IMMOKALEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Plan

I, Dr. Bet Kotowski , 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)].


Date Signed

Signature of Principal or Designee

Mission Statement

   



Parental Involvement Mission Statement (Optional)

Response: The Immokalee Community School is committed to excellence in education. Students will be educated to reach their potential as individuals, have life choices, and opportunities for success. Our parents are an integral part of their children's daily experiences therefore we are committed to keeping them well informed in all aspects of the educational process.

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: SAC meetings, Goal Setting Conferences and Parenting Workshops will be held in order to gather input about school related issues as well as to set academic goals for each student in school. Goal setting conferences will include the teacher, the parent, translator (as needed) and the student. The Parenting Workshops will be offered once a month, in both English and Spanish, and variations of topics will be offered.

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

Goal Setting Conferences

Every quarter parents will meet with the classroom teacher and the student. The purpose of the conference is to provide the parent with information of any assessments done and their result. It will also allow the teacher to explain to the parent what are some activities that can be done at home to help their child.

2

Parenting Workshops

A different Parenting Workshop will be offered to parents on a monthly basis. Over this school year, seven workshops will be offered by The Title I Parent Academy of Collier County. Topics will include family literacy, parent/child communication, nutrition/health/excercise, love and logic, and understanding children with special needs.

3

Kindergarten Literacy Night

This event/activity for parents is set for 9/18/14 to help parents with practical ways to help their chilren understand and use print concepts.

4

Parent Night with Dr. Rosado

This workshop is set for October 30th and will focus on helping parents understand the dangers of childhood obesity and how to follow up with interventions as needed.

5

Grade Level Parent Nights

These events will include workshops/presentations about strategies for test-taking, especially in reading and math. The goal is to help parents to understand how to support their children at home in these areas.

6

Communication and Sharing

ICS will plan family literacy events, at which times, staff and families will discuss best ways to communicate expectations for families re: various student needs.

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

Title I Annual Meeting

Dr. Bet Kotowski

August 21, 2014

Parent sign in sheet, posted flyer announcing the meeting.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

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: Alternative times will be used to conduct parent meetings and conferences. Morning and evening times will be offered to give all parents the opportunity to attend. Teachers will conduct home visits as needed in order to make connections with parents about school related issues.

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

Goal setting conferences

Teachers

Teachers will establish and review academic goals as well as academic assessments with students and parents

Every grading period

Teacher Logs re: goals met/not met and followup; student records of growth

2

Readers Workshop Hits the Road

Teachers

Teachers will discuss the importance of reading outside of the school environment and present on how parents can effectively help their children read at home.

Once

Surveys; PrePost Tests; Logs

3

Monthly Parent Workshop

Counselor

ICS will offer a range of topics throughout the school year by partnering with surrounding agencies to inform and educate parents on important issues, such as, childhood obesity and bullying

Monthly

Surveys; Teacher Logs; PrePost Tests

4

Series of 7 Workshops

Title I Parent Academy Reps of Collier Co.

Increased achievement due to more healthful nutrition and exercise; practice with literacy skills in the family setting; use of special interventions; and improved family/child communication.

October - May

Student achievement, academically, as well as in the other areas of Wellness

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

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

Readers' Workshop

Literacy Coach

Improved, as families understand more about how to facilitate their child's learning in and out of school.

October and February

Surveys; Student records; Pre/Post Quizzes

2

Parent Involvement Professional Development PowerPoint Presentation

Social Worker/Guidance Counselor

Increased, as teachers implement suggested strategies to help parents facilitate their children's learning.

September and January

Surveys; Student Records

3

DCF ACCESS Training so that parents can accurately complete SNAP apps

Social Worker

Increased, as students benefit from healthful meals having enough food for the family.

September

Completed SNAP apps

4

Finance Education

Staff w/Business Partners

Increased, as students and families better understand how to plan for purchases, short term and long term;

October - May

Pre/Post Quizzes; Project-based outcomes

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

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 school will develop a Resource Center (Bulletin Board, dry erase board and ongoing slideshows in the main hallway) to keep parents well informed. The literature in the Bulletin Board will be changed according to the time of the year in order to keep information current. ICS will also offer a monthly newsletter with important information, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.




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 Annual Title I meeting was held August 21, 2014 and it was used to inform parents about the programs and staff sponsored with Title I funds. Monthly SAC meetings will be used to disseminate information about new academic programs or events that promote student achievement. A newsletter will be sent home once a month with important news such as Principal's Letter, Guidance Counselor's Notes, classroom news, and special announcements. The CCPS District Parent Involvement Policy brochure and the Immokalee School Parent brochure were distributed to parents. The ICS website is continually updated in English and Spanish with information for parents.

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 newsletter will be sent home once a month to notify parents of important events and programs that further develop strategies to support the children at home. Our school marquee will display upcoming events and programs and regular updates will be added onto the school's website. Our Newsletter and other communications to the community are always done in the two languages represented at ICS, English and Spanish.

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)];

Teachers will meet with parents to provide strategies that they can use at home in the areas of math and reading in order to increase student performance and get parents involved in the child's education.

Teachers

Parents will receive information and knowledge to work with their children at home to support the school’s academic goals

School year

2

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

As members of SAC, parent representatives will provide parental input and feedback; in addition community agencies such as FDLRS Island Coast will be used as a resource to providing training and information to promote parental involvement

Cece Estrada with district assistance

These partnerships will promote school-home relationships

School year

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

Goal Setting Conferences

4

200

Increased

2

Readers Workshop

1

100

Increased

3

Annual Title I Meeting

1

46

Increased

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

District Title I Info. PPT

1

20

Increased

2

DCF Access Training re: SNAP Apps

1

2

Increased

3

-1

-1

4

-1

-1

5

-1

-1

6

-1

-1

7

-1

-1

8

-1

-1

9

-1

-1

10

-1

-1

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

Many of our parents are limited English speakers with a limited education and resources. They need additional help in understanding the education system in the U.S. They need to feel that they are an important part of their child’s educational experience.

Have specific meetings conducted purely in Spanish ( their native language ) Meetings need to be small so that they don’t feel overwhelmed with a large crowd. Provide simple game that they can make and take home to help their children. Continue to make an effort to have 100% attendance at Goal Setting Conferences and make them when it is most convenient to them.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

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

1

Effective Communication

Mass Text Messaging

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10