1102 - Communication with the Public Parent Involvement

Community Relations 

1102 – Communication with the Public – Parent Involvement 

The Board of Education (Board) believes that education is a responsibility shared with the schools, families, and the community. All must work together to assure optimum student success. 

In order to facilitate collaborative relationships between students’ families, the Board, district personnel, and the community and to enable them to become active partners in education, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to: 

1. Keep parent(s)/guardian(s) informed about their child’s school and education. 

2. Encourage involvement in their child’s school and education. 

3. Establish ongoing two-way communication between all families and the Board district personnel. 

4. Seek input from parent(s)/guardian(s), students, alumni, businesses, and the community on school-related issues. 

5. Inform and support parent(s)/guardian(s) on how they can assist their children’s learning. 

The Superintendent shall annually report to the Board the extent to which families and the community are involved in partnerships with the district schools. 

Legal References: 

Connecticut General Statutes 

10-221(f) Board of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures as amended by PA 97-290, An Act Enhancing Education Choices and Opportunities. 

Policy Adopted: May 1998 

Revised: June 2019 

R1102 - Parent and Community Involvement 

Staff and administration shall advocate effective, comprehensive family and community involvement in education that will promote active partnerships in the education of the youth of the town. 

The following are examples of programs for principals and staff to consider. These lists will be updated as new ideas are generated. 

1. Keep parent(s)/guardian(s) informed about their child’s school and education. 

• Develop and distribute a comprehensive student handbook. 

• Distribute information to parent(s)/guardian(s) on their school visitation rights. 

• Open houses. 

• Parent-teacher conferences; at a minimum, two flexible parent-teacher conferences for each school year. 

• Home visits. 

• Progress reporting and report cards. 

• Newsletters. 

• Information about further education. 

• Parent education regarding curriculum and programs. 

• Special presentations and activities. 

• Availability and use of homework hotlines. 

2. Encourage involvement in their child’s school and education. 

• Support and encourage parent volunteer opportunities. 

• Work with the PTO or other school-sponsored groups to promote parent volunteer opportunities. 

3. Establish ongoing two-way communication between all families and the Board of Education district personnel. 

• Principal coffees/advisory meetings. 

• Work with PTO and other school sponsored group’s leadership to increase parental participation. 

• Train personnel to collaborate effectively with families with diverse backgrounds, including backgrounds that might impede parental participation. 

• Develop ways to overcome impediments to parental participation. 

4. Seek input from parent(s)/guardian(s), students, alumni and community on school governance issues and methods to fulfill the district’s educational mission. 

• Work with the PTO and other school sponsored group’s leadership to ensure parental input. 

• Establish a school-community advisory committee to identify, consider, and discuss educational problems and issues. 

• Work with advisory committees, steering committees and search committees. 

• Encourage alumni participation. 

5. Inform and support parent(s)/guardian(s), alumni, business and community on how they can foster student learning. 

• Provide information on how they can help children learn, including activities that are related to classroom activities. 

• Provide programs on how to establish a home and community environment that supports learning and appropriate behavior. 

• Promote family literacy. 

• Encourage the use of technology outside of school hours. 

• Provide family/parent (guardian) training opportunities. 

• Publish newsletters. 

• Encourage business partnerships.