DR. EDWARD L. WHIGHAM ELEM. Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Cynara Suarez , 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: It is the mission of Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary School to extend the traditional boundaries of the classroom to encompass the world beyond, to create a climate for learning which embraces a sense of inquiry and a respect for diversity, and to establish a life-long thirst for knowledge.Parents play an integral part in a child's educational journey.Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary encourages parental involvement and develops a partnership with parents to jointly makes decisions for the achievement of students.

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: PARENTAL

Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary involves parents in the planning and implementation of the Title I Program and extends an open invitation to parents to visit the parent resource center for additional information.The Educational Excellence School Advisory Committee has the responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating the School Improvement Plan and the Title I Parent Involvement Plan.

EESAC parent members are elected by parents at a general P.T.A. meeting.More than 50 percent of the members of EESAC are parent (non-employee) representatives.Parents were given the opportunity to review the plan and offer input prior to approval.Informal parent surveys to determine specific needs of parents were administered. In addition, information was gathered from surveys in order to schedule workshops and Parent Academy Courses. Meetings and workshops were scheduled with flexible times to accommodate parents' schedules. This impacts the goal of empowering parents and builds their capacity for involvement.

Title I Administration Parental Involvement Monthly School Reports(FM-6914 Rev. 06-08) and the Title I Parental

Involvement Monthly Activities Report (FM-6913 03-07),are completed and submitted to Title I Administration each month as

documentation of compliance with NCLB Section 1118. Additionally, the M-DCPS Title I Parent/Family Survey, distributed to

schools by Title I Administration, was completed by parents/families annually in May. The Survey's results are used to

assist with revising the Title I parental documents for the approaching school year.

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

Parental Meetings

Hold quarterly meetings to provide parents with information on various topics to assist with their child's achievement.

2

Head Start

Provide monthly meetings to provide parents with information and resources that will allow for a successful home to school connection.

3

Volunteers

Provide meetings for parents on how to access the portal and create an account to become a volunteer. Provide follow up information and assistance as needed.

4

VPK

The Title I office and VPK office will work together to coordinate transition programs for students entering the regular public school program. Activities may include: coordinating meetings with parents, VPK teachers, and the kindergarten teachers to discuss the specific learning needs of students, joint parent meetings to discuss transitioning, etc.Funds are used to provide extended support through a full time highly qualified teacher and paraprofessional.

5

Title III

Title III funds are used to supplement and enhance the program for English Language Learners and immigrant students by providing funds to implement tutorial programs.

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

Develop agenda and flyer with meeting information.

Principal and Assistant Principal

September

Copies of agendas and flyer

2

Developed and disseminated flyer

Principal and Assistant Principal

September

Flyer with date of dissemination posted on school bulletin board.

3

Advertise/publicize event: create connect ed message and send to all students.

Principal and Assistant Principal

September

Announcement made daily. Connect ed message sent to all students.

4

Develop sign in sheets

Community Involvement Specialist

September

Sign-in sheets for meeting and individual classrooms

5

Maintain documentation

Community Involvement Specialist

September

Title I documentation box housed in Prinicpal's office.

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: Our school wil provde various meetings throughout the school year. The meetings will be scheduled at various times: before school, early in the day, in the middle of the day, after school, and in the evening. Child care will be provided during the meeting by having an alternate location for children to be supervised by additional school personnel. Home visits will be conducted as needed.

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

Florida Standards

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Parents will be provided with information identifying the Common Core standards and strategies they can use to help their children at home.

September, October, January

Notices in flyers; principal will document date distributed.

2

Assessments discussed during individual conferences

Classroom Teachers

Teachers will conduct individaul conferences to discuss each child's assessment results, expectations, and goals for the school year.

September through November

Conference Logs

3

Reading Night

Assistant Principal

Meeting wil be provided for parents. Information will include strategies for parents to use at home with their children.

