Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Bristol Township School District 

Ben Franklin Middle School

6401 Mill Creek Rd

Levittown, PA 19057

267-599-2300

Title I School and Parent Engagement Policy

2024-2025

Revised March 19, 2025

In compliance with federal law (ESSA, section 1116 (b)(1)), the district and parents of students participating in Title I programs shall jointly develop and agree upon a written family and parent engagement policy for each school receiving Title I funds.  When developing and implementing this policy, the district shall ensure the policy describes how the school will:

• Provide parents of Ben Franklin Middle School with the opportunity to participate in the joint development of the school’s overall Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy, the School-Parent Compact, and the annual development of the School Wide Improvement Plan.

• Develop activities to promote Ben Franklin’s and parents’ capacity for strong parent engagement.

• Identify barriers of participation by parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority.

• Use findings of annual quarterly surveys to design strategies for more effective parent and family engagement.

The Board shall adopt and distribute the parent and family engagement policy, which shall be incorporated into the Title I plan and shall be evaluated annually, with parent involvement. 

• An annual meeting of parents of Title I students shall be held at a convenient time:

• All Ben Franklin parents and family members of children will be invited, and encouraged to attend.

• To inform parents of Ben Franklin’s participation as a Title I school.

• To explain requirements and the rights for parents to be involved.

• In addition to the required annual meeting, additional parent meetings shall be held based on the needs of the school, the parents, and the learners, at various times of the day and evening. 

• Ben Franklin Middle School will provide parents with information about the Title I program in the Fall.

• Ben Franklin Middle School will provide a description and explanation of the curriculum used, the forms of academic assessments used to measure learner progress, and the proficiency levels of the Pennsylvania Standards.  

• Ben Franklin will provide, if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as possible (ESSA, Section 1116 (c)(4)(C).

• Ben Franklin will jointly develop with parents and family members a School - Parent Compact outlining the manner in which parents, school staff and learners share responsibility for improved learner achievement in meeting Pennsylvania Standards (ESSA, Section 1116, (d) (2) (A-D)).  The compact shall:

Describe Ben Franklin’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment, enabling students to meet the Pennsylvania Common Core Standards.  This may include but is not limited to:

• Hold parent-teacher conferences during which this compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement.

• Provide parents with frequent reports on their child’s progress.

• Provide parents reasonable access to staff.

• Provide parents opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and to observe classroom activities.

Indicate the ways in which parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning.  This may include but is not limited to:

• Encourage students to get to school on time.

• Making sure that homework is completed.

• Participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to my children’s education.

• Promoting positive use of my child’s extracurricular time and activities.

• Provide my child with a quiet place to work and review homework.

• Make sure my child gets enough sleep each night and is at school on time.

• Staying informed about my child’s education.

Ben Franklin learners will share the responsibility to improve their academic achievement and meet the Pennsylvania Standards.  This may include but is not limited to:

• Do their homework every day and ask for help when needed.

• Read at least 15 minutes every day outside of school time.

• Give their parents or guardians all information received from school every day.

• Always try their best.

• Be responsible for their own behavior.

• Pay attention and follow all directions and school rules.

• Be respectful to all school staff and property.

Ben Franklin will provide assistance to parents and family members in understanding Pennsylvania Standards, state and local assessments, and how to monitor their children’s progress and work with teachers to improve their achievement. This may include but is not limited to:

• Conferences

• Parent and Family Engagement Nights

• Emails

• Phone Calls

• Talking Points Messages

• School Messenger 

• Infinite Campus

• Canvas

• Back-to-School Nights

• Provide parent informational sessions in conjunction with learner events

• Implement and coordinate parent programs to build ties between all stakeholders in the community

• Refer families to the Bristol Township Tiger Pride Parent Academy

Ben Franklin will ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents and family members in a format and to the extent possible, in a language the parents and family members can understand (ESSA, Section 1116 (6)(e)(5)).  This may include but is not limited to:

• Providing handouts and reports in parents’ native languages.

• Use of Language Line to aid in translation of phone calls.

• Use of Talking Points for direct communication 

• Provide translators for parent meetings.

• Providing information about upcoming events in a timely manner.

• Schedule meetings at times most convenient for parents to attend.

• Allow for flexible ways for parents to participate in meetings (i.e. in-person, over the phone, Video-conferencing, feedback given in writing).

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