SOMERSET ACADEMY CHARTER MIDDLE S HOMESTEAD Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Robert Serna , do hereby certify that all facts, figures, and representations made in this application are true, correct, and consistent with the statement of assurances for these waivers. Furthermore, all applicable statutes, regulations, and procedures; administrative and programmatic requirements; and procedures for fiscal control and maintenance of records will be implemented to ensure proper accountability for the expenditure of funds on this project. All records necessary to substantiate these requirements will be available for review by appropriate state and federal staff. I further certify that all expenditures will be obligated on or after the effective date and prior to the termination date of the project. Disbursements will be reported only as appropriate to this project, and will not be used for matching funds on this or any special project, where prohibited.

Assurances

  • The school will be governed by the statutory definition of parental involvement, and will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with the definition outlined in Section 9101(32), ESEA;
  • Involve the parents of children served in Title I, Part A in decisions about how Title I, Part A funds reserved for parental involvement are spent [Section 1118(b)(1) and (c)(3)];
  • Jointly develop/revise with parents the school parental involvement policy and distribute it to parents of participating children and make available the parental involvement plan to the local community [Section 1118 (b)(1)];
  • Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under this part, 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) [Section 1118(c)(3)];
  • Use the findings of the parental involvement policy review to design strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to revise, if necessary, the school’s parental involvement policy [Section 1118(a)(E)];
  • If the plan for Title I, Part A, developed under Section 1112, is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school will submit parent comments with the plan when the school submits the plan to the local educational agency [Section 1118(b)(4)];
  • Provide to each parent an individual student report about the performance of their child on the state assessment in at least mathematics, language arts, and reading [Section 1111(h)(6)(B)(i)];
  • Provide each parent timely notice when their child has been assigned or has been taught for four (4) or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified within the meaning of the term in 34 CFR Section 200.56 [Section 1111(h)(6)(B)(ii)]; and
  • Provide each parent timely notice information regarding their right to request information on the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers and paraprofessionals [Section (h)(6)(A)].

 

Signature of Principal or Designee

Date Signed

 

Mission Statement



Parental Involvement Mission Statement (Optional)

Response:

Review Rubric:
Mission statements are written concisely, free of jargon, and parent-friendly and inspire stakeholders to be involved and supportive of the program. Strong mission statements include:

·  Explanation of the purpose of the parental involvement program;

·  Description of what will be done; and

·  Description of the beliefs or value of the LEA.

Review Status:

Review Comments:

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Involvement of Parents



Describe how the school will 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 [Sections1118(c)(3), 1114(b)(2), and 1118(a)(2)(B)].

Response: The school will involve parents in the planning, review and improvement of Title I programs by holding a Title I Orientation Meeting, monthly SASH Parent Club meetings and monthly EESAC Meetings. Agendas, sign-in sheets and recorded minutes will be kept as record of dialogue with parents and stakeholders regarding School-Parent Compacts, Parent Involvement Plans, Volunteer hours/Involvement, School Contracts/Rules and Procedures, Parent Workshops and activities.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of the group responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the plans;
  • Description of the procedures for selecting members of the group;
  • Explanation of how the input from parents will be documented; and
  • Description of the process and involvement of parents in the development of required plans; and
  • Information on how the school will provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under section 1118 as parents may request [Section 1118(e)(14)].

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Coordination and Integration



Describe how the school will coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities that teach parents how to help their children at home, to the extent feasible and appropriate, including but not limited to, other federal programs such as: Head Start, Early Reading First, Even Start, Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, public preschool, Title I, Part C, Title II, Title III, Title IV, and Title VI [Section 1118(e)(4)].

count

Program

Coordination

1

School Based

Lead Teacher, Reading Coach, staff and teachers

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of the specific federal programs; and
  • Description of how the programs will be coordinated.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Annual Parent Meeting



Describe the specific steps the school will take to conduct an annual meeting designed to inform parents of participating children about the school’s Title I program, the nature of the Title I program (schoolwide or targeted assistance), Adequately Yearly Progress, school choice, supplemental educational services, and the rights of parents. Include timeline, persons responsible, and evidence the school will use to demonstrate the effectiveness of the activity [Section 1118(c)(1)].

count

Activity/Tasks

Person Responsible

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Review/Discuss the school’s curriculum/Assessments/Procedures

