Building Parent/Guardian Involvement & Capacity

1. Building Parent/Guardian Involvement & Capacity Title I Technical Assistance & Networking Session Richarde Donelan School Improvement Grant Programs November 19, 2008

2. The Basis for Parent/Guardian Involvement Our “common understanding & background knowledge” 1965 Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I, Part A Is the single largest program of federal aid for elementary & secondary education Serves as a level of change at state & local level 2001 No Child Left Behind Act Is the most recent reauthorization of ESEA Represents a move toward greater accountability

3. District Responsibilities for Parent/Guardian Involvement & Capacity Parents/Guardians notified of & expected to be effectively involved in efforts to improve student achievement Three major focus areas for districts that receive Title I funds: Communication Policies & Procedures Capacity Building

4. District Responsibilities for Parent/Guardian Involvement & Capacity Focus on Parents/Guardians Communicate what Title I is about Give information about their child’s school & how their children are doing Annual meetings held & key information made available early in the school year Title I programming in the school & district Curriculum & standards Assessment (school, district & state level) NCLB Report Cards Teacher Qualifications (“Right to Know”) Supplemental Educational Services (SES) NCLB School Choice NCLB Accountability Status

5. Parent/Guardian Communications A Parent/Guardian needs significant information to fully participate as a partner in their child’s education Teacher Qualifications (“Right to Know”) Supplemental Educational Services (SES) NCLB School Choice NCLB Accountability Status

6. Parent/Guardian Policies & Procedures Each school district that receives Title I funds shall develop jointly with, agree on with, & distribute to, parents/guardians of participating children a written parent involvement policy Key requirements & involvement opportunities Parent involvement programs School-Parent/Guardian Compact Parents’ “Right to Know” Building parent/guardian capacity

7. Parent/Guardian Policies & Procedures All Title I Schools Evaluation of parent/guardian involvement policies & activities Surveys &/or interviews Thoughtfully query parents/guardians Focus: the extent that help/assistance provided for parents/guardians & children was academically effective Schoolwide Programs Parent/guardian representative(s) on the School Council

8. Parent/Guardian Capacity Building Establish & encourage meaningful parent/guardian involvement Develop parent/guardian partnerships with principals & teachers Develop parent/guardian skills and knowledge Workshops throughout the school year Facilitate acquisition of capacities that enable parents/guardians to assist their children with academic schools & align parent/guardian capacities with their child’s academic needs

9. Parent/Guardian Capacity Building Relationship between parent/guardian involvement & student achievement From what we know, rigorous pursuit of the development of strong attitudes about the importance of education … It appears that by supporting Parent/Guardian attitudes that are aligned with the needs of their children … Studies show that encouragement of constructive attitudes on both sides of the teacher/principal and parent/guardian partnership enhances academic achievement for children participating in both Targeted Assistance and Schoolwide programs …

10. Summary of District & School Responsibilities for Parent/Guardian Involvement Notification of NCLB Accountability Status, NCLB School Choice, & Supplemental Educational Services (SES) options Parent/Guardian Involvement Policies School-Parent/Guardian Compacts Annual meetings & workshops/seminars to build parent/guardian capacity Needs assessment of (a) what parents/guardians need to support their children & (b) students’ subject area needs where Title I funds will be used to provide services Parent/Guardian involvement in the planning, implementation & evaluation of the Title I activities and services employed to improve the academic achievement of students

11. State Resources Scientifically-Based Research http://www.doe.mass.edu/titlei/research.html Departmental Guidance on Parental Involvement http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants/grants07/rfp/doc/305_appn_a.pdf Sample Materials http://www.doe.mass.edu/titlei/monitoring/

12. Federal Resources Federal Non-Regulatory Guidance on Parental Involvement http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/parentinvguid.doc Federal Statutory Language on Parental Involvement Each school and school district must implement the 14 activities listed in Section 1118(e) of the NCLB legislation to ensure effective involvement of parents & to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, & the community to improve student academic achievement. http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1118 Federal Statutory Language on School-Parent Compact Requirement http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1118 Federal Statutory Language on Right to Know Requirement http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1111

13. Research Syntheses Research Syntheses from the National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools SEDL (formerly the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory) http://www.sedl.org/connections/research-syntheses.html