DermottSchool District

Parental Involvement Plan

2009-2010

The DermottSchool District believes that to successfully educate a child, the school and the family must form a partnership that will last throughout the student’s academic career. The goal of the school is to provide all components for the student to obtain a quality education that will insure a strong foundation to ensure a productive career or to enter college. Involving the parents in the educational process can only strengthen the bond between the child and the school. It is the DermottSchool District’s policy to educate the whole child and recognize the differences in family units. Therefore, it is the intention of the DermottSchool District to address these differences and build on them to establish a standard of excellence in education. To achieve this goal we will encourage and support parent involvement.

Arkansas Code § 6-15-1702 is amended to read as follows: 6-15-1702. Parental Involvement Plan.

(a)Each public school district and each public school within its boundaries, in collaboration with parents, shall establish a parental involvement plan, including programs and practices that enhance parental involvement and reflect the specific needs of students and their families.

(b) The parental involvement program in each school shall:

*Involve parents of students at all grade levels in a variety of roles.

*Be comprehensive and coordinated in nature.

*Recognizing that communication between home and school should be regular, two-way and meaningful the DermottSchool District will:

(1)To encourage communication with parents, the school shall prepare an informational packet to be distributed annually to the parent of each child in the school, appropriate for the age and grade of the child, describing: (1)the school’s parental involvement program; (2) the recommended roles of the parent, student, teacher and school; (3) ways for the parent to become involved in the school and his or her child’s education; (4) a survey for the parent regarding his or her interests concerning volunteering at the school; (5) activities planned throughout the school year to encourage parental involvement; and (6) a system to allow the parents and teachers to communicate in a regular, two-way and meaningful manner with the child’s teacher and the school principal. To encourage communication with parents, the school shall schedule no fewer than two (2) parent-teacher conferences per school year.

*Acknowledge that parents play an integral role in assisting student learning. To help parents in assisting students, the school shall: (1) schedule regular parent involvement meetings at which parents are given a report on the state of the school and an overview of: (a) what students will be learning; (b) how students will be assessed; (c) what parents should expect for their child’s education; and (d) how a parent can assist and make a difference in his or her child’s education.

*The Dermott School District will provide instruction to a parent on how to incorporate developmentally appropriate learning activities in the home environment, including without limitation: (a) Role play and demonstration by trained volunteers; (b) the use of and access to Department of Education website tools for parents; (c) assistance with nutritional meal planning and preparation; and (d) other strategies or curricula developed or acquired by the school district for at-home parental instruction approved by the Department of Education;and (2) engage in other activities determined by the school to help a parent assist in his or her child’s learning.

*Welcome parents into the school and seek parental support and assistance. To welcome parents into the school, the school shall: (1) not have any policies or procedures that would discourage a parent from visiting the school or from visiting a child’s classroom. (2) encourage school staff to use the volunteer survey to compile a volunteer resource book, listing the interests and availability of volunteers so that the school staff may: (a)determine how frequently a volunteer would like to participate, including the option of just one(1) time per year; (2) include options for those who are available to help at home; and help watch school needs with volunteer interests; and (3)engage in other activities determined by the school to welcome parents into the school. The Dermott School district shall provide training at least annually for volunteers who assist in an instructional program for parents.

*Recognize that a parent is a full partner in the decisions that affect his or her child and family. To encourage a parent to participate as a full partner in the decisions that affect his or her child and family, the school shall: (1)include in the school’s policy handbook the school’s process for resolving parental concerns, including how to define a problem, whom to approach first, and how to develop solutions; (2) sponsor seminars to inform the parents of high school students about how to be involved in the decisions affection course selection, career planning, and preparation for postsecondary opportunities; and (3)engage in other activities that the school determines will encourage a parent to participate as a full partner in the decisions that affect his or her child and family.

*Recognize the community resources strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning. To take advantage of community resources, the school shall: (1) consider recruiting alumni from the school to create an alumni advisory committee to provide advice and guidance for school improvement; (2) enable the formation of a Parent Teacher Association or Organization that will foster parental and community involvement within the school; and (3) engage in other activities that the school determines will use community resources to strengthen the school programs, family practices, and student learning.

*Support the development, implementation, and regular evaluation of the program to involve parents in the decisions and practices of the school district. The principal of each school in a district shall designate one (1) certified staff member who is willing to serve as parent facilitator to: (1) help organize meaningful training for staff and parents; (2) Promote and encourage a welcoming atmosphere to foster parental involvement in the school; and (3) undertake efforts to ensure that parental participation is recognized as an asset to the school.

The DermottSchool District will require two (2) hours of staff development for teachers to enhance the understanding of effective parenting. These two (2) hours may be included in the teacher’s required sixth (60) hours of staff development required by the state.

The DermottSchool District will require three (3) hours for district administrators of staff development of effective parent involvement strategies and the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parent participation.

The Dermott School District, when collaborating with the Department of Education and the Department of Higher Education, and other institutions of higher education, shall be in teacher education/administrator programs in which instruction regards: (1) the importance of parental involvement; (2) successful strategies for encouraging parents to be partners in their child’s education; and (3) the relationship between cultural diversity and parental involvement.

Each school in the DermottSchool District will annually review and revise the Parental Involvement Plan and present a copy to the superintendent.

The DermottSchool District’s Parental Involvement Plan will be on file in the central office for review by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Revised October 1, 2009