Jessica Mesa

9-09-14

Meeting Minutes

2

Discussion/ Creation of the School-Parent Compacts

Robert Serna

9-09-14

Meeting Minutes/Completed Parent Compacts

3

Discussion/ Creation of the Parent Involvement Plan

Robert Serna

9-09-14

Meeting Minutes/ Completed Parent Involvement Plan

4

Workshop Survey/ Generate Topics of Interest

Robert Serna

9-09-14

Meeting Minutes/Survey Results

5

Parent Club

Jessica Mesa

9-09-14

Meeting Minutes/Parent Club sign-up sheets

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of specific activities or tasks;
  • Identification of the person(s) responsible for completing the task;
  • Reasonable and realistic timelines; and
  • Description of the evidence the school will use to demonstrate the effectiveness and/or completion of the activity/task.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Flexible Parent Meetings



Describe how the school will 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 related to parental involvement [Section 1118(c)(2)].

Response: The school has scheduled monthly EESAC meetings after-school at 3:00pm. We have school events such as, Holiday/Seasonal performances, Quarterly Awards Ceremonies, Book Fairs, Carnivals, etc. scheduled in the morning and evening. Parent Workshops are scheduled in the evenings as per parental requests.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Description of the process the school will use to ensure that workshops/meetings are offered at a flexible times; and
  • Specific examples of the flexible schedule offered to parents.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Building Capacity



Describe how the school will implement activities that will build the 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 [Section 1118(e)]. Describe the actions the school will take to provide materials and training to help parents work with their child to improve their child’s academic achievement [Section 1118(e)(2)].Include information on how the school will provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under Section 1118 as parents may request [Section 1118(e)(14)].

count

Content and Type of Activity

Person Responsible

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Parent Volunteer Program

Teachers

Volunteer hours are granted through participation in FCAT Super Saturday Tutoring, after school tutoring, attendance for EESAC meetings, parent workshops and activities

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

2

Parent workshops

Taechers/Administers

It provides training, information, and support services that strengthen the relationship between parents and the school in meaningful ways that improve academic achievement

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

3

The Title I Administration Parent Involvement Monthly School Report and the Title I Parent Involvement Monthly Activities Report are used to coordinate and plan the year's parent involvement activities, and identify barriers to greater participation.

Principal

It provides training, information, and support services that strengthen the relationship between parents and the school in meaningful ways that improve academic achievement.

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

4

School Site Parent Outreach Center

Principal/CIS

It implements programs and activities that are linked to improving academic achievement.

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

5

Monthy Parent/EESAC mtg

Administration/CIS

It provides training, information, and support services that strengthen the relationship between parents and the school in meaningful ways that improve academic achievement.

monthly

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

6

Miami-Dade Parent Portal

District/Admin

It allows registered parents or guardians to monitor their students' attendance and academic performance.

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Description of the content and type of activity including the following: o The state’s academic content standards and state student academic achievement standards, State and local assessments including alternative assessments, Parental involvement requirements of Section 1118, and How to monitor their child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their child;
  • Identification of the person(s) responsible;
  • Correlation to student academic achievement;
  • Reasonable and realistic timelines; and
  • Description of the evidence the LEA will use to demonstrate the effectiveness and/or completion of the activity/task

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Staff Training



Describe the professional development activities the school will provide to educate the teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, 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 schools [Section 1118(e)(3)].

count

Content and Type of Activity

Person Responsible

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Title I Administration Technical Assistance and Support

District Director and Staff/Administration

It assists us with the planning, monitoring, and implementation of effective parental involvement throughout the activities that are linked to improving academic achievement.

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

2

Parent communication workshops for staff and teachers

Admin/CIS

It assists us with the planning, monitoring, and implementation of effective parental involvement throughout the activities that are linked to improving academic achievement.

throughout the year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

3

Title 1 annual meeting conducted at the school level

Administrator

It is to understand and implement the No Child Left Behind Act and also to increase academic achievement through parent involvement.

Fall 2013

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

4

Monthly faculty meeting

Administrator

It assists us with the planning, monitoring, and implementation of effective parental involvement throughout the activities that are linked to improving academic achievement.

monthly

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

5

Training of Trainers

Principal

It assists us with the planning, monitoring, and implementation of effective parental involvement throughout the activities that are linked to improving academic achievement.

throughout school year

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

6

EESAC Meetings

Administrators

It is to understand and implement the No Child Left Behind Act and also to increase academic achievement through parent involvement.

monthly

as evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores

Review Rubric:

·  Content and type of activity including the following:Valuefollowing:

  • Valuing of parental involvement,
  • Communicating and working with parents,
  • Implementation and coordination of parental involvement program,
  • Building ties between home and school,; and
  • Cultural sensitivity;

·  Identification of person(s) responsible;

·  Correlation to student academic achievement;

·  Reasonable and realistic timelines; and

·  Description of the evidence the LEA will use to demonstrate the effectiveness and/or completion of the activity/task.

