DCVPA recognizes that a child's education is a responsibility shared by the school and family and promotes and supports parental engagement in student learning, achievement at school and at home, and encouragement of students toward graduation. DCVPA will communicate with parents regarding student expectations and progress, provide opportunities for parent / teacher collaboration, and will create an environment in the school conducive for parental engagement.

A. Policy Scope

This policy applies to the parents, legal guardians, and legal custodians of students who are under 18 years old. Unless otherwise stated in specific policies, references to “parents” also include persons acting in the place of parents, such as legal guardians or legal custodians or a person enrolling a student under an Affidavit of Hardship.

B. Principles

Although parents are diverse in culture, language and needs, they share the commitment of the DCVPA to the educational success of their children. DCVPA, in collaboration with parents, shall establish programs and practices to enhance parental engagement and reflect the specific needs of students and their families. Parent and family engagement means the participation of parents/guardians in regular, two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.

C. Practice

1. DCVPA shall be governed by the following statutory definition of parent and family engagement and will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with it:

a) That parents are involved jointly in developing a parent and family engagement policy;

b) That objectives are established for meaningful parent and family engagement;

c) That coordination, technical assistance, and other necessary supports are employed in the planning and implementing of effective parental engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance;

d) That strategies are developed to build DCVPA’s and parents’ capacity for strong parental engagement and to support successful school and family interactions;

e) That family engagement strategies are coordinated and integrated under Title I with other parent and family engagement strategies, to the extent feasible and appropriate, with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs;

f) That an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy in improving academic quality of DCVPA is conducted with the meaningful engagement of parents and family members:

g) Identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in activities, authorized by this section of law with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any disadvantaged status and

h) Using the findings of the evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental engagement.

2. This policy will be distributed to all parents of students served in a program supported with Title I funds.

3. DCVPA shall engage the parents/guardians of children served under Title I, Part A in decisions about how the one percent (1%) of Title I, Part A funds reserved for parental engagement is spent.

Issued: March 19, 2019