Parent Involvement

Redwood City School District Parent and Family Engagement Policy The Governing Board recognizes that parents/guardians are their children's first and most influential teachers and that sustained parent involvement in the education of their children contributes greatly to student achievement and a positive school environment. The Superintendent or designee shall work with staff and parents/guardians and family members to jointly develop and agree upon policies and strategies to meaningfully involve parents/guardians and family members in district and school activities at all grade levels; advisory, decision-making, and advocacy roles; and activities to support learning at home. 1.0 The local governing board of each local educational agency (LEA), or agency, receiving Title I, Part A funding shall establish and implement a written parent and family engagement policy and program. (California Education Code [EC] sections [§§] 11500-11504, 51101[b]; 20 United States Code [U.S.C.] § 6318[a][1], 6318[a][2]) 1.1 The Redwood City School District has developed jointly with, agreed on with, and distributed to, parents and family members of participating children, an LEA-level written parent and family engagement policy. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2]).]) a) Redwood City School District involves parents and family members in the joint development of the district's plan, and in the development of support and improvement plans. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][A]) The Superintendent or designee shall regularly evaluate and report to the Governing Board on the effectiveness of the district's parent/guardian and family engagement efforts, including, but not limited to, input from parents/guardians, family members, and school staff on the adequacy of parent involvement opportunities and barriers that may inhibit participation b) The District provides coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity of all participating schools within the LEA in planning and implementing effective parent and family involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][B]). Assist parents/guardians in understanding such topics as the challenging state academic content standards and academic achievement standards, state and local academic assessments, the requirements of Title I, and how to monitor a child's progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children. Provide parents/guardians with materials and training, such as literacy training and using technology (including education about the harms of copyright piracy), as appropriate, to help them work with their children to improve their children's achievement c) To the extent feasible and appropriate, the district coordinates and integrates Title I, Part A parent and family engagement strategies with parent and family engagement strategies of other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][C]).The LEA involves district and school site representatives from other programs to assist in identifying specific population needs and schedule joint meetings with representatives from related programs and share data and information across programs.The LEA develops a cohesive, coordinated plan focused on student needs and shared goals d) The district conducts, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of the schools served under Title I, Part A. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][D]) I. Convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents/guardians of participating students shall be invited and encouraged to attend, in order to inform parents/guardians of their school's participation in Title I and to explain Title I requirements and the right of parents/guardians to be involved II. Offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, for which related transportation, child care, and/or home visits may be provided as such services relate to parent/guardian involvement III. Involve parents/guardians in an organized, ongoing, and timely way in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school's parent/guardian and family engagement policy and, if applicable, the joint development of the plan for schoolwide programs pursuant to 20 USC 631 The district identifies the following: 1. Barriers to greater participation by parents in activities authorized by this section (with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background). (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][D][i]) a. Include information about district level activities in district communications to parents/guardians and family members in a language the parents/guardians can understand b. To the extent practicable, provide translation services or other accommodations needed to encourage participation of parents/guardians and family members c. Establish processes to encourage parent/guardian input regarding their expectations and concerns for their children 2. The needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][D][ii]) 3. Strategies to support successful school and family interactions. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][D][iii]) a. Build consistent and effective two-way communication between family members and the school so that parents and family members may know when and how to assist their children in support of classroom learning activities. b. Train teachers, school administrators, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff to communicate effectively with parents as equal partners. c. Integrate and coordinate parent and family engagement activities with the local control and accountability plan (LCAP), as applicable, with other programs. The Redwood City School District uses the findings of such evaluation in section 1.1(d) of the Federal Program Monitoring instrument to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to revise, if necessary, the parent and family engagement policy. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][E]) The district involves parents in activities of schools served under Title I, Part A to adequately represent the needs of the population served by such agency for the purposes of developing, revising, and reviewing the parent and family engagement policy. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][2][F]) The Superintendent or designee will: I. Use a variety of methods, such as focus groups, surveys, and workshops, to evaluate the satisfaction of parents/guardians and staff with the quality and frequency of district communications II. Gather and monitor data regarding the number of parents/guardians and family members participating in district activities and the types of activities in which they are engaged III. Recommend to the Governing Board measures to evaluate the impact of the district's parent/guardian and family engagement efforts on student achievement Parents/guardians shall be notified of their rights to be informed about and to participate in their children's education and of the opportunities available to them to do so. The district's local control and accountability plan (LCAP) shall include goals and strategies for parent/guardian involvement and family engagement, including district efforts to seek parent/guardian input in district and school site decision making and to promote parent/guardian participation in programs for English learners, foster youth, students eligible for free and reduced-price meals, and students with disabilities. (Education Code 42238.02, 52060) The Superintendent or designee shall regularly evaluate and report to the Governing Board on the effectiveness of the district's parent/guardian and family engagement efforts, including, but not limited to, input from parents/guardians, family members, and school staff on the adequacy of parent involvement opportunities and barriers that may inhibit participation. 