Parent Involvement in the Title I Law

1. Parent Involvement in the Title I Law Title I State Parent Advisory Council (SPAC) PAFPC Conference April 3-6, 2011

2. Goals • Discuss LEA requirements of Section 1118 of NCLB relating to Parent Involvement. • Discuss state-level parent involvement initiatives. • Provide effective ideas for enhancing your own parent involvement programs.

3. Definition of “Parent Involvement” in NCLB 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 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 the ESEA

4. Parent Involvement in Title I • Section 1118 of No Child Left Behind • In order to receive Title I funds, school districts must involve Title I parents in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the Title I program.

5. Areas of LEA Responsibility for Parent Involvement • Development of the Title I Plan • LEA Parent Involvement Policy • Evaluation of the Effectiveness 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

6. 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 Plan is not satisfactory to parents, LEA must submit parent comments with the plan when it is submitted to the state. • HOW? • Meetings, workshops, etc.

7. 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. • Exception: If the LEA already has a district-level parental involvement policy that applies to all parents, the LEA may amend that existing policy, if necessary, to meet the requirements of section 1118 • Resource: Checklist of Required LEA Policy Components http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?a=166&q=108300&k12Nav=|6400|&k12Nav=|1141|3137|

8. 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 parent involvement policy. • Involve parents in the activities of schools served under Title I, Part A.

9. LEA Parent Involvement Policy • The District Parent Involvement Policy must be disseminated to all Title I parents annually. • Mail • Website • Newsletters • Parent/Teacher Conferences

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

11. 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.

12. 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) • Build Capacity for Strong Parent Involvement

13. 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. • Exception: If the school has an existing school level parent involvement policy, it may be amended to meet the requirements of Section 1118.

14. 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 community.

15. 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”.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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”).

19. State Level Parent Involvement Activities • Title I State Parent Advisory Council • Title I State Parent Conference • Seven Springs Resort • 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: www.SPAC.k12.pa.us

20. Parent Involvement Resources • United States Department of Education Website (law and guidance): • www.ed.gov • State Parent Advisory Council Website • www.spac.k12.pa.us • Division of Federal Programs Website • www.pde.state.pa.us • Title I Parent Involvement Toolkit: • http://www.spac.k12.pa.us/titleIadministrators.htm

21. Questions/Answers