Family and Community Engagement in Providence Schools Presentation to Providence School Board

1. Family and Community Engagement in Providence Schools Presentation to Providence School Board May 27, 2014

2. Overview • Share Information about the • Office of Family and Community Engagement • “New” revised Family Engagement Vision and Core Values • Policy update - Parent Involvement Policy and Volunteer Policy • Performance measures on Parent Engagement activities in the district • Family Resources Center • Parent Advisory Council (PAC) • Ombudsperson • Highlight ways the Office plans to elevate and improve practices of family and community engagement at the district and school level

3. Family Engagement • What does it mean? Family Engagement is any way that a child’s adult caretaker (biological parents, foster parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.) effectively supports learning and healthy development • What does it look like? • Supporting Learning • School partnerships • Advocate for school improvement • Decision-maker and leadership Concept/Theory Shared Responsibility Responsive Multidemensial Comprehensive

4. Dr. Joyce Epstein…..students have families……….. Students come from many different family structures……..However configured, however constrained, families come with their children to school. Even when they do not come in person, families come in children’s minds and hearts and in their hopes and dreams. They come with the children's problems and promise. With out exception, teachers and administrators have explicit or implicit contact with their student’s families every day. By: Joyce L. Epstein -Second Edition - School, Family and Community Partnerships, pg 4-5

5. FACE Vision and Mission Statements Vision Family engagement successfully builds positive and respectful relationships between schools, families and community partners through shared responsibility, meaningful engagement, thoughtful decision-making, and effective communication in order to provide every student with a quality education that prepares him/her for college, career and life. Mission To support student achievement through the implementation of strong family and community engagement strategies that ensure that all families are informed, involved and empowered. Core Values Aligned to the district core values –Respect, Equity, Excellence, Accountability and Appreciation for our diversity

6. FACE Organizational Structure

7. FACE Responsibilities • Monitor district-wide engagement • Review and Revise Board Policy on Parent Engagement • NCLB “Parental Engagement” compliance • Parent Resource Center • District Parent Advisory Council (PAC) • Parent workshops and conferences • Parent and Community meetings • Community Collaborations • Technical assistance to schools and central administration departments on family engagement • Facilitate conversations between parents, teachers and school principals to address concerns • Support families facing homelessness

8. District-wide Engagement Functions • Provide supports to schools for family engagement efforts • Monitor and analyze school-based family engagement activities: • - 80 Academic • - 99 Social • - 70 Parent support • Work with T&L to integrate classroom instruction with school parent engagement activities to support student achievement Performance Measures • School-based family events (Aug-Apr) • Innovation Schools • 55 total events • Attendance ranges 3,500 people • Acceleration Zone • 102 total events • Attendance ranges 6,800 people • Advancement Zone • 87 total events • Attendance ranges 3,700 people • Parent groups • 25 schools with structured parent groups • Parent volunteers • 125 application across all grade levels Culture and Climate Survey (under review) • February 2014 - over 3,000 responses

9. Parent Resource Center Function • Provide resources to families (flyers, brochures, newsletters, tips, pamphlets, booklets, etc.) • Access to desktop computers and laptops • Ombudsperson - facilitate resolution to concerns • Provide homeless students with resources and supports • Meeting space for workshops, Professional Development and group meetings • Rosetta Stone program to assist parents improve English language skills Performance Measures (as of first of May) • 400 + FACE staff school site visits for technical assistance • Family visits/inquiries • 500 walk-ins • Approx. 2,600 telephone inquiries • 117 parents have received assistance with a concern(s) • 211 homeless families provided supports/resources • 230 families currently participating in Rosetta Stone • 15 parents completed a leadership training facilitated by RIPIN

10. District Parent Advisory Council - PAC • Ensure authentic parent engagement throughout district • Act as advisory body to district • Advocate for other parents • Facilitate best practices • Work toward a full membership representative of every school

11. PAC PROJECTS • 2013-2014 Family Impact Assessment Tool for decision making & a PAC Facebook page • 2012-2013 Parent Engagement Protocols for schools • 2010-2011 ARRA Stimulus Funding • Parent zones in every school • Enhance resources of district parent center • PTO Handbook PAC VISION Access and Accountability Communication Transparency Students PAC STRUCTURE Leadership Composition Governance

12. Parent and Community Learning Opportunities • Workshops on Parent Engagement by FACE staff in schools and hosted in the community • Kindergarten Enrollment and Middle School Choice Seminars • Parent Leadership Development Training by (RIPIN) • High Schools Graduation Sessions • Rosetta Stone Program

13. Parent and Community Events • October – Fall Celebration - Anti Bullying Month - PCTA outside field Saturday, October 19, 2013 • 300 families • 26 Community Resource Exhibits • Dr. Karen Mapp – National Speaker visit to Providence at CCRI Providence Campus • 125 participants (PPSD Principals, Central Office staff, RIDE, Community Partners, Parents) • Annual Parent Conference Saturday, May 17, 2014 @ PCTA from 8:30pm – 3:00pm • 16 Workshops Offered • 16 Community Resource Exhibits

14. Community Meetings and Strengthening Partnerships Function • Back To School Celebration sites in Providence • Coordinate opportunities for parents to voice concerns, issues, recommendations and celebrations • Co-host community meetings with outside agencies to strengthen partnerships, disseminate information and solicit feedback Back to School Celebration (August 2013) (site coordinator at the Student Registration Center) = 6 sites in Providence Providence Housing Authority - Resident Service Coordinators (February-March) Kindergarten Registration and Parent Engagement workshops (Chadbrown, Hartford and Manton Heights site visits) College Crusade (April 2014) FACE collaboration to help inform parents of programs and service Parent Recognition Event (June 17, 2014) – PAC, Leadership program and Rosetta Stone students

16. Scaling-up Family and Community Engagement • Cross reference district Parent Engagement practices with the District Parent Involvement Policy and ensure successful implementation with regular exploration of innovative practices • Utilize the USDOE Dual Capacity Framework for Family School Partnerships released in April 2014 • Promote shared responsibility for systemic family and community engagement practices aligned with school improvement plans • Reinforce district and school capacity around family engagement • Work with schools to make sure school meetings, activities and events are linked to learning • Emphasize the benefit of communicating student data, in understandable language and format • Sharing strategies that create more equitable practices for family engagement and involvement with regard to student learning

17. Resources and Tools Family-School Partnerships: National Standards for Family School Partnerships: http://www.pta.org/national standards.asp National PIRC Coordination Center: http://www.nationalpirc.org/ Henderson, T.,Mapp, K., Johnson, V., Davies, d. (2007) Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships. Weiss, H., Lopez, E., Rosenberg, H. (2010) Harvard Family Research Project. Beyond random acts: Family, school, and community engagement as an integral part of education reform.

18. QUESTIONS?