1.2 The Redwood City School District policy on parent and family engagement for all schools (including Title I and non-Title I) in the LEA shall be consistent with the following goals and purposes: (EC §§ 11502, 11504, 11506) a) Engage parents and family members positively in their children's education by providing assistance and training on topics such as state academic standards and assessments to develop knowledge and skills to use at home to support their children's academic efforts at school and their children's development as responsible future members of our society. (EC § 11502[a]). The District utilizes department leaders and district instructional coaches to provide training on parent improved topics that include, English Language Development, State Academic Standards and Assessments and specific strategies to support the student in the home. b) Inform parents that they can directly affect the success of their children's learning, by providing parents with techniques and strategies that they may utilize to improve their children's academic success and to assist their children in learning at home. (EC § 11502[b])The LEA ensures that each school has a parent school compact with specific strategies for two communications which include but is not limited to: Report cards, parent teacher conferences, email and other communication systems. c) Build consistent and effective two-way communication between family members and the school so that parents and family members may know when and how to assist their children in support of classroom learning activities. (EC § 11502[c]) d) Train teachers, school administrators, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff to communicate effectively with parents as equal partners. (EC § 11502[d]. The district utilizes professional development sessions to train teachers, administrators and staff on ways to effectively engage parents. Each site shares best practices that others may learn from. e) Integrate and coordinate parent and family engagement activities with the local control and accountability plan (LCAP), as applicable, with other programs. (EC § 11502[e]). The LEA convenes LCAP steering committee meetings that include parents from across the district including Title 1 schools. The steering committee is responsible for the development of the district LCAP which includes federal funds. The steering committee determines how funds will be allocated for parental involvement activities as well as activities related to increasing student achievement. 1.3 Parents and family members of children receiving Title I, Part A services shall be involved in the decisions regarding how funds reserved are allotted for parental involvement activities. (20 U.S.C. Section 6318[a][3 [B]) a) The LEA annually convenes an introductory meeting regarding the district participation in Title funding. The meeting is held at a convenient time, to which all parents/guardians of participating students shall be invited and encouraged to attend, in order to inform parents/guardians of the district and school's participation in Title I and to explain Title I requirements and the right of parents/guardians to be involved in decisions regarding how funds are allocated in decisions regarding how funds are allocated. b) The LEA convenes LCAP steering committee meetings that include parents from across the district including Title 1 schools. The steering committee is responsible for the development of the district LCAP which includes federal funds. The steering committee determines how funds will be allocated for parental involvement activities as well as activities related to increasing student achievement. 1.4 Funds reserved by an LEA shall be used to carry out activities and strategies consistent with the LEA's parent and family engagement policy, including not less than one of the following: (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D]) The LEA works with each school to develop their School Site Plan that includes specific activities and strategies consistent with the district's policy to engage parents and families. Each school determines through their annual needs assessment site specific activities that will include at least one of the following: a) Supporting schools and nonprofit organizations in providing professional development for LEA and school personnel regarding parent and family engagement strategies. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D][i]) b) Supporting programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community, and at school. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D][ii]) c) Disseminating information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement, especially best practices for increasing the engagement of economically disadvantaged parents and family members. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D][iii]) d) Collaborating, or providing subgrants to schools to enable such schools to collaborate, with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing parent and family engagement. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D][iv]) e) Engaging in any other activities and strategies that the LEA determines are appropriate and consistent with such agency's parent and family engagement policy. (20 U.S.C. § 6318[a][3][D][v]) i) The District holds regular scheduled DELAC and Title 1 parent meetings at each school year. Parents and guardians provide input and feedback in topics that support student achievement and support for programs that reach parents/guardians and family members at home, in the community, and at school. Title I Schools The Superintendent or designee shall involve parents/guardians and family members in establishing district expectations and objectives for meaningful parent/guardian and family engagement in schools supported by Title I funding, developing strategies that describe how the district will carry out each activity listed in 20 USC 6318, as contained in the accompanying administrative regulation, and implementing and evaluating such programs, activities, and procedures. As appropriate, the Superintendent or designee shall conduct outreach to all parents/guardians and family members. (Education Code 11503; 20 USC 6318) When the district's Title I, Part A allocation exceeds the amount specified in 20 USC 6318, the Governing Board shall reserve at least one percent of the funding to implement parent/guardian and family engagement activities and shall distribute at least 90 percent of those reserved funds to eligible schools, with priority given to high-need schools as defined in 20 USC 6631. The Superintendent or designee shall involve parents/guardians and family members of participating students in decisions regarding how the district's Title I funds will be allotted for parent/guardian and family engagement activities. (20 USC 6318) Expenditures of such funds shall be consistent with the activities specified in this policy and shall include at least one of the following: (20 USC 6318) 1. Support for schools and nonprofit organizations in providing professional development for district and school staff regarding parent/guardian and family engagement strategies, which may be provided jointly to teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, early childhood educators, and parents/guardians and family members 2. Support for programs that reach parents/guardians and family members at home, in the community, and at school 3. Dissemination of information on best practices focused on parent/guardian and family engagement, especially best practices for increasing the engagement of economically disadvantaged parents/guardians and family members 4. Collaboration, or the provision of subgrants to schools to enable collaboration, with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing parent/guardian and family engagement 5. Any other activities and strategies that the district determines are appropriate and consistent with this policy If the district also receives funds under federal Title IV, Part E, to coordinate and enhance family engagement programs, the Superintendent or designee shall inform parents/guardians and organizations of the existence of Title IV. (20 USC 6318) The district's Board policy and administrative regulation containing parent/guardian and family engagement strategies shall be incorporated into the district's LCAP in accordance with 20 USC 6312. (20 USC 6318) The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that each school receiving Title I funds develop a school-level parent/guardian and family engagement policy in accordance with 20 USC 6318. District and school-level parent/guardian and family engagement policies and administrative regulations shall be distributed to parents/guardians of students participating in Title I programs and shall be available to the local community. Parents/guardians shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents/guardians can understand. (20 USC 6318) Non-Title I Schools The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement strategies applicable to each school that does not receive federal Title I funds to encourage the involvement and support of parents/guardians in the education of their children, including, but not limited to, strategies describing how the district and schools will address the purposes and goals described in Education Code 11502. (Education Code 11504)