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Other Activities



Describe the other activities, such as parent resource centers, the school will conduct to encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children [Section 1118 (e)(4)].

Response: Our parents are required to complete 30 volunteer hours during the school year. They may complete these hours by volunteering in the classroom, attending fieldtrips, school sponsored workshops and events, EESAC meetings, and when students attend afterschool and Saturday tutoring. Our school also has a parent resource center where they can get school and resource information, as well as, access to computers.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of the type of activity;
  • Specific steps necessary to implement this activity;
  • Person(s) responsible;
  • Timeline; and
  • Description of the evidence the school will use to demonstrate the effectiveness and/or completion of the activity/task.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Communication



Describe how the school will provide parents of participating children the following [Section 1118(c)(4)]:

  • Timely information about the Title I programs [Section 1118(c)(4)(A)];
  • Description and explanation of the curriculum at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet [Section 1118(c)(4)(B)];
  • If requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children[Section 1118(c)(4)(C)]; and
  • If the schoolwide program plan under Section 1114 (b)(2) is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school will include submit the parents’ comments with the plan that will be made available to the local education agency [Section 1118(c)(5)].

Response: The school provides a "Year At A Glance" calendar, which was distributed at the beginning of the year. This calendar includes the following dates: EESAC meetings, Open House, parent workshops, workshop dates, planning/recess days, parent/student events, progress report/report card dates, grading period dates, FSA/ FCAT exams, Honor Roll Assemblies , and tutoring dates. Monthly calendars are also provided which highlight the same information as the above with more detail, as well as, club and sports information. All events and calendars are uploaded on our school website and email alerts and text messages are placed when we have upcoming events.



We schedule FCAT/FSA Parent Nights where parents are given the opportunity to learn about the test, are given resources and tips on how to help their children and are able to ask questions about the test. Curriculum and assessments are also discussed during our monthly EESAC meetings.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Process for providing information to parents;
  • Dissemination methods;
  • Reasonable and realistic timelines for specific parent notifications; and
  • Description of how the school will monitor that the information was provided.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Accessibility



Describe how the school will provide full opportunities for participation in parental involvement activities for all parents (including parents with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and migratory children). Include how the school plans to share information related to school and parent programs, meetings, school reports, and other activities in an understandable and uniform format and to the extent practical, in a language parents can understand [Section 1118(e)(5) and 1118(f)].

Response: All communication through flyers, parent meetings/EESAC meetings are done in both English, however, it is translated to Spanish after the meeting if necessary. Our principal is bilingual and acts as a translator during parent meetings and parent/teacher meetings as well

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Process the school will use for translating information into a parent’s native language;
  • Description of how the school will ensure that parents with disabilities will have access to parental involvement activities and/or services;
  • Description of how the school will ensure that information is available to parents considering the fluctuating student populations;
  • Specific languages in which information will be provided; and
  • Process the school will use to monitor that schools provide information to parents in a language they can understand, if feasible.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Discretionary Activities



Discretionary School Level Parental Involvement Policy Components Check if the school does not plan to implement discretionary parental involvement activities. Check all activities the school plans to implement:

count

Activity

Description of Implementation Strategy

Person Responsible

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

Timeline

1

Maximizing parental involvement and participation in their children’s education by arranging school meetings at a variety of times, or conducting in-home conferences between teachers or other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend those conferences at school [Section 1118(e)(10)];

There are scheduled monthly EESAC meetings, parent activities, parent workshops.

Administration

It strengthens the relations between parents and schools in ways that improve academic achievement

throughout the year

2

Adopting and implementing model approaches to improving parental involvement [Section 1118(e)(11)]; and

The administrators monitor the strategies being used, offer support to the teachers.

Administration

The intent is to increase academic achievement through parent involvement

throughout the year

3

Developing appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses, including faith-based organizations, in parental involvement activities [Section 1118(e)(13)].

The Administration will conduct meetings for parents including information on resources/information/and assistance for parents.

