Parent Involvement Policy
Approved by the Board of Trustees on August 15, 2006
Revised May 6, 2008
Statement of Purpose
Electra ISD is committed to providing quality education for every child in our district. To this end, we desire to establish partnerships with parents and the community.
We believe that everyone gains if the school and home work together to promote high achievement by our children. Neither segment can do this task alone. Parents play an extremely important role as a child’s first teacher. Their support for their children and the school is vital to their children’s success.
We will accomplish this through our district’s slogan of PRIDE-Providing Relevant Individualized Diverse Education. We offer an integrated curriculum that is taught by an innovative staff and supported by involved parents and community members. All students are expected to work toward mastering the objectives established by the state curriculum (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). We recognize that some students will need extra assistance to achieve their full potential. This extra assistance is available though our Schoolwide Programs at our Title I schools and various other educational services provided by the district. A Title I School receives federal assistance to supplement and expand the required curriculum and services as mandated by the Texas Education Agency. Any student on a Title I campus is eligible for this extra assistance if he/she meets the selection criteria.
This parental involvement policy is developed to support our partnership with our parents. This policy represents input from parents and is available to all parents of our children.
Parent and Community Input in Policy Development
Our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of parents, community members and staff members. They have the responsibility of annually reviewing and revising this policy. Any changes are shared with the District Team to receive input from this group. The District Team consists of parents, community and business representatives, teachers and administrators. They meet at least three times each year.
The district actively recruits volunteers for each of these committees through various forms of publicity. Committee selections provide a diverse group of stakeholders that is representative of the community.
Meetings are held at times and locations convenient to all members. If a translator is needed, one will be provided. Copies of the District Parent Involvement policy are placed in each Campus Parent Center, and it is also available on the district’s website.
Parent Involvement Activities to Improve Achievement and School Performance
One of the functions of the PAC and District Team will be to identify means for the district to provide assistance and support for the campuses to create effective parent involvement. The administration will assist schools in understanding the requirements of Title I, Part A and in planning for effective programs to assist parents in improving academic achievement.
District assistance may also consist of the distribution of informational handouts which explain state academic standards, assessments and curriculum. The district will promote and encourage staff development on establishing effective relationships with parents as a means to increase academic achievement.
Building Capacities for Strong Parent Involvement
The district will support a variety of parental involvement strategies as it strives to develop and maintain an optimum learning environment.
Annual Parent Meeting
An annual meeting is held to review Title I guidelines and services provided by the district. Copies of the current Parent Involvement Policy are available at the meeting. Parents are encouraged to become involved in revising and updating the policy as necessary, and parent volunteers are invited to become members of the PAC and the District and Campus Teams. The meeting is held at a convenient time and location. Notice of the meeting is published in the local newspaper and The PRIDE, and is posted on the district’s website. If necessary, a translator will be available.
Home/School Compact
In accordance with Title I regulations, each campus has developed a home/school compact which is reviewed annually. The compacts explain how students, parents and staff share responsibility for student performance and success, and will enable them to do so. Each Campus Team is responsible for reviewing and providing revisions as needed. All parents are given a copy of the compacts at the annual Parent-Teacher Conference Day which is held on the Tuesday after the first grading period. Teachers, parents and students are encouraged to discuss the contents of the compact. They are also encouraged to sign that they have received a copy of the compact.
Staff/Parent Communication
Parents are informed of school activities through a variety of different means of communication throughout the school year. Newsletters, conferences, notices on the district’s website, articles in the local newspaper, personal contacts and written notices are used to establish and maintain an open line of communication. Staff development includes strategies to promote effective parent involvement activities. Each year an article is published in either the local newspaper or in The PRIDE that outlines parent involvement opportunities.
Parent Training
Each year the district provides parents opportunities for training. Topics covered in the training sessions and Parent Academy are based on interest expressed by parents. They are held to provide assistance to parents in such areas as discipline, conflict resolution, nutrition, stress management and child development. Surveys are sent home each year so that parents can provide input into topics that are of interest to them.
Home/School Coordinator
The services of a Home/School Coordinator are partially provided by the district through the Title I program. This individual serves all campuses. Some of her duties include making home visits and reporting findings to teachers and/or principals, serving on the PAC and coordinating parent activities such as Parent Academy and parent workshops. She also makes parents aware of services and programs such as Family Counseling, HELP Family Outreach and other social services.
