• |
Ask
to be involved in developing the SEA Title I plan. If the
SEA already has a plan, find out who represented the community
and parents in its development. |
• |
Disseminate
the plan to community members and parents. |
• |
Find
out how the state plans to review LEA parental involvement
policies to determine whether LEA plans are adequate. Determine
what recourse is available should LEA noncompliance occur. |
• |
Find
out what assistance the state is ready to provide to LEAs
and schools having difficulty implementing parental involvement
policies. If there does not appear to be any assistance available,
work with your LEA and other community agencies to develop
them. |
• |
Work
with the LEA to educate parents about state curriculum content
standards, student performance standards, accountability
and assessment system, and student achievement requirements. |
• |
Determine
if your school has a meaningful parent involvement policy
and if one exists, volunteer to become part of the team to
help implement and evaluate it. If a policy does not exist,
become an active participant in its development, implementation
and evaluation. |
• |
Make
sure that the parents included in its development represent
the school community. Provide translators, if needed. |
• |
Survey
the families in the school community to assess their needs
and expectations for parent programs that the policy can
reflect. And then follow up to make sure these programs are
implemented and effective. |
• |
Make
sure the parental involvement policy includes a school improvement
monitoring team that serves as a watchdog to ensure that
the Title I strategies and activities in the school's
Title I application are being implemented. The team should
include community representatives and should meet with teachers
and school staff on a periodic basis to identify areas of
progress and need. Feed information back to parents and school
staff. |
• |
Find
out what, if any, professional development activities are
planned to strengthen the partnership between families and
schools. Assist the administration or staff in determining
the resources and programs available for such training. |
• |
Find
out how Title 1 dollars are being used to support parent
involvement and also find out if there is other money available
to support parent involvement. |
• |
Ask
the LEA to go beyond the NCLB parental involvement requirements
and include the following options in their plans: |
| |
– |
A
review committee, including parents and community representatives,
to monitor LEA parental involvement plans and their implementation |
| |
– |
Approval
criteria for LEA parental involvement policies; specific
assistance to help parents, schools, and communities develop
their programs and a complaint process parents can employ
if the LEA does not comply with the law |
| |
– |
A
coalition of parent organizations representing a diverse
cross section of the school district and the student community
to work with the LEA in developing the parental involvement
plan |
| |
– |
A
model parental involvement policy to give schools and parents
a guide for tailoring a policy suited to their needs |
| |
– |
Model
parental involvement programs and practices; a parental needs
assessment; professional development to help teachers and
principles engage parents more effectively; LEA and school
plans to evaluate the success of LEA and school policies |
| |
– |
A
parent resource center at the district and school level to
ensure that parents become full partners in their child's
education |
