The Board of Education believes that durable and significant learning by a student is more likely to occur when there is an effective partnership between the school and the student’s parents/guardians (“parents”). Such a partnership means a mutual belief in and commitment to significant education goals for a student, a plan for the means to accomplish those goals, cooperation on developing and implementing solutions to problems that may be encountered, and continuing communication regarding the progress in accomplishing the goal(s). To this end, parents should be meaningfully involved in:

A. developing and implementing appropriate strategies for helping their child achieve the learning objectives that lead to accomplishing the learning outcomes;

B. providing a school and home environment which encourages learning and augments, at home, the learning experiences provided by the school.

The Board is committed to communicating to parents at a level and in a language they can understand, where practicable.

The Board through this policy directs the establishment of a parent involvement plan by which a school-parent partnership can be established and provided to the parent of each child in the District. The plan must encompass parent participation, through meetings and other forms of communication. The Parental Involvement Plan shall be distributed to all parents and students through publication in the Student Handbook or other suitable means.

The Superintendent shall direct the development of a Parent Involvement Plan for the District (with building/program specific goals as desired) which may include, among others, the following strategies:

A. During Kindergarten Parent Meeting inform first time parents of the District parent involvement plan. A positive invitation in language understandable to the parents will be given to explain the District’s commitment and the parent’s right to be involved in the educational process of their child.

B. Provide child’s individual assessment results, reading results, progress reports, report cards, parent conferences.

C. Provide a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the District, the form of assessment used to measure student progress and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet. The District will also provide each school’s discipline plan along with a tardy plan.

D. Arrange flexible scheduled parent/teacher conferences and parent requested conferences.

E. Post PTO meetings, and parent involvement meetings on the District website bulletin boards and /or send home notices with students.

F. Publish District and School Newsletters(s) informing parents about the parent involvement plan and other events at the school(s). This newsletter will also send a positive invitation to parents to participate in various activities while providing parents information at a glance about scheduled District and school meetings and activities.

G. Send home a parent-student-teacher compact that outlines how parents and school staff will share the responsibility for improved student achievement of their children. This compact shall be discussed and revised as necessary at least annually at school meetings. (Grades K-8)

H. Establish and maintain a home reading program. Books will be provided to encourage students to read at home. Student participation in the program will be given school wide recognition.

I. Maintain a consistent, District wide effort to communicate regularly with parents.

J. Schedule at least one (1) student conference annually with the teacher(s) to inform parents of student’s progress.

K. Distribute periodic weekly newsletters from teachers informing parents of upcoming District events and curriculum being taught.

L. Send folders home (each week, bi-weekly, monthly) to keep parents abreast of individual student progress and maintain open lines of communication.

M. Make calls, use e-mail letters as needed for teachers and administrators to communicate with parents.

N. Encourage continued positive partnerships involvement throughout the community by staff and administrators.

O. Offer an ongoing reading tutorial program throughout the school year during the day, encouraging parental involvement.

P. Have the District’s high school students offer tutoring through the National Honor Society upon request.

Q. Encourage active faculty participation in PTO.

R. Encourage parents to serve as chaperones for class field trips and other school activities.

S. Provide opportunities for discussions between parents, administrators, and staff to address problems and find solutions for students having difficulties, either academically or socially.

T. Use homework hotline to inform homes of various assignments and activities. Utilize the website as available.

U. Place current and accurate announcements on the school’s marquees throughout the District.

V. Form an advisory council of District staff, parents, and students to assure parents and students are involved in an organized, ongoing and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the school’s Parental Involvement Plan.

The Board needs parents to assume and exercise responsibility for their children’s behavior, including the behavior of students who have reached the legal age of majority, but are still supported by the parent. During the school hours, the Board, through its designated administrators, recognizes the responsibility to monitor students’ behavior and, as with academic matters, the importance of cooperation between the school and the parents in matters relating to conduct.

For the benefit of the child, the Board encourages parents to support their child’s career in school by:

A. participating in school functions, organizations and committees;

B. supporting the teachers and the schools in maintaining discipline and a safe and orderly learning environment;

C. requiring their child to observe all school rules and regulations;

D. supporting or enforcing consequences for their child’s willful misbehavior in school;

E. sending their children to school with proper attention to his/her health, personal cleanliness, and dress;

F. maintaining an active interest in their child’s daily work, monitoring and making it possible for him/her to complete assigned homework by providing a quiet place and suitable conditions for study;

G. reading all communications from the school, signing, and returning them promptly when required;

H. cooperating with the school in attending conferences set up for the exchange of information of their child’s progress in school.

Sec. 1112, 1118 ESEA
M.C.L.A. 380.1294

Adopted 12/13/04