Administration

This will help implement activities that are linked to improving academic achievement through community-based organizations and business

throughout the year

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of the activity which may include the following:
  • Involving parents in the development of staff training, providing literacy training, paying reasonable and necessary expenses to conduct parental involvement activities, training parents to help other parents, adopting and implementing model parental involvement programs, organizing a local education agency parent advisory council, and/or developing roles for community organizations and/or business in parental involvement activities;
  • Description of the implementation strategy;
  • Identification of person(s) responsible;
  • Correlation to student academic achievement; and
  • Reasonable and realistic timelines.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Upload Evidence of Input from Parents



Upload evidence of parent input in the development of the plan.

Review Rubric:

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Upload Parent-School Compact



Note: As a component of the school-level parental involvement policy/plan, each school shall jointly develop, with parents for all children served under this part, a parent-school compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement Section 1118(d)].

Upload an electronic version of the Parent-School Compact.

Review Rubric:
School-Parent Compact must include the following components:

  • Description of the school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables children to meet the State’s student academic achievement standards;
  • Identification of ways parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning (for example, monitoring attendance, homework completion, or television watching; volunteering in their child’s classroom; and participating as appropriate in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time); and
  • Highlight the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum: parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement; Frequent reports to parents on their child’s progress; and Reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and observation of classroom activities; and
  • Evidence that parents were involved in the development/revisions to the compact [Section 1118(d), ESEA].

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Upload Evidence of Parent Involvement in Development of Parent-School Compact



Note: As a component of the school-level parental involvement policy/plan, each school shall jointly develop, with parents for all children served under this part, a parent-school compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement Section 1118(d)].

Upload evidence of parent input in the development of the compact.

Review Rubric:

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Evaluation of the previous year's Parental Involvement Plan

Building Capacity Summary



Provide a summary of activities provided during the previous school year that were designed to build the capacity of parents to help their children [Section 1118 (e)(1-2)]. Include participation data on the Title I annual meeting.

count

Content and Type of Activity

Number of Activities

Number of Participants

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

1

Title I Annual Meeting

1

30

It is to understand and implement the No Child Left Behind Act, inform parents of school wide services and programs being implemented, and also to increase academic achievement through parent involvement.

2

The Title I Administration Parent Involvement Monthly School Report and Activities Report

10

15

It provides information and guidance on how to improve parent participation through the analysis of data.

3

EESAC Meetings

5

15

In response, strategies are developed for more effective parental involvement, through the revision of existing parental plan and programs, practices and activities that are linked to improving academic achievement

4

Parent Activities

10

1

It provides training, information, and support services that strengthen the relations between parents and the school in meaningful ways that improve academic achievement.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include the content and type of activity, number of activities, number of participants, and the correlation to student achievement.

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Staff Training Summary



Provide a summary of the professional development activities provided by the school during the previous school year to educate staff on the value and utility of contributions of parents; how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners; the implementation and coordination of parent programs; and how to build ties between parents and the school [Section 1118 (e)(3)].

count

Content and Type of Activity

Number of Activities

Number of Participants

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

1

Faculty Meetings

10

20

as evidenced by increased achievement in the standardized test scores

2

EESAC Meetings

5

15

as evidenced by increased achievement in the standardized test scores

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include the content and type of activity, number of activities, number of participants, and the correlation to student achievement.

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Barriers



Describe the barriers that hindered participation by parents during the previous school year in parental involvement activities. Include the steps the school will take during the current school year to overcome the barriers (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) [Section 1118(a)(E)].

count

Barrier (Including the Specific Subgroup)

Steps the School will Take to Overcome

1

Low participation of LEP Parents at workshops

The implementation of a translator during meetings and workshops

2

Low participation of parents who are economically disadvantaged, disabled, have limited English proficiency

Use of a translator who provides information, support and resources in English and Spanish.

Review Rubric:
Strong responses include:

  • Identification of barrier which hindered participation by parents in parental involvement activities (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); and
  • Description of how the LEA will use the information gathered from the evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement policies described in Section 1118.

 

Review Status:

Review Comments:

Best Practices (Optional)



Describe the parental involvement activity/strategy the school implemented during the previous schoool year that the school considers the most effective. This information may be shared with other LEAs and schools as a best practice. (Optional)

count

Content/Purpose

Description of the Activity

Review Rubric:
Activities described in this section should be correlated to student achievement and include sufficient detail that another LEA or school could use the information to develop a similar program.

Review Status:

Review Comments: