Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Educational research shows a positive correlation between effective parental engagement and student achievement. The overall aim of this policy is to develop a parent and family engagement policy that will establish expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family engagement in the school community. P.S. 112 Lefferts Park, in compliance with Section 1116 of Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is responsible for creating and implementing a parent and family engagement policy to strengthen the connection and support of student achievement between the school and the families. The school's policy is designed to keep parents informed by actively involving them in planning and decision-making in support of the education of their children. Parents are encouraged to actively participate on the School Leadership Team, Parent Association (or Parent-Teacher Association), and Title I Parent Advisory Council as trained volunteers and welcomed members of the school community.

Support for Parents and Family Members of Title I Students

P.S. 112 Lefferts Park will support parents and family members of Title I students by:

• providing materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their achievement level, e.g., literacy, math and use of technology;

• providing parents with the information and training needed to effectively become involved in planning and decision making in support of the education of their children;

•  fostering a caring and effective home-school partnership to ensure that parents can effectively support and monitor their child’s progress;

• providing assistance to parents in understanding City, State and Federal standards and assessments;

• sharing information about school and parent related programs, meetings and other activities in a format, and in languages that parents can understand;

• providing professional development opportunities for school staff with the assistance of parents to improve outreach, communication skills and cultural competency in order to build stronger ties between parents and other members of the school community;

Parental Involvement and School Quality

The school's Parent and Family Engagement Policy was designed based upon a careful assessment of the needs of all parents/guardians, including parents/guardians of English Language Learners and students with disabilities. The school community, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, will conduct an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this parent and family engagement policy with Title I parents to improve the academic quality of the school. The findings of the evaluation through school surveys and feedback forms will be used to design strategies to more effectively meet the needs of parents and family members and enhance the school's Title I program. This information will be maintained by the school.

In developing the Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy, parents of Title I participating students, parent members of the school's Parent Association (or Parent-Teacher Association), as well as parent members of the School Leadership Team, were consulted on the proposed Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy and asked to survey their members for additional input. To increase and improve parent involvement and school quality, the school will:

• actively involve and engage parents and family members in the planning, review and evaluation of the effectiveness of the school's Title I program as outlined in the School Comprehensive Educational Plan, including the implementation of the school's Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy and School-Parent Compact;

• engage all parents in discussion and decisions regarding the required Title I 1% set-aside funds, which are allocated directly to the school to supplement parent and family engagement activities, including family literacy and parenting skills;

• ensure that the Title I funds allocated for parent and family engagement are utilized to implement activities and strategies as described in the school's Parent and Family Engagement Policy and the School-Parent Compact;

• support school-level committees that include parents who are members of the School Leadership Team, the Parent Association (or Parent-Teacher Association) and Title I Parent Advisory Council. This includes providing technical support and ongoing professional development, especially in developing leadership skills;

• maintain a Parent Coordinator (or a dedicated staff person) to serve as a liaison between the school and families. The Parent Coordinator or a dedicated staff person will provide parent workshops based on the assessed needs of the parents of children who attend the school and will work to ensure that the school environment is welcoming and inviting to all parents. The Parent Coordinator will also maintain a log of events and activities planned for parents each month and file a report with the central office.;

•  conduct parent workshops with topics that may include: parenting skills, understanding educational accountability grade-level curriculum and assessment expectations; literacy, accessing community and support services; and technology training to build parents' capacity to help their children at home;

• provide opportunities for parents to help them understand the accountability system, e.g., ESSA/State accountability system, student proficiency levels, Annual School Report Card, School Quality Report, Quality Review Report, Learning Environment Survey Report;

• host the required Annual Title I Parent Meeting each school year to advise parents of children participating in the Title I program about the school's Title I funded program(s), their right to be involved in the program and the parent and family engagement requirements under Title I, Part A, Section 1116 and other applicable sections under ESSA;

• schedule additional parent meetings, e.g., quarterly meetings, with flexible times, such as meetings in the morning or evening, to share information about the school's educational program and other initiatives of the Chancellor and allow parents to provide suggestions;

• translate all critical school documents and provide interpretation during meetings and events as needed.

Encouraging School-Level Parental Involvement

The school will further encourage school-level parent and family engagement by:

•   hosting educational family events/activities during Parent-Teacher Conferences and throughout the school year;

• encouraging meaningful parent participation on School Leadership Teams, Parent Association (or Parent-Teacher Association) and Title I Parent Advisory Council;

• supporting or hosting Family Day events;

• establishing a Parent Resource Center/Area or lending library; instructional materials for parents;

• encouraging more parents to become trained school volunteers;

• providing written and verbal progress reports that are periodically given to keep parents informed of their children's progress;

•  developing and distributing a school newsletter or web publication designed to keep parents informed about school activities and student progress;

• providing school planners/folders for regular written communication between /teacher and the home in a format, and to the extent practicable in the languages that parents can understand.

