MARION CHARTER SCHOOL Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Michelle Axson , 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

Response: Connecting students, teachers and parents to guide students to success.

---

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:

Parents of the charter school are invited to our Board meetings (held quarterly in October, January, April and June) where school improvement and parent involvement policies are developed. Parent input in regards to the School Improvement Plan and Parent Involvement Plan, is documented through Board meeting minutes. Parents are informed of all Board meetings through the family calendar shared at the start of the school year, weekly newsletters from the school, our school website, and postings on our message board. All parents are given the opportunity to participate in our annual survey where they can give input about the school, classroom, and Title I functions. Parents are also asked to meet with their children's teachers three times a year. At those meetings, progress is discussed and parents are made aware of opportunities to participate in their child's education.

---

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	Title I	Funds from Title 1 partially pay for our school website and parent portal. This allows parents access to all school information as well as their child's gradebook, classroom assignments and instructional resources. Additionally, Title 1 funds provide parent literature and materials to help them assist their children in school. These materials are passed out and/or made available to all of our parents. Our school is visited by the Title 1 van during the school year to allow parents to check out materials to help them work with their children. Marion Charter is also going to hold “Parent Make and Take Nights” where parents and their children color and cut out age appropriate folder games that the parents can use at home to help their children learn. We also provide several opportunities to parents where they can come and learn simple strategies in regards to homework, test taking, and being successful in school. Title I Brochure provides parents with information on HIPPY, Title I Pre-
2	Head Start/VPK	Even though we do not have a Head Start or VPK program, we do work closely with ELC (Early Learning Coalition) in order to provide strategies and suggestions to our parents who have younger children. Also, Valerie Lewis, our Guidance Counselor, visits local preschools in order to provide information about our school, and helpful ways to prepare their children for Kindergarten.
3	Homelessness	Marion Charter School works closely with the homeless liaison and communicates frequently to meet the needs of homeless children and their parents.
4	Title III	Our school, in conjunction with the county provides parental involvement activities throughout the school year, and provide translation services to ensure their involvement in the school continues.
5	Title I, Part C	Marion Charter School works hard to ensure that migratory children are provided with appropriate educational services (including supportive services) that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner. We work closely with our ESOL Coordinators to brainstorm and collect strategies to use with our migrant students.
6	Title IV	At our school, we take part in programs and activities that focus on drug and violence awareness and prevention, such as our "Say No To Drugs" and "Bullying Is Not OK" programs.
7	Title V	Marion Charter School is an Equal Opportunity School where we value and respect everyone.

---

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	Parent Notification of Title I Annual Meeting sent home.	Michelle Axson	August 29, 2014 and September 5, 2014	School newsletter and uploaded onto school website
2	Title 1 Annual Meeting- the Director will discuss the required elements of the Title 1 program	Michelle Axson	September 12, 2014- 6-6:30pm	Agendas, sign in sheets
3	Family Handbook sent home the first day of school	Michelle Axson	August 22, 2014	Annual survey
4	Parents Right to Know Letters are distributed to all parents the first week of school.	Michelle Axson	August 22, 2014	Annual Survey

---

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 teachers are available from 7:00-5:00 for parent conferences. Teacher assistants are available to cover a class if a teacher needs to meet during the day. Our Open House is held in the evening. Parent trainings/meetings are held at staggered times to provide flexibility to parents. Marion Charter's PTO meetings are scheduled at various times in order to provide flexibility and accommodate parent schedules.

---

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	Edline website-connection to resources	Classroom teachers, Michelle Axson	This provides immediate access to grades/lessons/resource materials from any computer. This allows parents to see their child's grades so that they can provide remediation and/or enrichment at home. It also allows parents to be able to keep up to date on what is going on in their child's education.	August 18, 2014- June 3, 2015	Annual survey, access log on Edline
2	Family Nights- fellowship, pass out learning materials	Classroom teachers, Michelle Axson	This allows parents to develop a comfort level with school personnel and feel welcome at school. By increasing the bond between school and home, it will benefit a child's education, as well as provide opportunities to share ideas, concerns, and successes with each other.	Twice a year- winter and spring	Annual survey
3	Orientation- pass out learning materials, information to successfully begin school	Michelle Axson	Our orientation helps all students and parent become acquainted with expectations and we provide information and resources as needed so that all students can have the best education possible.	August 15, 2014	Annual survey
4	Parent workshops (4)- Getting Off to a Good Start; Intervention Programs; Preparing for FCAT Success/Intro to 3rd-5th, and How to Succeed in K-2nd grade	Michelle Axson; Rhonda Ashby; all classroom teachers at their grade level	By having our parent workshops, parents are provided with ideas and strategies on how to better help their child succeed in school. By having these workshops, student scores on class work and tests, as well as county and state assessments, will increase.	January 22, 2015	parent evaluations of workshops
5	Hands on Learning Nights	Michelle Axson;Rhonda Ashby, Valerie Lewis; Classroom Teachers	Several times a year, we have what we call "Hands on Learning Nights". For our science night, we have a Science Consultant come and hold a hands on science night, where students and parents participate in science experiments, as well as learn or review items that tested on county and state assessments. For our math and reading nights, students and parents come in and play games that are related to math and reading. By doing these activities, student skills and scores will increase.	Fall, Winter, and Spring	Annual Survey, Student scores