September

Sign-In sheets, handouts, and agenda

4

Individual Conferences regarding Technology and access to the Parent Portal

Community Involvement Specialist

CIS will provide individual help to parents in how to log-in and access the Parent Portal

Initiate in September and then as needed

Sign-in sheets, handouts, agenda, and presentation materials

5

Assessment Night

Assistant Principal

Parents will be provided an opportunity to help their children with FCAT 2.0

January

Sign-in sheets, handouts

6

Third Grade Parent Meeting

Assistant Principal

Parents with children in third grade will learn about the third grade mandatory retention policy

January

Sign-in sheets, handouts

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

Parental involvement

School Administration

Improve the ability of staff to assist parnets by providing best practices for parental involvement

Quarterly throughout the year

Sign-in sheets, handouts, agenda

2

Communicating and working with parents

Community Involvement Specialist

CIS will be provided with a training module

Monthly throughout the year

Sign-in sheets, handouts, agenda

3

Creating a positive home to school connection

Administration of school

Improve ability to work with parents

January

Sign-in sheets, handouts

4

Builidng a Strong School Culture

UF Leadership Team

Improve school culture

October

Sign in sheets, handouts, MPP

5

Collaborative Planning

District Support Team

Improve student achievement

October

Sign in sheets, handouts

6

Differentiated Instruction

District Suport Team

Improve student achievement

November

Sign in sheets, handouts

7

Creating Rigor in the Classroom

District Support Team

Improve student achievement

December

Sign in sheets, handouts

8

Gradual Release in the Classroom

District Support Team

Improve student achievement

January

Sign in sheets, handouts

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: Expand and enhance the parent information center and the resources available for parents. Hold awards assemblies quarterly to increase parental involvement and provide motivation for students to increase academic achievement. Provide trainings for parents in the area of Florida State Standards and helping your child with homework.

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: Parents are provided with information regarding the Title I program in the main office upon their arrival to the school. Individual information regarding various topics, such as, parent portal, parental resources, or other school related matters are provided by the CIS or administration on an as needed and ongoing basis. Parent meetings are held on a quarterly basis to discuss the curriculum at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet. Opportunities for meetings are provided as requested and as needed (as appropriate) in decisions relating to the education of their children.

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: Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary will provide quarterly meetings for all parents to provide strategies and other information on how to assist our students to achieve academically. Additional activities/meetings will be provided for parents to participate in school events, such as, awards ceremonies and opportunities to volunteer. Parents will receive information regarding standardized testing and Florida Standards.

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

Training parents to enhance the involvement of other parents [Section 1118(e)(9)];

Provide strategies for parents to discuss with other parents to assist in enhancing our students academic achievement/

Assistant Principal

Parents utilize strategies learned to assits students increase their academic achievement.

September to May

2

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)];

Establish agenda for all meetings, send home flyers, create sign-in sheets, file documentation

Assistant Principal and CIS

Provide information to parents on how to assist students. Give parents strategies to address students weaknesses.

September to May

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.

count

Content and Type of Activity

Number of Activities

Number of Participants

Anticipated Impact on Student Achievement

1

Common Core State Standards/Next Generation State Standards; hard copy of disseminatin of materials

2

523

Parents were provided with information identifying the Common Core standards and strategies they can use to help their children at home.

2

Assessments discussed during individual conferences

2

120

Teachers conducted individaul conferences to discuss each child's assessment results, expectations, and goals for the school year.

3

Reading Night

1

333

Meeting was provided for parents. Information will include strategies for parents to use at home with their children.

4

Individual Conferences regarding Technology and access to the Parent Portal

1

105

CIS provided individual help to parents in how to log-in and access the Parent Portal

5

FCAT Parent Night

1

411

Parents were provided an opportunity to help their children with FCAT 2.0

6

Third Grade Parent Meeting

1

42

Parents with children in third grade learned about the third grade mandatory retention policy

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

Parental involvement

5

725

It provided parents with information on Common Core and gave them use strategies to assist their children

2

Communicating and working with parents

10

312

CIS was provided with a training module

3

Creating a positive home to school connection

2

88

Improved the ability to work with parents

4

Builidng a Strong School Culture

2

23

Improved school culture

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

Parents do not speak nor understand English

All letters, flyers are sent home in English and Spanish

2

Meetings for parents need to be presented in both languages

Provide trainings and workshops for parents in dual languages

3

Parents were unable to attend due to time constraints

Schedule parent meetings and workshops at different times throughout the school year, i.e., morning, afternoon, evening

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

1

Building the Capacity of Schools

UF Leadership team will have a professional development on improving the school culture

2

Professional Development

The Reading Coach will continue to present in the area of Common Core State Standards

3

Building the Capacity of Schools

The Cambridge Team Leaders will present on the implementation of the Cambridge Primary Program at Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary

4

Increasing Parent Participation

Provided opportunities for parents to participate in various activites that created a home to school connection