KBF:   PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT IN TITLE I

The School Committee endorses the parent/guardian involvement goals of Title I and encourages the regular participation by parent/guardian in all aspects of the school system’s Title I programs.

For the purpose of this policy, “parent/guardian” includes other family members involved in supervising the child’s schooling.

I.      DISTRICT-LEVEL PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT POLICY

In compliance with federal law, the school unit will develop jointly with, agree on with, and distribute to parent/guardian of children participating in the school system’s Title I programs a written district-level parent/guardian involvement policy.

Annually, parent/guardian will have opportunities to participate in the evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the school unit’s parent/guardian involvement policy and in using the findings of the evaluation to design strategies for more effective parent/guardian involvement and to make revisions to the policy.

II.    SCHOOL-PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT POLICY

As required by law, each school in the school unit that receives Title I funds shall jointly develop with parent/guardian of children served in the program a school parent/guardian involvement policy, including “School-Parent/Guardian Compact” outlining the manner in which parent/guardian, school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement in meeting State standards.  The school policy will be distributed to parent/guardian of children participating in the school’s Title I programs.

The “School-Parent/Guardian Compact” shall:

A.    Describe the school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment enabling children in the Title I program to meet the State’s academic achievement standards;

 B.    Indicate the ways in which parent/guardian will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning, such as monitoring attendance, homework completion, monitoring television watching, volunteering in the classroom, and participating, as appropriate, in decisions related to their children’s education and positive use of extra-curricular time; and

 C.    Address the importance of parent/guardian-teacher communication on an ongoing basis, with, at a minimum, two parent/guardian-teacher conferences, frequent reports to parent/guardian, and reasonable access to staff.

III.   PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT MEETINGS

Each school receiving Title I funds shall convene an annual meeting to which all parent/guardian of eligible children shall be invited to inform them about the school’s participation in Title I and to involve them in the planning, review, and improvement of the school’s Title I programs and the parent/guardian involvement policy.

In addition to the required annual meeting, at least two other additional means of communication shall be offered at various times of the day and/or evenings for parent/guardian of students participating in Title I programs.

Communication shall provide parent/guardian with:

A.    Information about programs the school provides under Title I;

B.    A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency level students are expected to meet;

C.    Opportunities to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children; and

D.    The opportunity to submit comments to the district level if they are dissatisfied with the school-wide Title I program.

Title I funding, if sufficient, may be used to facilitate parent/guardian/guardian attendance at meetings through the payment of transportation and childcare costs.

IV.   PARENT/GUARDIAN RELATIONS

Parent/guardian of children identified for participation in a Title I program shall receive from the building principal and Title I staff an explanation of the reasons supporting their child’s selection, a set of objectives to be addressed, and a description of the services to be provided.  Parent/guardian will receive regular reports on their child’s progress and be provided opportunities to meet with the classroom and Title I teachers.  Parent/guardian will also receive training, materials, and suggestions as to how they can assist in the education of their children at home.

Parent/guardian should contact the Principal or their child’s literacy teacher for further information about Title I programs.

V.    DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for ensuring that the school unit’s Title I plan, programs, and parent/guardian involvement policies comply with applicable law and regulations and for developing administrative procedures, as needed, to implement this policy.

Adopted:             October 3, 1989

Revised:                  July 5, 1994;  February 27, 2012

Reviewed by PC:    September 30, 2022

Legal References:       20 U.S.C. § 6318