Cross Program Coordination
Parent involvement strategies are incorporated into the district’s curriculum and programs through the District and Campus Plans. The district coordinates Title I Parent Involvement activities with other programs to meet the special needs of all its students.
Evaluation
A meeting is held near the end of the school year where parents are encouraged to review and evaluate all aspects of the parent involvement policy. These suggestions are collected and presented to the PAC to be incorporated into the policy. Other information made available are results of the annual parent survey, student survey and any other pertinent findings. The PAC makes revisions to the policy as needed.
District Initiated Communication and Meetings
1. Orientations for parents and their children who are new to the district are held prior to the beginning of the school year.
2. Campuses notify parents of their children’s eligibility for special programs and educational services.
3. At the parent orientation at the beginning of school, the campus Compacts, an agreement between parents, teachers and students to foster academic success, will be reviewed. Parents will be asked to sign the document with the understanding that parent’s signatures are voluntary.
4. Firm, Fair & Consistent is a publication that is sent periodically to parents whose children attend Dinsmore Elementary.
5. The PRIDE, the district newsletter, is published quarterly in conjunction with the local newspaper.
6. Progress reports are sent to parents on the third Friday of each grading period.
7. Report cards are issued at the end of each six weeks grading period.
8. Teachers are available for conferences with parents. These may be scheduled by calling the office of the appropriate school.
9. At the first meeting of the Dinsmore Parent Teacher Organization, parents will be provided an opportunity to ask questions about any of the district’s programs for its students.
10. Notices are also posted on the district’s website www.electraisd.net.
11. Other communications consist of notices, mailings, phone calls, conferences and visits by the Home/School Coordinator.
12. Attendance at special events such as band concerts, plays, Reading Night and Math Night.
Opportunities for Involvement
1. A volunteer program has been established at Dinsmore Elementary. Persons interested in serving as volunteers should contact Mrs. Davis at 495-3682.
2. Volunteers are needed to assist with such things as the Sixth Grade Round The World Dinner, Reading Is Fundamental Book Distributions, Junior High Fun Day, Junior High Halloween Happening and Dinsmore Fun-N-Run.
3. Membership in Advisory Councils/Committees
*Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
*Senior Parents
*Head Start Parent Council
*Local Health Committee
*District and Campus Teams
Persons interested in serving on one of these groups should contact a building principal, Home/School Coordinator, or the Administration Building. Parents will have an opportunity to be involved in the development of policies and practices through activities such as participation on one of the councils/committees, teams, meetings and/or suggestions left in the boxes at the Parent Centers. The PAC has the responsibility of evaluating the effectiveness of the district parent involvement policy. The District Team evaluates the effectiveness of federal and other programs. Meetings are held periodically to accommodate and encourage greater parent involvement. A meeting is held near the end of the school year to allow parents to provide input concerning the effectiveness of the Title Programs and to plan for them for the following year.
4. Participation in Booster/Parent Organizations
*Athletic
*Band
*FFA
*Dinsmore PTO
*Junior High PTO
Membership is open to anyone interested in any of these organizations. Information may be obtained by contacting the appropriate school office.
5. The annual parent survey conducted by the district.
Parent Centers
A. Centers have been established at the Junior High and Dinsmore campuses.
B. Information at each is based on parent interest and requests.
C. Federal and local funds are used to purchase items for the Centers.
D. There is no charge for the items.
E. A suggestion box has been placed at the Centers.
F. The home/school coordinator oversees the Centers.
Home/School Coordinator
Some of the responsibilities of the district’s Home/School Coordinator include:
1. Facilitate communication between parents and instructional and administrative staffs.
2. Provide parents with timely information in order to ensure their input into the planning, implementation of the Title I programs, including, but not limited to, initiating home visits, promoting parental input into the comprehensive needs assessment and coordinating parent request for services for children.
3. Coordinate parent activities, including, but not limited to, publication of a parent newsletter, organizing parent workshops, and obtaining material for Parent Centers.
4. Provide information to parents in a language and context understandable by them.
5. Provide parents with information on their child’s academic performance, including, but not limited to, TAKS results and classroom assignments.
6. Provide parents with information on their child’s behavior.
7. Facilitate a partnership relationship between the home and school by coordinating parent training, GED services and other referrals.
8. Serve as a member of the Parent Advisory Council and District and Campus Teams.
Be sure and check out the Parent Centers located at each campus for free information. If you have any questions or would like other information that is not available in the centers, please contact Patty Bruce at Dinsmore Elementary School, 495-3682.
