2016-2017 School Parent Involvement Policy

Reviewed: Countywide Strategic Planning with Faculty and Parents 6/1/16

School: Oglethorpe County ElementaryDistrict/LEA: Oglethorpe County Schools

In support of strengthening student academic achievement, Oglethorpe County Elementary School receives Title I, Part A funds and develops jointly with, agreed on with, and distribute to, parents of participating children a written parent involvement policy, agreed on by such parents, that contains information required by section 1118(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 (ESEA) (school parent involvement policy). The policy establishes the school’s expectations for parental involvement and describes how the school will implement a number of specific parental involvement activities, and it is incorporated into the school’s plan submitted to the local education agency (LEA).

Oglethorpe County Elementary School will adhere to the following as required by law:

  • Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under Title I, Part A, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school parental involvement policy and the joint development of the schoolwide program plan under section 1114(b)(2) pf the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).
  • Update the school parent involvement policy periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school and distribute it to the parents of participating children and make the parental involvement plan available to the local community.
  • Provide full opportunities to the extent practicable, for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports required under section 1111of the ESEA in an understandable and uniform format and including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.
  • If the schoolwide program plan under section 1114 (b)(2) of the ESEA is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, submit any parent comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the local education agency
  • Be governed by the following statutory definition of parental involvement and will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with this definition:

Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring –

(A)that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;

(B)that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;

(C)that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;

(D)the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.

DESCRIPTION OF HOW OGLETHORPE COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL IMPLEMENT REQUIRED SCHOOLWIDE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS

  1. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to involve parents in an organized, ongoing, and timely manner in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs including involvement in the decisions regarding how funds for parental involvement will be used.

Parents will be provided an evaluation questionnaire at the end of all parent involvement activities to assure we are meeting the needs of parents. These questionnaires are distributed to parents at the event. Parents may complete the form before leaving or return it to the school office in a timely manner. The data collected are used to make improvements and tailor the learning opportunities to the parents’ needs. An opportunity to review and provide input into the Parent Involvement Policy and Schoolwide Plan is offered immediately preceding the school’s Annual Title I meeting.

  1. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to conduct an annual meeting, at a convenient time, and encourage and invite all parents of participating children to attend, to inform them about the school’s Title I program, the nature of the Title I program, the parents’ requirements and the school parental involvement policy, the schoolwide plan, and the school-parent compact.

An Annual Title I meeting will be held where parents will receive information on the components of the school-wide Title I program, the nature of the Title I program, the parents’ requirements and the school parental involvement policy, the schoolwide plan, and the school-parent compact. After parents receive information about the Title I program, parents will then be introduced to CCRPI, the first semester curriculum, the Georgia Standards of Excellence, the school-wide discipline plan, benchmark and summative assessments to be given during the year, teacher expectations, and grade level and school procedures for their child’s grade.

  1. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide with Title I funds, transportation, child care or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement.

The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will facilitate time and access for families and educators to work together:Recognizing the importance of parent interaction in regard to academic performance, OCESfaculty and staff have the goal of working as a strategic team that forms a triangle between students, parents, and school. The following are examples of this focused effort:

Parent communications and conferences

RTI/Data Teams

School events

Parent workshops

Special Education Parent Liaison

Academically focused after-school program

Summer school program (if funding permits)

Support for English Language Learners and their families

Community and parental resources for presentations associated with instruction

Flexible meeting times

Academic Migrant Student After School Program

4. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to provide parents of participating children the following:

  • Timely information about the Title I programs;
  • Description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet;
  • Opportunities for regular meetings, if requested by parents, to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their child, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible;

The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will engage families of diverse backgrounds in improving student success: The Leadership team continues to maintain an instructional focus and is guidingdaily operations on the premise that we are, “Preparing All to Realize Individual Opportunities to Succeed.”

