ELECTRA ELEMENTARY

Parent Involvement Policy

Statement of Purpose

A strong partnership between the school and home is essential if a quality educational program is to be provided to all students.

Electra Elementary School is dedicated to the philosophy that parent involvement is integral to the success of each student. For this reason, parents are actively recruited as our partners for success. The parent involvement policy is reviewed and amended by the Parent Advisory Committee (here after referred to as PAC) annually. The policy will be distributed at parent teacher conferences or at the beginning of the school year. Each teacher will also provide grade expectations and grading policies.

Our campus recognizes the fact that some students will need extra assistance to achieve their full potential. The extra assistance is available to all students through the Title I program and various other educational services offered through the district. Electra Elementary School intends to include parents in all aspects of the Title I program. Students will be given every opportunity for success through the development and enhancement of the home-school partnership.

Parent Involvement Developing Policy

Electra Elementary School’s Site Based Decision Making Team and the Campus Improvement Team is comprised of parent, community members, administrators, teachers, and other staff members. These committees will meet annually to discuss the design and implementation of the Parent Engagement Policy and the School, Parent and Student Compacts. Committee selections will produce a diverse group of stakeholders that represent an array of student populations served by the district. If the Campus Improvement Plan is not satisfactory to parents, the school submit any parents’ comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the Local Education Agency (LEA).

Meetings will be planned at convenient times and locations for all concerned parties. If a translator is needed, the campus will arrange for one to be present.

Parent Involvement Activities to Improve Academic Achievement and School Performance

One of the primary functions of the PAC committee will be to identify ways that Electra Elementary can plan and implement effective parent involvement programs.  The campus will also promote and encourage staff development for employees on establishing effective relationships with parents as a means to increase academic achievement. Parents/families upon request, will have opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate as appropriate in decisions relating to the education of their children. Response to any such suggestions will be issued as soon as practicably possible.

Parents will be provided the following information throughout the course of the school year:

• Elementary Handbook
• Parent Engagement Policy
• Information explaining state academic standards and assessments.
• Timely information about programs.
• A description and explanation of the school’s curriculum, forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
• Information on the level of achievement of the parent’s child in each of the required state academic assessments
• Frequent reports on their child’s progress.
• A Home-School compact that describes parents’ and the schools’ responsibilities.
• Parent- teacher conferences after the first 6 weeks, at which the Home and school compacts will be discussed.
• Information on the parent’s right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers.
• Information explaining state academic standards and assessments.
• Timely information about programs.
• A description and explanation of the school’s curriculum, forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
• Information on the level of achievement of the parent’s child in each of the required state academic assessments • Frequent reports on their child’s progress.
• A flexible number of meetings, such as a meeting in the morning, lunch or evening which will provide home programs and ideas for parents working with their children to encourage and assistance in the educational process.
• As necessary, timely notice if their child has been assigned or taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.

Building the Schools’ and Parents’ Capacity for Strong

Electra Elementary School will involve the PAC committee in identifying barriers to parent involvement and to provide parent involvement strategies.  

The campus will support a variety of parental involvement strategies as it strives to develop and maintain an optimum learning environment for all students. To the extent practicable, parents of English Learners, Special Education students and migrant students will be given full opportunities to participate in parent involvement activities. Information will be provided, to the extent practicable, in a format and language such parents understand.

Annual Title I Parent Meeting

Electra Elementary School will hold an annual meeting to review Title I guidelines and services offered at the campus. Copies of the current Parent Engagement Policy and the Home-School Compact will be distributed at the meeting.  Parents will be encouraged to become involved in the revising and updating of this policy as necessary

Home-School Compact:

In accordance with Title I regulations, the campus will develop and annually update a home-school compact. This compact will explain how students, parents, and staff will share responsibility for student performance and success, and will enable them to do so. Members of the PAC committee will be consulted in the design and implementation of the compact. All parents will be given a copy of the compact detailing the responsibilities that teachers, parents and students have in helping students accomplish their goals. Students and parents are encouraged to sign that they agree with the compact and return them to the school; however, parents and/or students are not required to return the compacts to school.

Staff/Parent Communication:

Parents will be informed of school activities through various avenues of communication throughout the school year. Newsletters, conferences, personal contacts, the school web page and written notices will be utilized to establish and maintain an open line of communication.

Staff development will include strategies to promote effective parent involvement activities. Activities will educate all staff members in the value of parent involvement.

Coordination of Parent Involvement Activities:

Parent Involvement strategies will be incorporated into Electra Elementary School’s curriculum and programs through the Campus Improvement Plan (CIP). Parent Involvement will be a top priority and will be aligned with the entire educational program.

Annual Evaluation: 

The PAC committee and any interested parents will annually review and evaluate all aspects of the parent involvement program.  Parent surveys including questions about the effectiveness of the program will be distributed and results analyzed. Sign in sheets from activities will be used to determine the effectiveness of various activities and will be used to determined ways to improve parent involvement.  The PAC committee will update or revise the campus Parent Engagement Policy and Home-School Compact based on the results of this annual review.

Involving Parents in Activities of Title I Campuses

Electra Elementary School will use Title I funds to provide school wide services to all students of Electra Elementary School. Parents will be involved in a variety of strategies as the campus strives to develop and maintain an optimum learning environment for all students. Parents may contribute through volunteer opportunities, as well as by creating a supportive home atmosphere. The community may participate through an array of activities that promote student success. The campus and its parents will develop and maintain specific parent involvement activities best suited to meet the individual needs of all stakeholders. Activities that may be offered but not limited to:

• Make and Take Nights which provide materials and training for parents to help with their child’s education
• “Lunch With Dr. Teveni:”. A time to talk about your child’s growth and nutrition
• STAAR Review Night for parents.

Electra ISD

Parent Involvement Policy

Approved by the Board of Trustees on August 15, 2006

Revised May 6, 2008 Revised November 18, 2010

Revised June 2, 2013, Revised October 7, 2019

Statement of Purpose

Electra ISD is committed to providing quality education for every child in our district. To this end, we desire to establish partnerships with parents and the community. We believe that everyone gains if the school and home work together to promote high achievement by our children. Neither can do this task alone. Parents play an extremely important role as a child's first teacher. Their support for their children and the school is vital to their children's success.

We will accomplish this through our district's slogan of PRIDE-Providing Relevant Individualized Diverse Education. We offer an integrated curriculum that is taught by an innovative staff and supported by involved parents and community members. All students are expected to work toward mastering the objectives established by the state curriculum (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). We recognize that some students will need extra assistance to achieve their full potential. This extra assistance is available to all students through the Title I program and various other educational services provided by the district. A Title I School receives federal assistance to supplement and expand the required curriculum and services as mandated by the Texas Education Agency.

This parental involvement policy is developed to support our partnership with our parents. This policy represents input from parents and is available to all parents of our children.

Parent and Community Input in Policy Development

Our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of parents, community members and staff members. They have the responsibility of annually reviewing and revising this policy. Any changes are shared with the District Team to receive input from this group. The District Committee and the Campus Improvement Team consists of parents, community and business representatives, teachers and administrators. They meet at least three times each year. If the plan is not satisfactory to parents, the school will submit any parents’ comments on the plan when the plan is made available to Local Education Agency.

The district actively recruits volunteers for each of these committees. Selections provide a diverse group of stakeholders that is representative of the community.

Meetings are held at times and locations convenient to all members. If a translator is needed, one will be provided. Copies of the District Parent Involvement policy are placed in each Campus Parent Center, and it is also available on the district's website.  If

Parent Involvement Activities to Improve Achievement and School Performance

One of the functions of the PAC and District Team will be to identify means for the district to help and support for the campuses to create effective parent involvement. The administration will assist schools in understanding the requirements of Title I, Part A and in planning for effective programs to assist parents in improving academic achievement.

District assistance may also consist of the distribution of informational handouts which explain state academic standards, assessments, curriculum, how to monitor a child’s progress and how to work with educators to improve the achievement of their children. The district will promote and encourage staff development on establishing effective relationships with parents as a means to increase academic achievement.

Building Capacities for Strong Parent Involvement

The district will support a variety of parental involvement strategies as it strives to. develop and maintain an optimum learning environment. Parent/families when requested, will have opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children. Response to any such suggestions will be issued as soon as practicably possible.

Annual Parent Meeting

An annual meeting is held to review Title I guidelines and services provided by the district. Copies of the current Parent Involvement Policy are available at the meeting. Parents are encouraged to become involved in revising and updating the policy as necessary, and parent volunteers are invited to become members of the PAC and the District and Campus Teams. The meeting is held at a convenient time and location. The meetings are held in the spring and fall. Notice of the meeting is published in the local newspaper, the district newsletter and is posted on the district's website. If necessary, a translator will be available.

Home/School Compact

In accordance with Title I regulations, each campus has developed a home/school compact which is reviewed annually. The compacts explain how students, parents and staff share responsibility for student performance and success, and will enable them to do so. Each Campus Team is responsible for reviewing and providing revisions as needed. All parents are given a copy of the compacts at the annual Parent-Teacher Conferences. Teachers, parents and students are encouraged to discuss the contents of the compact. They are also encouraged to sign that they have received a copy of the compact.

Staff/Parent Communication

Parents are informed of school activities through a variety of different means of communication throughout the school year. Newsletters, conferences, notices on the district's website, articles in the local newspaper, personal contacts and written notices are used to establish and maintain an open line of communication. Staff development includes strategies to promote effective parent involvement activities. 

Cross Program Coordination

Parent involvement strategies are incorporated into the district's curriculum and programs through the District and Campus Plans. The district coordinates Title I Parent Involvement activities with other programs to meet the special needs of all its students. The district will ensure resources are available for the Make and Take Night, STAAR Review Night for Parents.

Evaluation

Parent surveys are conducted in the spring.  Suggestions are collected and presented to the PAC to be incorporated into Parent Involvement Policy. Parents are encouraged to make suggestions or voice any concerns through an open line of communications with the faculty and staff at any time.

District Initiated Communication and Meetings

• Orientations for parents and their children who are new to the district are held prior to the beginning of the school year.
• Campuses will notify parents of their children's eligibility for special programs and educational services.
• A parent-teacher conference at the start of the school year.
• The Parent and Family Engagement Connection is a publication that is sent periodically to parents whose children attend Electra Elementary.
• Progress reports are sent to parents the week following progress report date.
• Report cards are issued at the end of each six weeks grading period.
• Teachers are available for conferences with parents. These may be scheduled by calling the office of the appropriate school.
• Notices are also posted on the district's website
• Other communications consist of notices, mailings, phone calls, conferences and visits by the Home/School Coordinator.
• Attendance at special events such as band concerts and plays.

Opportunities for Involvement

     Membership in Advisory Councils/Committees

• CIT (Campus Improvement Team)
• Senior Parents
• Student Health Advisory Committee
• District and Campus Teams
• FFA, Athletic and Band Boosters
• The annual parent survey conducted by the district.
• Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO)

Membership is open to anyone interested in any of these organizations. Information may be obtained by contacting the appropriate school office. Persons interested in serving on one of these groups should contact a building principal, Home/School Coordinator, or the Administration Building. Parents have an opportunity to be involved in the development of policies and practices through activities such as participation on one of the councils/committees or meetings with administration The PAC has the responsibility of evaluating the effectiveness of the district parent involvement policy. The District Team evaluates the effectiveness of federal and other programs. Events are held periodically to accommodate and encourage greater parent involvement. A meeting is held near the end of the school year to allow parents to provide input concerning the effectiveness of the Title Programs and to plan for them for the following year.

                      Parent Centers

A parent information table has been set up at the elementary by the front entrance. There is no charge for the items.  The home/school coordinator oversees the Centers.

Home/School Coordinator

The services of a Home/School Coordinator are partially provided by the district through the Title I program. This individual serves all campuses. Some of her duties include making home visits and reporting findings to teachers and/or principals, serving on the PAC and coordinating parent activities. She also makes parents aware of services and programs such as Family Counseling, HELP Family Outreach and other social services. Some of the responsibilities of the district's Home/School Coordinator include:

• Facilitate communication between parents and instructional and administrative staffs.
• Provide parents with timely information in order to ensure their input into the planning, implementation of the Title I programs including, but not limited to, initiating home visits, promoting parental input into the comprehensive needs assessment and coordinating parent request for services for children.
• Coordinate parent activities, including, but not limited to, publication of a parent newsletter, organizing parent workshops, and obtaining material for Parent Centers.
• Provide information to parents in a language and context understandable by them.
• Provide parents with information on their child's academic performance, including but not limited to, STAAR results and classroom assignments.
• Provide parents with information on their child's behavior.
• Facilitate a partnership relationship between the home and school by coordinating parent training, GED services and other referrals.
• Serve as a member of the PAC and District and Campus Teams.