MIAMI SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHL Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Sally Hutchings , 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:

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 provide training to parents regarding the school's PIP, the school improvement process, and the life of the school. The Title I District Advisory Council (DAC) and the Title I Parent Advisory Councils (PAC) have elected parent members to represent the school. A Title I Orientation meeting will be held in the beginning of the year and topics will include parental involvement, Next Generation Standards, school grade, AYP, EESAC, expectations, "What Parents Should Know About Title I" brochure, and the School-Parent Compact. As part of the parent involvement training, attendees will be encouraged to join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), become a parent representative on EESAC, attend parent workshops, volunteer at the school site, and schedule conferences with teachers. Input by parents will be documented through the minutes from the Title I Orientation meeting, EESAC, PTA, parent workshops, and parent conferences.

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)].

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Program

Coordination

1

Title I

Supervised by the principal, this program provides an additional teacher, hourly paraprofessionals, and supplies. This demonstrates to parents that their children will receive support as they strive towards academic excellence.

2

Title III

Supervised by the principal, this program provides additional teachers for tutorial services to ensure parents of ELL children will receive support to demonstrate academic excellence.

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)].

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Activity/Tasks

Person Responsible

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Identify members to assist with carrying out PIP and establish timelines

Administration/Community Involvement Specialist

September 2014

Documentation of PIP team members; Documentation of Timeline

2

Develop agenda, handouts, and presentation materials that address the required components

Administration

September 2014

Copies of agendas, PowerPoint presentation, and handouts

3

Develop and disseminate invitations

Community Involvement Specialist

October 2014

Flyer with date of dissemination; Posting on school Web site

4

Advertise/publicize event

Community Involvement Specialist

October 2014

Post meeting with M-DCPS; Flyer with required information, Posting on school Web site,

5

Develop sign-in sheets to document participation

Community Involvement Specialist

October 2014

Sign-in sheets for meeting

6

Maintain Documentation

Community Involvement Specialist

October 2014

Title I documentation box in main office. Documentation will be shared with LEA Title I office

7

Review PIP and make adjustments as necessary

Community Involvement Specialist

January 2015

Updated PIP

8

Meet with LEA representative and begin analying data

Community Involvement Specialist

March 2015

Parent sign-in sheets, meeting agendas and minutes

9

Utilize data to develop an updated parent survey

Community Involvement Specialist

April 2015

Copy of survey sent home to parents

10

Identify strengths and areas of concern to revise PIP and parental involvement activities

Administration/Community Involvement Specialist

May 2015

Newly designed PIP

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: To promote further parental involvement at Miami Springs Elementary School, measures have been put into place to offer meetings at flexible times for targeted parent groups. Bilingual parent meetings will be held on a monthly basis, in the morning prior to the start of school, allowing parents to have their children supervised and able to get to work on time. Child care will be provided at these events through the "Before School Care" program. These meetings will ensure parental involvment for our bilingual community while providing parents with knowledge in a variety of areas, including the Title I program. In addition, a Title I Orientation Meeting will be held in October to provide parents with information regarding the program. Likewise, an SAT/FCAT "hands-on" workshop will be held in the evening, to provide parents with information on the district and state assessments. A full course dinner will be provided for all families prior to the event, and students who attend with their parents will receive a "No Homework" pass. EESAC meetings and PTA meetings are also held regularly, and all parents are welcome to attend. The Parent Information Center, located in the Media Center, is open daily from 8:25 am until 3:25 pm, allowing parents to pick up informational materials. Documentation of parent participation will be maintained through the utilization of sign-in sheets as well as minutes from meetings. Schedules may be adjusted, if necessary, to further promote parental involvement.

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)].

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Content and Type of Activity

Person Responsible

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Analysis of the Title I Parent Involvement Monthly School Report.

Leadership Team

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

Monthly

As evidenced by increased achievement in standardized test scores.

2

Florida Standards, hard copy dissemination of materials as well as website information

Leadership Team

Knowledge of the Florida Standards will allow parents to understand what their children will be tested on, allowing them to identify strategies they can use to assist their child at home.

August-September

Notices on monthly calendar; Leadership team will document distribution date.

3

Analyze and discuss assessment results

Classroom Teachers

Conduct parent conferences to discuss individual student's assessment results and grade level expectations.

September-March

Parent sign-in sheets, assessment results, student work folders.

4

SAT/Florida Standards workshops

Administration

Provides parents with hands-on activities that are reflective of the content assessed on the SAT/Florida Standards

November

Flyers, connect-ed message, sign-in sheet, posting on school web site.

5

Parent Portal workshops

Community Involvement Specialist

Provides parents with information on how to log-in to the parent portal, which will allow them to become volunteers and access their child's grades

September-November

Flyers, posting on school web site, and presentation materials.

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)].

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Content and Type of Activity

Person Responsible

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

Timeline

Evidence of Effectiveness

1

Response to Intervention (Rti)

School Psychologist

It assists staff with identifying students who may have a learning disability and work with the psychologist to develop/ implement effective adaptations and interventions

August-May

A decrease in referrals for psychological testing.

2

Technology

Reading Coach

Implementation of effective and appropriate technology will increase student achievement. Teachers can assist parents with technology programs (i.e. Reading Plus, iReady, MyOnReader) that will allow students to further practice and enhance their skills

October

An increased use of technology by both students and teachers

3

Anti-Bullying Workshop

Counselor

Ensures a safe learning environment and will allow teachers to work closely with parents to stop bullying at the school site

October

A decrease in SCAMS related to bullying

4

Learning Community Meetings

Assistant Principal

Allows teachers to disaggregate data from assessments and use it to drive instruction. This information can be provided to parents at individual parent meetings

Monthly

Follow-up assessment results

5

Curriculum Workshops (i.e. Reading, math, science)

Administration

Allows teachers to present up-to-date information to parents regarding curruiculum and instruction

October-January

Sign-in sheets, presentation materials

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: The PTA will sponsor several evening activities to encourage family involvement. These include "Trick or Treat Street" Night, "Winter Wonderland," family dinners and dances, and various movie nights throughout the course of the school year. Parents will be encouraged to assist with setting up, decorating, and coordinating the different events. Flyers, school calendars, and connect-ed messages, in English and Spanish, will be utilized to inform parents about these events to promote attendance.



A Halloween Parade, which takes students, teachers, and staff members through downtown Miami Springs, will be held in October. Parents are encouraged to attend the parade as well as volunteer at classroom parties. This event is posted in the school calendar and flyers are sent home to students, in English and Spanish, to notify families of the event.



An annual walk/bike to school will be held during the month of November as a culminating activity for the physical education curriculum. The children will learn how to safely walk and/or ride their bike, scooter, etc. to school. Parents will be notified of the event through the school calendar, flyers, and a connect-ed message, in English and Spanish.



Other activities that will be held to enhance parental involvement and assist them with their children's academic needs include two book fairs to promote the importance of literacy, a science fair to highlight the scientific method, and a family math night will be conducted at the local supermarket to enhance mathematical skills. Flyers in English and Spanish will be sent home to notify parents of these activities, and they will also be posted on the school calendar. Connect-ed messages will be utilized for the Science Fair and Family Math Night.

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 Title I Parent Involvement Plan(PIP) is provided in English and Spanish, respectively. The school's Title I Orientation meeting will include discussion of the current PIP, parental involvement opportunites, Next Generation Standards, school grade, AYP, EESAC, expectations, "What Parents Should Know About Title I" brochure, and the School-Parent Compact. Parents will also be encouraged to visit one of the two Family Resource Centers that are located in the school to gather information regarding the family literacy programs. Parents will be notified of this meeting through a flyer seven days in advance and a connect-ed message 24 hours before the event. Meeting minutes will reflect discussions and revisions that are needed for the PIP. Communication to parents for other school events will be made utilizing calendars, flyers, Connect-Ed messages, and bulletin boards, in both English and Spanish. Parents will be notified of all events seven days prior, and Connect-Ed messages will be sent 24 hours in advance.

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: The school provides full opportunites for participation in parental involvement activities by sharing information in the child's home language through the utilization of flyers, connect-ed messages, and bulletin boards. Translators are provided during parent workshops and meetings while bilingual staff members are available to translate during conferences and family involvement nights.



The school is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, as it is equipped with an elevator and multiple ramp entrances. Parents are notified about events in writing and orally, thereby allowing full access to those with visual or audiological impairments.



Eighty seven percent of the school population is Hispanic, therefore, all parent correspondences will be translated into Spanish. Information sent home to parents (i.e. flyers, calendars, etc.) and Connect-Ed messages will be completed in both English and Spanish.



The home languages of students will be monitored throughout the course of the school year to ensure that parents are receiving information in their native language, and the office staff will keep a current enrollment count available to ensure that teachers receive the correct amount of flyers, calendars, etc., for their students.

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:

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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)];

Response to Intervention Meetings

Assistant Principal

Assign strategies to strengthen weaknesses.

throughout the year

2

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

Career Day

Counselor

To increase parental and community involvement while enhancing student achievement.

once annually

Upload Evidence of Input from Parents



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

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.

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.

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.

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Content and Type of Activity

Number of Activities

Number of Participants

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

1

Title I Annual Meting

19

296

To provide extensive information to parents to ensure academic success.

2

ThinkCentral Math Training

1

18

Provide training to parents on math based programs

3

Black History Program

1

26

Parents were educated on Black History Month figures

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)].

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Content and Type of Activity

Number of Activities

Number of Participants

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

1

Review of Pacing Guides

1

29

Continuity within the curricula to ensure student achievement.

2

Technology Integration

1

29

To provide staff information on the vast technology available to increase student achievement.

3

Intervention Program: WonderWorks

1

29

To assist teachers in identifying students in need of interventions and to demonstrate progress monitoring.

4

System Accreditation

1

43

To finalize all aspects of the overall school's purpose and mission to ensure student achievement.

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)].

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Barrier (Including the Specific Subgroup)

Steps the School will Take to Overcome

1

Informational Text/Research Process for students in grades 3 and 4

Students will utilize how-to-articles, brochures, flyers, and other real-world documents to identify text features and to locate, interpret and organize information.

2

Reading Application for students in grade 5

Provide students with opportunities to identify main idea and author's purpose through close reading.

3

Literary Analysis Fiction/Non-Fiction in Grade 3

Provide students opportunities to use descriptive and figurative language.

4

One percentage point decrease in the number of students in the lowest 25% making gains

Provide students with opportunities to receive appropriate interventions.

5

students require additional support in writing plot driven narratives with engaging actions and characters, as well as appropriate conventions.

Provide students with opportunities to improve narrative writing.

6

Student understanding of the scientific process is limited.

Provide students with more opportunities to participate in STEM-related activities.

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)

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Content/Purpose

Description of the Activity