School-Parent Compact (SPC)

P.S. 112 Lefferts Park, in compliance with the Section 1116 of Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is implementing a School-Parent Compact to strengthen the connection and support of student achievement between the school and the families. Staff and parents of students participating in activities and programs funded by Title I, agree that this Compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff and students will share responsibility for improved academic achievement and the means by which a school-parent partnership will be developed to ensure that all children achieve State Standards on assessments.

I. School Responsibilities: High Quality Curriculum

Provide high quality curriculum and instruction consistent with State Standards to enable participating children to meet the State’s Standards and Assessments by:

• using academic learning time efficiently;

• respecting cultural, racial and ethnic differences;

• implementing a curriculum aligned to the State Learning Standards;

• offering high quality instruction in all content areas;

• providing instruction by highly qualified teachers and when this does not occur, notifying parents as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA);

I. School Responsibilities: Supporting Home-School Relationships

Support home-school relationships and improve communication by:

• conducting parent-teacher conferences each semester during which the individual child's achievement will be discussed as well as how this Compact is related;

• convening an Annual Title I Parent Meeting each school year for parents and family members of students participating in the Title I program to inform them of the school's Title I status and funded programs and their right to be involved;

• arranging additional meetings at other flexible times, e.g., morning, evening and providing (if necessary and funds are available) transportation or child care for those parents who cannot attend a regular meeting;

• respecting the rights of limited English proficient families to receive translated documents and interpretation services in order to ensure participation in the child's education;

• providing information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities is sent to parents of participating children in a format and to the extent practicable in a language that parents can understand;

• involving parents in the planning process to review, evaluate and improve the existing Title I programs, Parent and Family Engagement Policy and this Compact;

• providing parents with timely information regarding performance profiles and individual student assessment results for each child and other pertinent individual school information;

• ensuring that the Parent and Family Engagement Policy and School-Parent Compact are distributed and discussed with parents each year;

I. School Responsibilities: Providing Parents Reasonable Access to Staff

Provide parents reasonable access to staff by:

• ensuring that staff will have access to interpretation services in order to effectively communicate with limited English speaking parents;

• notifying parents of the procedures to arrange an appointment with their child's teacher or other school staff member;

• arranging opportunities for parents to receive training to volunteer and participate in their child's class, and to observe classroom activities;

•  planning activities for parents during the school year, e.g., Parent-Teacher Conferences;

School Responsibilities: Providing General Support to Parents

• Provide general support to parents by:

•  creating a safe, supportive and effective learning community for students and a welcoming respectful environment for parents, and guardians;

• assisting parents in understanding academic achievement standards and assessments and how to monitor their child's progress by providing professional development opportunities (times will be scheduled so that the majority of parents can attend);

• sharing and communicating best practices for effective communication, collaboration and partnering with all members of the school community;

• supporting parental involvement activities as requested by parents and family members;

• ensuring that the Title I funds allocated for parent involvement are utilized to implement activities as described in this Compact and the Parent and Family Engagement Policy;

• advising parents of their right to file a complaint under the Department's General Complaint Procedures and consistent with the Title I requirement for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Title I programs;

II. Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

• monitor my child's attendance and ensure that my child arrives to school on time as well as follow the appropriate procedures to inform the school when my child is absent;

• ensure that my child comes to school rested by setting a schedule for bedtime based on the needs of my child and his/her age;

• check and assist my child in completing homework tasks, when necessary;

• read to my child and/or discuss what my child is reading each day (for a minimum of 15 minutes);

• set limits to the amount of time my child watches television or plays video games;

• promote positive use of extracurricular time such as, extended day learning opportunities, clubs, team sports and/or quality family time;

• encourage my child to follow school rules and regulations and discuss this Compact with my child;

• volunteer in my child's school or assist from my home as time permits;

• participate, as appropriate, in the decisions relating to my child's education;

• communicate with my child's teacher about educational needs and stay informed about their education by prompting reading and responding to all notices received from the school or district;

• respond to surveys, feedback forms and notices when requested;

• become involved in the development, implementation, evaluation and revision to the Parent and Family Engagement Policy and this Compact;

• participate in or request training offered by the school, district, central and/or State Education Department to learn more about teaching and learning strategies whenever possible;

• take part in the school's Parent Association or Parent-Teacher Association or serve to the extent possible on advisory groups, e.g., Title I Parent Advisory Council, School or District Leadership Teams;

• share responsibility for the improved academic achievement of my child;

III. Student Responsibilities

• attend school regularly and arrive on time;

• complete my homework and submit all assignments on time;

• follow the school rules and be responsible for my actions;

• show respect for myself, other people and property;

• try to resolve disagreements or conflicts peacefully;

• always try my best to learn.