Parent and Family Engagement
Children learn from their experiences. The first 5 years of their life they grow more than any other time. Their experiences prior to kindergarten are invaluable. From age 5, kindergarten, through age 18, when they graduate, the home and the classroom are the basis of learning experiences. Parents who are involved and make school and learning a priority are critical to a students success.
Parents must be a role model and create the atmosphere that school is important, it is the child's "job". Parents who are supportive, engaged and part of the learning have a positive experience through out school.
Tips for School Success
- Establish open two way communication with the teacher
- Being on time and attendance are important.
- Make school a priority from kindergarten to 12th grade
- Be involved from the very beginning- know what is happening in the classroom
- Support the teacher, be partners for your child
- Have high expectations for your child.
- Remember trying is as important, celebrate effort
- Ask - when you have questions.
- Volunteer when you can.
- Keep school important be a role model.
Parent Rights under Title I
Title I schools are required to notify parents of their rights to receive certain information. Parents may request information concerning the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher (s) including the degrees held, certifications held, and whether the teacher is certified in the area he/she is teaching. Title I schools must notify parents if their child has been assigned, or has been taught for at least four consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet the “Highly Qualified” definition. Parents also may request information concerning whether or not their child is receiving instruction by teacher assistants, and if so, their qualifications.
The law states that parents in Title I schools:
· Must be a part of developing a written parent and family engagement policy that is distributed to all parents and to the local community and announced at an annual meeting.
· Have a right to be involved in the planning and implementation of the parent and family engagement program in their school.
· Can receive materials and training for parents and staff to foster greater parent and family engagement.
· Must have the opportunity to jointly develop, with school staff, a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high standards.
In addition, parents have the right to know:
· the qualifications of their child’s teacher
· information on the level of achievement of their child
· if their child is being taught by someone who is not “highly qualified” and will be in that position for 4 or more weeks
· the school’s parent and family engagement policy and have a right to have input in the decisions that are in the policy