The planning and organizational effort of this team has led to OCES continuing to build on established school/parent interactions. Our staff strives to reach out to all parents in order for every student to have the opportunity to succeed. The established and developing opportunities for parents to visit and interact in the school setting include:

  • Annual Grade Level Breakfasts
  • Yearly Honors Day Celebrations
  • Jumpstart to Third Grade Workshop
  • Transition to Middle School Visit & Orientation
  • Bi-annual Book Fairs
  • Parent Involvement Training Opportunities
  • Field Trips
  • Sing-a-long
  • Spring Musical
  • Third Grade Farm Day
  • Fifth Grade Picnic
  • Parent Involvement Workshops (math and reading)
  • PTO Board Meetings
  • Spring Fling
  • Christmas in Oglethorpe
  • School Council
  • Talent Show
  • Field Day
  • Watch DOG Dads
  • Community Day

5. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to jointly develop with parents of participating children 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.

The Teacher-Parent-Student Compact, as well as the Parent Involvement Policy, will be presented for review/revision to the School Council and the PTO Board. A parent survey will be issued via email with paper copies upon request. Any feedback, comments, or suggestions will be presented to the Leadership Team. Suggestions will be addressed in a timely manner and parents will be informed. Any unsatisfactory parent comments regarding the policy, compact, or plan will be attached to the plan. Faculty and parents will review the policy at the system wide strategic planning meeting during post planning.

The school’s calendar contains the Student Handbook and the Teacher-Parent-Student Compact is presented in the back to school packet. The compact explains ways each party (the teacher, the parent, the student) is responsible for supporting the child’s learning. The compact is signed by the teacher, the parent, and the student. It remains in the school during the school year so each party can refer to it for guidance.

6. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will build the school’s and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, through the following activities specifically described below:

A.The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will provide assistance to parents of participating children, as appropriate, in understanding topics such as the following, by undertaking the actions described in this paragraph –

  • the State’s academic content standards;
  • the State’s student academic achievement standards;
  • the State and local academic assessments including alternate assessments;
  • the requirements of Part A;
  • how to monitor their child’s progress, and
  • how to work with educators

Parent breakfast/luncheon programs – The programs focus on strategies for mastering basic facts, new methods for teaching multiplication, critical areas for math, and strategies for improving and strengthening reading skills. Parents are provided resource packets for use in assisting their child with improving in these areas. Parents receive information about the state Milestones testing and are given DOE pamphlets outlining the state’s criteria for promotion.

Parent-Teacher conferences will be conducted throughout the year. Class meetings at the beginning of the year will include the opportunity to build relationships, individual student data, data expectations, goal setting, and professional learning on how to help at home. The parent conference is an opportunity for the teacher and parent to collaborate on ways of monitoring and supporting the student by challenging the student’s strengths and addressing the student’s weaknesses. Teachers share benchmark assessment results as well as daily performance in the classroom. Teachers and parents review their responsibilities and commitments as outlined in the Teacher-Parent-Student Compact. (Language interpreters are available to parents and teachers during conference times if requested.)

Honor’s programs –One honor’s programs will be held this year for each grade level. At the honor’s program, parents will be given information about the results of the state testing.

B.The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will provide materials and training to help parents to work with their child to improve their child’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement, by;

Providing a Parent Resource Center and Parental Involvement Opportunities:

  • Parent conferences and class meetings will provide a time for parents to learn exactly how their child compares to his/her peers and with grade level goals. Parents are given the materials needed and professional learning on how to help their child increase their reading fluency. Parents and teachers will work together to write a SMART goal for their child’s progress which will be checked at the next meeting.
  • Student activities and/or childcare are provided during the parent workshops for children attending with their parents. These activities are manned by faculty and staff from each grade level and held in an area separate from the parent meeting area.
  • Parents are invited to attend regional-national meetings/conferences in association with students with special needs.
  • Parents will be provided with professional learning opportunities on how to access materials and technology that will help them monitor their child’s progress, such as, PowerSchool parent portal.

C. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will provide training to educate the teachers, pupil services personnel, principal, and other staff in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school, by:

  • Facilitating faculty meetings that include the review of strategies that strengthen parent engagement;
  • Providing information on effective parent involvement through newsletters, email communications, and webpages.
  • Providing opportunities for teachers to plan and implement the components of effective parent conferences.

D. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities with Head Start, Even Start, Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, and public preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children, by:

Providing effective school and community leadership: The faculty and staff at OCES haveworked to establish positive relationship with community leaders and businesses in an effort to create opportunities for partnerships that will benefit our children, school and community. These partnerships include:

  • Business partners
  • Mentors/volunteers
  • PTO Executive Board
  • School Leadership Team
  • Mobile dental services
  • Rotary
  • Faith-based groups
  • Family Connections
  • School Council
  • Fatz
  • Sonic Spirit Night
  • Chicfila Spirit Night
  • Farm Bureau
  • Pinnacle Bank
  • Commercial Bank
  • Cici’s Pizza
  • Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce
  • Power Partners
  • Advantage Behavioral Services

E. The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will take the following actions to ensure that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities, is sent to the parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand:

Providing effective communication: Oglethorpe County Elementary School (OCES) strives to establishand maintain effective communication between the school and families using the following tools to the extent feasible. By using the following tools, Oglethorpe Elementary Schools’ parents can remain involved in all aspects of OCES’ Title I programs.

  • Calendars- 1. System-wide Calendar

2. School Calendar

  • Newsletters 1. School-wide (monthly calendar including lunch menu)

2. Home School Connection/Grade level newsletter

  • School website/Teacher websites
  • Daily folders provided by the school for all students
  • The beginning of the year packet contains the Student Handbook/Calendar and the Teacher-Parent-Student Compact. The compact explains ways each party (the teacher, the parent, the student) is responsible for supporting the child’s learning. The compact is signed by the teacher, the parent, and the student. It remains in the school during the school year so each party can refer to it for guidance.
  • Phone calls and e-mail
  • System wide communication calling system
  • Conferences:
  • Parent – Teacher conferences
  • Pyramid of Interventions
  1. School Counselor conferences
  2. Phone Conferences on principal and/or counselor’s phone
  3. Individualized Education Program (IEP) and due process conferences
  4. Parent Mentor conferences
  5. Class Meetings
  • Benchmark assessments
  • Report cards and progress reports –parents have online access to their child’s grades, attendance record, and assignments using PowerSchool.
  • Parent surveys
  • Home visits by school counselor and parent mentor
  • PTO executive board meetings
  • School Council meetings
  • Echo updates
  • Daily interactions between administrators, teachers, and parents
  • Parent Resource Center

A.The Oglethorpe County Elementary School will provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under section 1118 as parents may request, by;

  • Maintaining the positive partnership between parents and faculty that is well established at OCES. As evidenced by the Annual Parent Survey, families and community members in Oglethorpe County value the opportunity to help their children achieve academic success. The Instructional Leadership team continues to capitalize on the commitment from parents and the community. The team attempts to afford opportunities for each to learn more about academic activities at school and effective ways to support those activities at home. The staff at OCES will continue to work toward maintaining and improving the partnership with parents so that all are focused on student achievement by:
  • Promoting a positive, welcoming and respectful school environment for all students, parents, and community members
  • Maintaining open communication with parents through devices listed in this policy (electronic, phone, print, and informal interactions).
  • Providing flexible scheduling for parent conferences or meetings/activities and release time for teachers when needed to accommodate family/work commitments.
  • Valuing parent and community input and participation in policy decisions that affect the children of our school and community.
  • Providing opportunities for parents to work with teachers and learn about current trends and issues impacting student performance.
  • Keeping parents abreast of student progress.
  • Involving parents in developing the Parent Involvement Policy and Teacher-Parent-Student compact.
  • Communicating academic, social/emotional, behavioral needs and strategies in conjunction with student support services in order to effectively address student needs.

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