---

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	Communication inservice- talking with, not to parents	Valerie Lewis-Guidance counselor	Comfort builds the desire to strengthen bonds. By strengthening bonds between teachers, parents, and students, student skills and scores will increase.	September 15, 2014	Annual survey
2	4 Modules Title I Parent Involvement Training (6 components of parent involvement)	Valerie Lewis-Guidance counselor	effective communication with parents enhances student achievement	September 15, 2014	Annual survey
3	Monthly Data Chats	Michelle Axson,Rhonda Ashby, Valerie Lewis, and all classroom teachers	Every month, we hold data chats where teachers and Administrative Staff can review student data so that we can come up with beneficial strategies and skills that will increase our students' skills and scores.	Monthly	Annual survey, student scores
4	Monthly Curriculum Trainings	Michelle Axson	Every month, we hold trainings that allow our teachers to ask questions and be provided with strategies to use in their classrooms, so that their students' academic achievement levels and scores can increase. It all also teachers to provide the best education possible for their class.	Monthly	Annual Survey, student scores

---

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:

1. PTO- working together to strengthen the school/family connection- Initial meeting- September 18, 2014. Evaluation- Annual survey, PTO survey

2. Parent Resource Room and Lending library of videos and booklets on helping your child at school available from the guidance counselor. Library open August 18, 2014. Evaluation- annual survey

3. Family Fun Nights- families gather at school twice a year. Activities include materials give away to help parents work with children, book fair, and information table with resources. December 19, 2014- Winter, May 15, 2015- Spring. Evaluation- annual survey

4. Volunteer coordinator ( Valerie Lewis, Guidance Counselor) who matches parent volunteers with opportunities at the school. September 9, 2014. Evaluation- annual survey.



5. Valerie Lewis, the Guidance Counselor, is available to work with parents on a variety of topics such as discipline, effective instructional strategies, motivation, and community resources. She also provides all parents with a listing of services that she provides as well as a way to contact her. The listing is included in the family handbook given to all families the first week of school. Parents are able to evaluate the guidance services in our annual survey.

---

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:

1. Timely information about the school and Title I programs are sent home by flyers, posted on the school website and outside bulletin board. Information is also sent via email communication, as well as, newsletters from school and class every Friday.

2. Marion Charter uses the same adopted curriculum as the District and is currently related to all Common Core and Sunshine State Standards. The description and explanation of the curriculum used by our school is posted in the Student/Family handbook and calendar, and is made available when school starts both online and in hard copy.

3. Parents are required to meet at least 3 times a year with their child's teacher to go over the report card and to go over their child's strengths and weaknesses in regards to academics and behavior. Outside of the required 3 meetings, all parents can request a meeting by note, email or phone call. Teachers are available from 7-3:15 or longer by appointment.

4. Our annual survey, done with Survey Monkey, is available to anyone who requests it. The results and comments that are on the annual survey are submitted to Marion Charter's Board, and will be taken into consideration to add/change the information on future plans and contracts.

The school will maintain a Title 1 communication folder. Each time a Title 1 document is sent home, a sample copy will be dated and placed in the folder.

---

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 meetings are held in accessible buildings and rooms. We have bilingual translators on staff, whom can assist in meetings for Spanish speaking parents. If requested, school forms will be translated into a parent's native language, if possible. Title 1 documents sent home are in Spanish and English. Parent requests for native language documents will be logged and a copy of the translated document will be included in the Title 1 folder with the date written on it when it was sent home. Marion Charter sends home information in a child's native language based on requests and if the child is considered ESOL. We also are in constant contact with parents to see if they received timely information.

---