THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Robin Atkins , 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: Thomas Jefferson Middle School provides a safe and caring learning environment that meets the needs of all students. Through the cooperative effort of staff, parents, and the community, students are empowered to become successful life-long learners and productive citizens.

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: During the annual Title I Meeting, parents will be invited and encouraged to join the PTSA in an effort to support the school and its programs. Thomas Jefferson Middle School utilizes Connected, personal phone calls and flyers to send messages to parents. The EESAC also includes parental involvement in the expenditure of funds.

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

Parent Academy

Community resources available to the community

2

Parent Portal Workshop

Teach parents how to utilize the parent portal and the resources it offers

3

FCAA

Parent Meetings and Workshops to assist families in school matters.

4

Barry University - CROP

Parent Meetings and Workshops to help parents start planning for a post-secondary experience.

5

Communities In Schools

Provides projects in family strengthening.

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

Send home parent letters in English and Creole

Administration

September

Sign-in sheet

2

Open House

Administration

September

Sign-in sheet

3

Connect Ed

Administration

September

Percent of successful deliveries

4

Send home flyer with students

Administration

September

Student Attendance

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: Informational parent meetings such as Opening of Schools orientations, testing strategies to assist students and end of the year activities meetings are held at varying times to accommodate all parents who cannot attend meetings during work hours. In addition, our school counselor will be offering classes at varying times to assist parents in using the parent portal, enrolling students in virtual schools and completing magnet school applications.

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

Opening of Schools Orientation

Administration

Promote school expectations

August 2014

Sign-in rosters

2

PTSA Meeting

Administration and PTSA

Promote parental involvement

September 2014 - June 2015

Sign-in rosters

3

Open House

Administration

Promote grade level expectations

September 2014

Sign-in rosters

4

Annual Title I Meeting

Administration

Promote parental involvement

September 2014 - June 2015

Sign-in rosters

5

EESAC meetings

Phyllis Kirkland

Monthly meetings to share information with all stakeholders

Various dates

Minutes and Sign-in rosters

6

Teacher/Parent Conferences

Counselors

Parents are able to meet with teachers on a weekly basis to discuss their child's academic progress and behavioral issues as deemed necessary

September 2014 - June 2015

Sign-in sheets

7

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

Administration/Curriculum Coaches

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

August 2014 - Jun 2015

Sign-in sheets, presentation materials

8

Family Resource Night

Counselors

Parents have access to community and government agencies.

September 2014

Sign-in sheets.

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

Weekly team meetings

Team Leaders/Administrators

Partner with parents to assist in student achievement and behavior

Sept. 2014 - June 2015

Team meeting agendas

2

EESAC Meetings

Kirkland, Phyllis

Analyze parental involvement section of the School Improvement Plan and make recommendations as needed

September 2014-June 2015

Agenda, minutes and sign-in sheets

3

Response to Intervention (Rti)

Administrators and Psychologist

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

September 2014 - May 2015

A lower number in the percentage of referrals for psychological testing

4

Data Chats

Curriculum Coaches

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

Ongoing

Follow-up assignment results

5

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

Administration/Curriculum Coaches

Enables teachers to present up-to-date information to parents regarding curriculum and instruction

August 2014 - Jun 2015

Sign-in sheets

6

Differentiated Instruction

Curriculum Coaches

Allows to teachers to address students who are not performing

August 2014 - Jun 2015

Sign-in sheets

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: School's social worker makes home visits when students display a need for additional services other than the one's offered at the school (academically). Monthly EESAC Meetings are hosted to give school-wide updates to all stakeholders. The Community Involvement Specialist makes home visits to decrease student absenteeism.

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: Parent workshops will provide information about the Title I programs at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. EESAC meetings and team meetings will assist parents with the school wide curriculum. Data chats and other parent meetings will assist parents with measuring their child's progress and monthly assessments and give description of the student's ability levels. School marquee, flyers, and Connect-Ed phone messages will invite parents to the school to visit, ask questions, and give the opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children through the EESAC meetings.

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: Administration will look for opportunities to call parents directly and share updates and other pertinent information. Weekly team meetings are hosted by grade level so that parents have the opportunity to visit the school and meet with their child's teacher to discuss academic, behavioral, and goals to meet for the 2013-2014 school year. Student services allow for parents to participate with agencies that provide services to the local community. These community agencies assist with LEP and SPED students and their families. Any pertinent information will be disseminated through school flyers, school marquee, school website, and telephone Connect-Ed service via multi-lingual messages.

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)];

Weekly Parent and teachers meetings are hosted at the school to provide opportunity for conferences. School's social worker will conduct home visits and invite parents to the school. Phone messages are made to invite parents to attend PTSA meetings, EESAC Meetings, and other parent activities.

Administration

Student progress in both academics and conduct will increase based on increased parental involvement.

Ongoing

2

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

Parent Resource Fair

Counselor

Parents will be better positioned to assist and advocate for their children.

September 2014

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

EESAC Meetings

4

21

Increase in overall student achievement

2

Open House

1

73

Increase in overall student achievement

3

Resource Fair

1

23

Increase in overall student achievement

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

No professional development.

0

0

None

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

Working are working far too many hours

Establish alternative ways to communicate with the stakeholders

2

Not able to comprehend materials sent to their homes

Assure that information is readily available in their home language (Haitian Creole)

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