Engagement Policy
Title-I School Parent and Family Engagement Policy
Cameron Ranch Elementary School
Cameron Ranch Elementary School has developed a written Title-I parental involvement policy with input from Title-I parents and has distributed the policy to parents of Title-I students. The policy describes the means for carrying out the following Title I parental involvement requirements [20 USC 6318 Section 1118(a)-(f) inclusive].
Involvement of Parents in the Title I Program
To involve parents in the Title I program at Cameron Ranch Elementary School, the following practices have been established:
1. The school convenes an annual meeting to inform parents and families of Title I students about Title I requirements and about the right of parents and families to be involved in the Title I program.
a. Parents and families are informed of the school wide program, including ways to get involved during the annual Back to School Night meeting.
b. Cameron Ranch Elementary School has a Meet and Greet event and Back to School Night within the first three weeks of school to build relationships with families. Cameron Ranch hosts Principal Chats throughout the school year to strengthen opportunities to inform parents about academic and social-emotional programs, as well as ways to volunteer and get involved.
c. During Back to School Night, each teacher provides information to the parent about grade level and state standards (Common Core State Standards), as well as district approved research-based curriculum and school-based assessments.
d. Information is provided during ELAC and SSC meetings.
e. During scheduled teacher-parent conferences, teachers inform parents of their child’s progress on reaching grade level proficiency and performance on school-based assessments, district assessments, and state assessments.
2. The school offers a flexible number of meetings for Title I parents, such as meetings in the morning or afternoon.
a. Parents are invited to schedule an appointment with the teachers, principal, and/or counselor at any time throughout the year.
b. Parents are invited to attend monthly School Site Council meetings.
c. Parents of English Language Learners are also encouraged to participate in ELAC, which meets a minimum of four times a year, and are provided the same information during SSC, including information about Title I programs and funding resource
d. Parents are informed and invited to participate in the School Site Council (SSC) which meets a minimum of seven times throughout the year.
e. Meeting minutes and agendas are listed on the school’s website.
3. The school involves parents and families of Title I students in an organized, ongoing, and timely way in the planning, review, and improvement of the school’s Title I programs and the Title I parental involvement policy.
a. The Academic Program is reviewed and input is provided during School Site Council meetings.
b. In the annual revision of the SPSA, parents are invited to the SSC/ELAC meetings to provide input.
c. Upon identification of parental need for information in another language or in another format, the school will take steps to ensure that the parent request is fulfilled.
4. The school provides parents and families of Title I students with timely information about Title I programs.
a. Parents are provided information about school wide programs during Back to School Night, School Site Council meetings, ELAC Meetings, and are welcomed to schedule an appointment with the teachers and/or principal at any time throughout the year.
b. The school, with the assistance of the district, will provide assistance and support to families of children served by the school in the following areas:
i. State content and achievement standards
ii. State and local assessments
iii. Title I requirements
iv. Monitoring student progress v. Collaborating with child’s teacher
5. The school provides parents and families of Title I students with an explanation of the curriculum used at the school, the assessments used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet. Teachers explain the curriculum, assessment, and proficiency to all students and families at Back to School Night, regular ongoing communication to families throughout the year, and conferences.
6. If requested by parents and families of Title I students, the school provides opportunities for regular meetings that allow the parents to participate in decisions relating to the education of their children.
a. Monthly School Site Council meetings are public and parents are invited to attend.
b. Parents and families are encouraged to become involved in the joint development and review of the Single School Plan for Achievement through participation in School Site Council meetings and the English Language Advisory Committee and through an annual site-based family survey.
c. The school will build capacity and increase parent/community involvement in the planning and implementation of school programs and activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance through their participation in the School Site Council (SSC), Family and Community Engagement Events (FACE), English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC), special school events and as classroom volunteers.
d. Parents and families are invited to schedule an appointment with the teachers and/or principal at any time throughout the year.
e. Parent and family feedback will continue to be incorporated through surveys (ex: annual District Parent and Student Survey) and discussions at meetings. Parents are invited to engage in school/community events such as: Spirit Assemblies, fund-raising events, Parent/Teacher conferences, Back to School Night, Family Nights (for literacy, math, science, etc.), student field trips, and other special events.
f. Two-way communication between parents and the school is vital to the success of students. Parents and families are informed about important school wide events, meetings and schedules, phone calls, progress reports and informal and formal conferences are held concerning students’ behavior, student progress and classroom standards, test scores, work samples, and instructional goals. The administrator, staff and parents/families work effectively toward achieving our long-range goals.
g. Regular parent/teacher conferences are held in November and March.
School-Parent Compact and Communication
Cameron Ranch Elementary School distributes to parents and families of Title I students a school-parent compact. The compact, which has been jointly developed with parents, outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. It describes specific ways the school and families will partner to help children achieve the State’s high academic standards. It addresses the following legally required items, as well as other items suggested by parents of Title I students.
The importance of ongoing communication to parents and families is crucial between parents and teachers through, at a minimum, annual parent-teacher conferences in November and March each year; frequent reports on student progress; access to staff; opportunities for parents to volunteer and participate in their child’s class; and opportunities to observe classroom activities. For students with IEP’s, case managers will report on goals throughout the school year as appropriate or when requested.
The school will provide high-quality curriculum and instruction, communicate how parents can support their child’s learning, and provide regular ongoing communication to families. To build capacity and parent involvement, Cameron Ranch Elementary School engages Title I parents in meaningful interactions with the school. It supports a partnership among staff, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. To help reach these goals, the school has established the following practices:
1. The school provides Title I parents with assistance in understanding the State’s academic content standards, assessments, and how to monitor and improve the achievement of their children. The school will hold annual meetings outlining content standards, assessments, and how we monitor student progress.
2. The school provides Title I parents with materials and training to help them work with their children to improve their children's achievement as needed. The school will hold annual meetings outlining content standards, assessments, and how we monitor student progress
3. With the assistance of Title I parents, the school educates staff members about the value of parent contributions, and on how to work with parents as equal partners. The school will discuss how we can better involve parents during staff meetings or Thursday collaboration days.
4. The school coordinates and integrates the Title I parental involvement program with other programs, and conducts other activities, such as a parent resources to encourage and support parents in fully participating in the education of their children.
5. The school distributes information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities to Title I parents and families in a format and language that the parents understand, including email and voice messages, school-wide Class Dojo communication, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), digital marquee and handouts, along with a regularly updated school website and digital online monthly newsletters. The school will hold annual meetings outlining content standards, assessments and how we monitor student progress.
6. The school provides support for parental and family involvement activities requested by Title I families.
The school-parent compact is jointly developed with and distributed to parents of Title I schools students. The school-parent compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and describes the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state content standards. We recognize the importance of ongoing communication between parents and teachers throughout the year, and yearly at parent conferences (20 U.S.C. § 6318 (d)(2).The school will incorporate the school-parent compact as a component of its School Parental Involvement Policy.
Accessibility
Cameron Ranch Elementary School provides opportunities for the participation of all Title I parents and families, including parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory students. Information and school reports are provided in a format and language that parents understand. ELAC meetings and annual parent meetings will have interpreters present.