1. Parent Involvement and No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
District (LEA) and School/Building Expectations and Requirements
Purpose of presentation – provide guidance to LEAs and Schools relevant to carrying out the requirements of NCLB and Parent Involvement Policy

2. Section 1118 (Parent Involvement) of NCLB addresses the following topics:
District Parent Involvement Policy
Reservation of Funds
School/Building Parent Involvement Policy
Shared Responsibilities
Parent Compact
Building Capacity for Involvement
Provide participants with copy of the legislation – Section 1118

3. NCLB Definition
“the participation of parents in regular, two way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.”
General definition of PI as it relates to NCLB.

4. DISTRICT PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

5. Parent Involvement Policy
District (LEA)
Parent Involvement Policy
The law reads: “Each local educational agency may receive funds… only if such agency implements programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in programs assisted under this part… Such… shall be planned and implemented with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children.”
Text from legislation: Sec (a) (2). Provide participants with copy of model of parent involvement found in USDOE’s latest document on PIRCs.

6. Required Components of District Parent Involvement Policy
The written policy shall describe how the LEA will involve parents in:
Development of the plan
The process of school review and improvement…
Include citation from NCLB: Section 1118, (a), (2), (A),(B),(C),(D),(E),(F)

7. The LEA Will Provide: Coordination Technical assistance Other support
Assistance in planning and implementing activities to improve student academic achievement
Stress the final words regarding academic achievement and school performance

8. The LEA Will:
Build the schools’ and parents’ capability for strong parental involvement
Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies
Other programs, such as: Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, Parents as Teachers, Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters, and State-run preschool programs (MSRP). Consider local day cares as well.

9. The LEA will Annually Evaluate
Content and effectiveness
Identify barriers to greater participation
Revise, if necessary

10. RESERVATION OF FUNDS

11. Reservation of Funds
Reserve not less than 1% of such agency’s allocation … except that this paragraph shall not apply if 1% of such agency’s allocation … is $5,000 or less
(B) Parents of children receiving services under this part shall be involved in decisions regarding how funds reserved … are allotted for parental involvement activities
(C) Not less than 95% of the funds … shall be distributed to schools served under this part
Sec 1118, (a) (3) (A), (B) and (C)

12. SCHOOL PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

13. School Parent Involvement Policy
Each school will:
Jointly develop and distribute to parents of participating children a written parental involvement policy, agreed to by parents
Copied text from the law – Section 1118 (b) (1). There are other parts to this section: (2) addresses if the school has a policy that applies to ALL parents that it may be amended to meet NCLB requirements; (3) addresses if the LEA has a school district-level parent involvement policy, such may be amended to meet the requirements of NCLB.

14. School Policy Annual meeting Convenient time
Parents invited/encouraged to attend
Explain Title I programs
Requirements
Rights of parents to be involved
NCLB states that the PIP “shall…” Sec 1118 (c) (1)

15. School Policy Flexible number of meetings
Use funds to provide transportation, child care, or home visits related to parent involvement
(2) flexible, such as AM or PM;

16. School Policy
Involve parents in planning, reviewing, and improvement of programs
Including improvement of parental involvement plan and schoolwide program plan
Note to listeners that the law under this portion (3) allows that if a school already has in place a process for involving parents in the joint planning and design of the school’s programs, he school may use that process PROVIDING such process includes an adequate representation of parents of participating children

17. School Policy
A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school
Forms of academic assessment used
The proficiency level students are expected to meet
Respond to any suggestions as soon as possible
There is also a (5) which provides that parents, if not satisfied with the schoolwide plan, may submit their comments on the plan to the school when the plan is made available to the LEA.

18. SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

19. Shared Responsibilities for High Student Academic Achievement
Jointly develop a school-parent compact
Outlines how the parents, the school staff and students, will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement
What the law says regarding joint responsibility of the school and parents: Sec 1118 (d)

20. PARENT COMPACT

21. Parent Compact School’s responsibility:
Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction
Supportive and effective learning environment
Enable children to meet State’s academic achievement standards
Sec 1118 (d) (1); provide participants with copies of sample Parent Compacts

22. Parent Compact Parent’s responsibility: Support their child’s learning
Volunteer in their child’s classroom
Participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time
Examples of supporting their children’s learning listed in the legislation include: monitoring attendance, homework completion and TV watching

23. Parent Compact On-going communication between teachers and parents:
Annual parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools to discuss the individual child’s achievement
Frequent reports to parents on children’s progress
Access to staff and opportunities to volunteer and participate in child’s class
Sec 1118 (d) (2); highlight the requirement that the compact be “discussed”, not simply sent home for signature

24. BUILDING THE CAPACITY FOR INVOLVEMENT

25. Building Capacity For Parent Involvement
Ensure effective involvement of parents
Support a partnership with the school, parents, and the community
Improve student academic achievement
Section 1118 (e)

26. Building Capacity For Parent Involvement
Provide assistance to parents in understanding:
State’s academic content standards
State and local academic assessments
How to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators
Sec 1118 (e) (1)

27. Building Capacity For Parent Involvement
Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children
Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents:
To communicate
Work as equal partners
Implement and coordinate programs
(2) Such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involement

28. Building Capacity For Parent Involvement
Coordinate and integrate involvement in programs such as Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First
Information related to school and parent programs is sent in a format parents can understand
Provide other support for parental involvement as parents request

29. QUESTIONS

30. Parent Involvement Resources
Engaging Parents in Education (USDOE):
Partnership Schools:
Simple Solutions Educational Services:
USDOE:
Alliance for Parental Involvement:
The Center for Comprehensive School Reform:
Joyce Epstein - Center on School Family and Community Partnerships:
National Campaign for Public School Improvement:
50 Ways to Involve Parents:
Parent Engagement Information and Tools:
Visit any of these sites to find research, models, etc., regarding parent involvement activities

31. Contact your regional Field Services Unit consultant: