DALTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT … Public Schools / Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 proficiency...

Dalton Public Schools / Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015

DALTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

2014-2015

First from previous year policy Draft May, 2012

FPPAC review May 30, 2012

Adopted September 13, 2012

Reviewed August 1, 2013

Reviewed October 15, 2014

PIP is available in a variety of ways: at each parent resource center, school,

registration office, central office, and online. All parents and stakeholders are

welcome to provide any comments/suggestions/recommendations to this

document. Please contact Laura Orr Federal Programs Director (706) 876-4000

[email protected] or http://daltonpublicschools.com/

mailto:[email protected]


PART 1: GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

Dalton Public Schools believes that each student can learn more than he/she is currently

learning and that students should be provided quality, engaging work. Dalton Public Schools is

only as strong as the support of the beliefs and goals of the school system by the school board,

staff, parents, students and citizens of the community. Parent and community involvement are an

integral part of the learning process of all students.

Dalton Public Schools has a Parent Involvement Policy to serve all the parents in our school

district.

The Dalton Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy will be available at each parent

resource center, school, registration office, and parent workshops.

The Dalton Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy will be reviewed by parents,

administrators, parent involvement coordinators, and the community.

The Dalton Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy will be available for review at the

beginning of the year, at each parent resource center, and at each parent workshop.

The Dalton Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy will be periodically updated and

reviewed to meet the changing needs of the parents and the district.

The Dalton Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy agrees to be governed by the

following statutory definition of parental involvement and will carry out programs and

activities and procedures in accordance with this definition.

o Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two way, and

meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school

activities, including 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

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, ensuring that other activities, such as those described in section 1118

(b) of the ESEA are carried out.


PART II: DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SCHOOL WILL IMPLEMENT REQUIRED

SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS

DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLICY – Dalton Public Schools parents will

be involved in the joint development and distribution of the Title I Plan and Parent Involvement

Policy through the use of parent surveys, committee memberships, school wide planning teams,

school councils, and participation on Federal Programs Parent Involvement Advisory Group, and

PTA/PTO committees

PROVIDE COORDINATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – Title I schools will be

provided with the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist in

planning and implementing effective parent involvement. Title I funds will be set aside to

provide monetary support to all Title I schools for effective parent involvement activities,

workshops, and support. Title I works in collaboration with other parenting programs that exist

in the school district to provide information and resources to assist parents in ways to help their

children achieve at a higher level in school.

BUILD STRONG CAPACITY FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT - Title I schools will plan

programs designed to improve parent involvement. Parent committees, PTA/PTO and school

committees work toward increasing parent involvement. Parent involvement strategies are

included in individual school Title I plans, AdvancED, and FLP plans.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN - In all PK-5 schools, with state funded Georgia Pre-Kindergarten

Programs, parenting workshops are held collaboratively with Title I, EIP, Migrant and ELL when

feasible.

Little Cats is a district initiative to assist parents in working with their preschool age (3 and 4 year

olds) on basic literacy skills to be ready to transition into PreK and Kindergarten programs.

Children and their parents attend Little Cats classes together to build both child and parent capacity

to successfully transition to the school setting and increase the probability of school success in the

very earliest grades.

ANNUAL EVALUATION - Schools will annually survey parents to ascertain the effectiveness

and appropriateness of the Parent Involvement Policy. Areas to be evaluated will include

identifying barriers to parent participation such as low income, disabilities, limited literacy, LEP

or other racial or ethnic considerations. The findings of this evaluation will be used for school

improvement and reviewing and revising the parent involvement policy each year.


INVOLVE PARENTS IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES - Title I schools involve parents in

school activities in a variety of ways:

Parent Resource Center Individual schools will provide parents with resources through

informational centers and resource rooms.

Parental informational training (introduction to school system, parent/ teacher

conferences, grading system, standardized testing, student learning objectives, opening

parent portal accounts, academic resources in school and online, school programs,

school involvement, support of students at home, health and hygiene, discipline,

children safety, gang and social issues, college, nutrition)

After school homework help for at risk students- (based on recommendations of

teachers)

Computer software for parents to help with English language learning and academics

Little Cats initiative to assist parents in working with their preschool age (3 and 4 year

olds) on basic literacy skills to be ready to transition into PreK and Kindergarten

programs

Electronic devices, books and tapes in English and other languages of students

represented in the system for students to use there and take home

Liaisons between schools and parents- Parent Involvement Coordinators for Title I,

Title III, Pre-K, Special Education, Parent Mentor and School Social Workers

Community fair- partner with community agencies

District partnerships: Federal Programs (Title I, Migrant, Homeless, Title III, ESS),

Bright from the Start, School Counselors, School Social Workers, School Committees

Community partnership: Dalton State College, CLILA, ACLA, Promotoras, Family

Support Council, Teen Resource, Faith-based organizations/churches and other

organizations

Parent/Teacher conferences are offered, either scheduled or as requested, to share

information with parents about their child’s academic progress, progress reports and

report cards, standardized test results and interpretation and curriculum/resources.

Other information such as behavior records may be shared as necessary.

PARENTAL INPUT AND PARENTAL COMMENTS - Parental input concerning parenting

activities and school improvements will be welcomed. Parents will serve on the school council

of each Title I school and on the district Federal Programs Parent Involvement Advisory

Committee (FPPAC). Schools will be allocated funds for parent involvement. Schools will keep

minutes with all parent comments included.

ALLOCATION - The LEA will allocate one percent (1%) of the total Title I, Part A allocation

for parent involvement.


DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS - The LEA will distribute funds based on the eligibility report

and the regulations identified in the law. Schools will submit individual budgets to the district

Title I Coordinator based on identified needs as stated in the school’s Title I Plan.

DALTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TITLE I PARENT INVOLVEMENT PLAN - Each Title I

school has a plan for parent involvement included in the school’s Title I Plan. The plan is

developed with input from teachers, community members, and parents. Presentations for school

staff and school parents about the Title I program and services are provided at each school.

Strategies for parent involvement are included as a part of the school’s plan. The system has a

plan that includes all requirements mandated by the ESEA.

SPECIAL RULE - The school parent involvement plan will be reviewed and updated each year

based on the changing needs of the school’s population. The plan is available for parent review

upon request.

AMENDMENT - The LEA parent involvement plan/policy may be reviewed and amended

based on the changing needs of the Title I eligible schools and the needs of parents.

PARENT COMMENTS - If the parent involvement plan/policy is not satisfactory to the

parents of participating children, the LEA shall submit any parent comments with the plan.

Parent comments shall be kept on file (if applicable) in the Title I coordinator’s office.

ANNUAL MEETING - In the fall of the year, each Title I school will host an Annual Title I

meeting. Parents will be notified about the meeting in writing in a timely manner. At the annual

meeting parents will be informed of the Title I Program, its requirements, the school’s

curriculum, and their rights to be involved in the decisions made about their children’s education.

INVOLVING PARENTS IN PLANNING AND REVIEW - School Councils meet each

spring to review and update school improvement plans. Parents are members of each school

council. Parent input is obtained through electronic email feedback, surveys and during parent

conferences and schoolwide parent meetings.

TIMELY INFORMATION TO PARENTS - Parents will be provided a school handbook each

year with timely information about school calendars, programs, conferences, a description of the

curriculum, and academic assessment forms that are used to measure student progress and


proficiency levels. If requested, opportunities will be provided for parents to meet with school

personnel to participate in discussions and decisions relating to their child’s education.

DESCRIPTION AND EXPLANATION OF THE CURRICULUM - Parents are invited to an

open house in the fall at each school. A description and explanation of the curriculum is

explained during this meeting and during parent/teacher conferences throughout the year.

Parents are encouraged to be familiar with the Georgia Common Core Georgia Performance

Standards. These can be found online at >>>>> Standards based report cards are used in grades

K-5. Standards based rubrics and progress reports are utilized to educate parents about the

student’s academic expectations. Parent meetings are held to explain the reporting process and

in-depth information is shared with parents about curriculum expectations.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGULAR PARENT MEETINGS - Parents will be provided with

opportunities to attend workshops and family night activities throughout the school year.

Opportunities are planned at various times during the day to accommodate working parents and

parents with small children.

PART III: SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT

SCHOOL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM - All curriculums in

Dalton Public Schools will follow national and state standards. All instructional materials will

be scientifically researched based and instructionally appropriate for the student population.

Teachers are expected to provide quality, engaging work for all students.

PARENTS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE

FOLLOWING:


Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) - Information will be shared

through the local media, letters, conferences and parent meetings. Schools who qualify under

the Georgia ESEA Flexibility waiver status will send letters home explaining the school status.

College and Career Ready Performance Index for elementary, middle, and high – Parents will

be made aware of CCRPI progress of their school.

CCGPS Common Core Georgia Performance Standard and Student Performance Standards –

Parents will be made aware of state and national standards and will be given information about

what level their child is expected to perform to meet state and national standards. Each year

parents will be provided information concerning the results of state and local assessments.

Parents will receive school performance profiles, individual student assessment results, and an

interpretation of the results. Opportunities will be provided for parents to discuss testing results

with central office and school personnel. Other ways parent capacity will be built in this area

include:

Parental information training on the district’s K-5 Standards Based Report Cards

Parent Conferences

Parent University

Home visits with parents

Parent Portal Accounts provided to parents with training on use

Schoolwide Model Grades K-12 Components of a School Wide Program – Schools that have

40% of their students receiving free and reduced lunches are eligible for School Wide Title I. All

schools in Dalton Public Schools are eligible and are classified as having School Wide

Programs. Each school has developed a School Wide plan with a Parent Involvement Plan.

State and Local Assessments – Each year parents will be provided information concerning the

results of state and local assessments. Parents will receive school performance profiles,

individual student assessment results, and an interpretation of the results.

In addition

Assisting in understanding the state’s content standards, academic achievement

standards, assessments, monitoring a child’s progress, and working with educators. DPS

has distributed by grade level the State generated GPS brochures. Parent meetings are

held after school hours, during school hours, during early release days, at job-site, etc.

Home visits to discuss student progress and how to monitor student’s progress.

Provide materials and training to assist their children. Through parent meetings, Family

Nights, parent sessions, etc.


Educating staff in the value and utility of contributions. Site staff discussions are held on

the importance of parent involvement and on ethics relative to working with students and

parents.

Coordinating and integrating parental involvement programs and activities with other

programs (e.g. Head Start, Reading First) including other activities that encourages and

supports parents to increased participation. Parental involvement programs for Title I,

EIP, ESS, Bright from the Start, Migrant, Homeless, Reading Recovery, Literacy

Collaborative, are all integrated. Programs plan together, provide services together, and

evaluate program effectiveness together. Ensuring that information is sent to the parents

in an understandable language, school system personnel make an effort to write materials

that will be sent to parents in a user friendly language. Due to the high percentage of

students and parents who speak Spanish, documents are distributed in a minimum of

English and Spanish when feasible. Each school has a translator(s) on site and the system

also has access to the DOE Transact program for materials in a variety of languages.

Providing such other reasonable support as requested. The district always strives to

provide such other reasonable support as requested by parents. Each school as well as the

district Central Office has a small area dedicated to parent resources where parents can

pick up reading materials and applicable parent information.

Each Title I school has a plan for parent involvement included in the school’s Title I

Plan. The plan is developed with input from teachers and parents. Each school will have

a presentation about the Title I program and services for school staff and school parents.

Strategies for parent involvement are included as a part of the school’s plan.

DPS employees and the parent involvement coordinator will assist schools in increasing parental

participation. The coordinator is heavily involved in designing and facilitating activities for

parents through the Parent Resource Center. She also assists schools with obtaining and

organizing parent resources at school sites. Some of the activities she coordinates include:

English Language classes for parents - Parents are able to attend classes taught by

volunteers from DPS, DSC, Title III Parent Liaison and other organizations.

Parental information training (introduction to school system, parent/ teacher conferences,

grading system, testing (CCRPI, CCGPS, CRCT, GKAP, HSGT, ACCESS, Writing

tests, etc.), school programs, school involvement, support of students at home, health and

hygiene, discipline, child safety, gang and social issues, college, nutrition, etc.)

Three main sessions-

a. Information about school procedures, expectations, services, programs, code of

conduct etc.

b. Local and school assessments

c. Successful conference

After school homework help for at risk students including Migrant and Homeless

students (based on recommendations of teachers)

Computer software for parents and students to help with English language learning and

academics


Books and tapes in English and other languages are available for students to use at the

school or take home

Liaisons between schools and parents

Community fair- partner with community agencies

PARENTS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

FOLLOWING WAYS:

PTA/PTO Meetings Conferences Fund Raising Activities

Family Nights Book Fairs Outreach Program

Open House Field Day Activities Parent Seminars

Home Visits Lunch with their child Translators

Resource Center Parent Reader or Tutor Career Day Speaker

English Classes Family Home Projects Counseling

Workshops RTI Teams Classroom Volunteer

Classroom Visits Field Trip Chaperone School Council Meetings

Computer Classes FPPAC Federal Programs Parent Advisory Committee

Provide Resources for Parents Bilingual Information

Parent University Informative Videos in English and Spanish

Transition Meetings for Upcoming Kindergarten, Sixth Graders, and Eighth Graders

DISCRETIONARY SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY

COMPONENTS

1. Parenting

The district employees a Title I parent involvement coordinator and a Title III parent involvement

coordinator. Additionally, there are 3 other coordinators at school sites. All of these build capacity for

staff to understand the value of and utility of contributions of parents, how to reach out and

communicate with parents, and how to partner with parents, implement and coordinate parent programs


and build parental ties with schools. Each year, the district also sends a team of people to the DOE

sponsored Parent Engagement Conference in Athens. The team (20 people in FY14) consists of district

and school administrators, coordinators, counselors, social workers, and teachers). The team then

redelivers information within the district and online through the district’s online learning management

system, Canvas. Some other ways capacity is built includes:

Information shared at staff meetings

Assistance with parent conferences

An online Parent Engagement Course has been set up in the district’s online learning management

system, Canvas. Resources for supporting parent involvement are posted there including:

DOE webinars

DOE Templates

Guidance documents

Sample documents

Shared resources

Links to resources

2. Communicating

To the extent practical, every effort is made to provide parents with information in their home

language, either written or through an interpreter. Due to the high percentage of students and

parents in the district who speak Spanish, documents are distributed in a minimum of English

and Spanish when feasible. Each school has a translator(s) on site and the system also has access

to the DOE Transact program for materials in a variety of languages. The Title I Parent

Involvement Coordinator, Title III Director and Title III Parent Involvement Coordinator support these

efforts as well as school staff who are bilingual. Parent volunteers and students from the Morris

Innovative Translation Pathway Academy are also available and utilized to translate. The district’s

website is also available in multiple languages.

3. Volunteering

Dalton Public Schools encourages parents to be volunteers at their children’s school. Some of the

opportunities for parents to volunteer are: Parent Involvement Policy, School Improvement Plan,

Compact, conferences, special events, reading to students in classrooms, assisting teachers with

preparing resources, and building improvement activities.

4. Learning at Home


Dalton Public Schools has information and materials available for parents to check out. We also

offer the opportunity to attend workshops that will provide tips, resources, ideas, and referrals for

parents to help their children at home with homework, reading, math, behavior, routines, and

many more.

5. Decision Making

Dalton Public Schools has an active group of parents, administrators and community members

participating in the Federal Programs Parents Advisory Committee (FPPAC). Feedback is

reviewed and considered when reviewing the district’s Title I Plan, Parent Involvement Policy,

Curriculum, CLIP, and other district documents.

6. Collaborating with Community

Dalton Public Schools works very closely with different organizations and businesses in our

community for mutual support and services. Some of these organizations are: Dalton Education

Foundation, Archway, Whitfield-Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Christmas Sharing is Caring,

Whitfield County Health Department, Family Connections, Department of Family and Children

Services, among others.

PART IV: ADOPTION

Dalton Public School’s Parental Involvement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed

upon by, parents of children participating in Title I Part A programs, as evidenced by:

This policy was adopted by Dalton Public Schools for the school year 2011-2012 and will be in

effect for subsequent years. This policy was re-drafted on May 2012, reviewed on May 30, 2012,

and adopted on September 13, 2012. The policy was then reviewed again on August 1, 2013 and

October 15, 2014. The school district will distribute this policy to all the schools of participating

Title I Part A students, during parent workshops, and at the Central office. Dalton Public

School’s notification to parents of this policy will be in an understandable and uniform format to

the extent practical.

Laura Orr

Federal Programs Director

Dalton Public School

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