and in school review and improvement.  The coordination and technical assistance provided by LEA in developing effective parent involvement.  How the LEA will help build capacity for strong parent involvement.  How the LEA will coordinate parent involvement activities with other programs.  How the LEA will conduct an annual evaluation of the parent involvement policy.  Involve parents in the activities of schools served under Title I, Part A.

McKeesport Area School District – Parent Involvement Policy Addresses minimum requirements for the LEA PI policy. Next sections go above and beyond what is required. Discusses the annual meeting and any additional PI meetings. Discusses the school-parent compact. Focuses on building capacity and working with parents.

LEA Parent Involvement Policy The LEA Parent Involvement Policy must be updated annually with parent involvement. The District Parent Involvement Policy must be disseminated to all Title I parents annually. Multiple methods are preferred, but not required  Mail  Website  Newsletters  Parent/Teacher Conferences  Handbook

Parent Involvement Set-Aside LEAs receiving more than $500,000 in Title I must reserve 1% (minimum) for parent involvement.  95% must be distributed to schools  5% can be used for nonpublic parent involvement  Set asides amounts in excess of 1% may be used for district-wide parent involvement activities. LEAs receiving less than $500,000 in Title I still must meet all requirements for parent involvement, but are not required to set aside funds to do so.

Parent Right to Know (Section 1111) LEAs must notify parents of their right to request information on the qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals teaching their children.  Must occur at the beginning of the school year.

LEP students LEAs must have effective outreach to parents of LEP students. Provide documentation is a language they can understand. Inform parents of the program.

School-level Responsibilities for Parent Involvement Written School Level Parent Involvement Policy Parent Right to Know Requirements School-Parent Compacts (Shared Responsibilities for High Student Performance) Annual meeting to inform parents of the school’s Title I program Conduct an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the school PI activities Build Capacity for Strong Parent Involvement

School Level Parent Involvement Policy must include… How the Title I School will:  Carry out parent involvement requirements in Section 1118, including the Development of School/Parent Compacts. The School Level PI policy must align with the district policy but be unique to the school. Must be updated annually with parent involvement.

School Level Parent Involvement Policy (Cont’d) Describe how the school will provide Title I Parents:  Timely information on Title I  School Performance Profiles  Child’s individual student assessment results  Description/explanation of their curriculum  Opportunities for Regular Meetings  Describe process of timely responses to suggestions Policy must be disseminated to parents and made available to the community.  Through website, letter, handbook

Founder’s Hall Middle School (MASD)– School PI policy Aligns with district but unique to the school Topics address: Curriculum Assessments Math and Reading Program Parent workshops After school academy Professional Development

Right to Know Requirements Title I, Part A schools must give each parent timely notice when their child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks, by a teacher who is not “highly qualified”. Schools provide to each individual parent information on the level of student achievement of the parent’s child in each of the State academic assessments.

School-Parent Compacts A written agreement of shared responsibility that--  Defines the goals and expectations of schools and parents as partners in the efforts to improve student achievement.  Outline how parents, school staff, and students will work together and build a partnership to help students achieve high academic standards.  Serve as a catalyst for collaboration and guide for ongoing, better communication between school staff and parents.

School-Parent Compacts Must be developed jointly with Title I parents. Must be shared and reviewed with parents at parent- teacher conferences. Must be reviewed and updated annually. Each school must develop their own compact.

Warren County School District Warren Area Elementary Center Fall Newsletter and School/Parent Compact  Incorporated in the School/Parent Compact  Updates parents on the math program  Provides parents with reading/learning tips

Title I Annual Meeting Schools invite parents to an informational meeting to inform them about the school’s participation in Title I, Part A programs and explain the requirements and their right to be involved.

L.R. Appleman Elementary School Annual Meeting Topics include: Assessments for the different grade levels PSSA results SPAC Conference update PI guidelines

Annual Evaluation Of the PI Activities Conduct an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the school PI activities. Usually done through surveys Conneaut School District - Title I program Parent Survey Kane Area School District – Parent/Family Survey Family and Community Engagement Survey – SPAC website

Building Capacity for Involvement LEA/Schools may--  Involve parents in the training of school staff.  Provide literacy training, if no other funds are available.  Pay transportation and child care costs to enable parents to participate in meetings and training sessions.  Train parents to train other parents.  Arrange meetings at a variety of times to meet the needs of parents with different schedules.  Arrange in-home conferences if parents can’t get to school.  Send materials home in a language parents can understand (this is a “must”).

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Oil City School District - Southside School’s Parent Information Night  Provided sessions for the parents based on the annual survey  Information to help your student with reading  Information to help your student with math Information and methods on helping you and your child when upset and frustrated.

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Columbia Borough School District Back to School Night Dads & Donuts Moms & Muffins Grandfriends & Goodies Gingerbread Family Literacy Night (K-2nd Grade) Moms & Muffins FAMILY LITERACY Morning Event ALARM BINGO

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Bradford Area School District Back to school rally Reading Under the Lights Pump It Up at Parkway Field Winter Olympics Teddy Bear Picnic

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Erie School District Accelerated Reading Family Night Literacy Family Night Parent/Student Breakfasts Iroquois School District Community night Addresses a lot of parent needs in one night Reaches parents of students at different grade levels

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Titusville School District - Reading Parent night Themed reading nights for parents – one week – five nights Goal to teach parents more about the phonological continuum, give them a better understanding of the district assessments, and to provide them ways they can build upon skills at home.

Ideas for Building Capacity from schools around PA Pittsburgh-Mt. Oliver IU 2  Parent Workshops  teachers survey parents for the most convenient time of day to meet  Provide Reading tips and activities  Fall and Spring  Summer Express workbook  Monthly distribute a parent magazine from Resources for Educators

Other Parent Involvement Monitoring Requirements Provided materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve student achievement. Educate instructional staff, with parent assistance, on how to reach out to and communicate with parents as equal partners. Inform parents about the existence of a parent resource center. Not a requirement to have one. Coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs with other programs, such as Head Start. Develop a transition plan with parental assistance.

State Level Parent Involvement Activities Title I State Parent Advisory Council  Title I State Parent Conference  Seven Springs Resort  July 13 th – July 15 th  Looking for presenters – if interested let me know  SPAC will cover registration and lodging for one Title I parent per district  Childcare available for an additional cost  Technical Assistance Visits for School Districts Parent Resource Center (IU 4) Title I Parent Involvement Toolkit For more information on SPAC:

Parent Involvement Resources United States Department of Education Website (law and guidance):  State Parent Advisory Council Website  Engaging School Communities Website  Division of Federal Programs Website  Title I Parent Involvement Toolkit: 

Contributing School Districts/IUs Benton School District Bradford Area School District Columbia Borough School District Conneaut School District Erie School District Great Valley School District Iroquois School District Kane Area School District McKeesport Area School District Pittsburgh/Mt Oliver IU 2 Oil City School District Titusville School District Warren County School District

QUESTIONS?