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Title I, originally enacted in 1965 as part of the war on poverty to help the most disadvantaged students, is the largest federal investment in elementary and secondary education to date. Title I federal funding helps improve teaching and learning in schools with the highest concentrations of poverty (based on the number of free/reduced lunch students at the school) to help them meet challenging state academic standards. |
Parent and Family Engagement Policy
MILFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
POLICY 1002 PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
In support of strengthening student academic achievement, Milford School District receives Title I, Part A funds and therefore must jointly develop with, agree on with, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy that contains information required by Section 1116(a)(2) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The policy establishes the Local Education Area’s (LEA) expectations and objectives for meaningful parent/family engagement and describes how the LEA will implement a number of specific parent/family engagement activities, and it is incorporated into the LEA’s plan submitted to the Delaware Department of Education.
The Milford School District agrees to implement the following requirements as outlined by Section 1116 of the ESSA:
The school district will put into operation programs, activities, and procedures for the engagement of parents/family members in all its schools with Title I, Part A programs. These programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation with parents/family members of participating children.
The school district will work with its schools to ensure that the required school-level parent/family engagement policies meet the requirements of Section 1116(b) of the ESSA, and each include as a component a school-parent/family compact consistent with federal law.
In carrying out the Title I, Part A parent/family engagement requirements to the extent practicable, the school district and its schools will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents/families with limited English proficiency, limited literacy, disabilities, of migratory children, who are economically disadvantaged, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background, including providing information and school reports required under Section 1111 of the ESSA in an understandable and uniform format including alternative formats upon request and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents/families understand.
If the LEA plan for Title I, Part A, developed under Section 1112 of the ESSA, is not satisfactory to the parents/families of participating children, the school district will submit any comments with the plan when the school district submits the plan to the state Department of Education.
The school district will be governed by the following definition of parental/family involvement and engagement and expects that its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with this definition in Section 8101 of the ESSA:
Parent/Family engagement means the participation of parents/families in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:
(A) Parents/Families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning
(B) Parents/Families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school
(C) Parents/Families are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child
(D) Other activities are carried out, such as those described in Section 1116 of the ESSA
REQUIRED LEA PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS include:
• Annual parent / family survey available in multiple languages
• Parent / family participation in school strategic planning, for every school on an annual basis.
• Regular meetings of District Family Engagement Committee members
• Involvement of parent / family members in advisory task forces, such as Positive Behavior Supports committees, strategic planning, school calendar, district dress code task force, and other initiatives
JOINTLY DEVELOPED
The Milford School District will involve parents/family members in jointly developing its LEA plan under Section 1112, and the development of support and improvement plans under paragraphs (1) and (2) of Section 1111(d) of the ESSA:
(A) Establish effective communication methods between home and school
(B) Share and receive feedback from volunteer parents/family members representative of our district population
(C)Offer surveys as a vehicle to share voice and collect data
(D)Provide opportunities for parents/families to solicit ideas and support regarding engagement with our schools
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The Milford School District will provide the following coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist and build capacity of all Title I, Part A schools in planning and implementing effective parent/family engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance, which may include meaningful consultation with employers, business leaders, and philanthropic organizations, or individuals with expertise in effectively engaging parents and family members in education:
(E) Provide ongoing learning opportunities for parents/family members to learn about programs
(F) Provide ongoing opportunities to showcase student work and performances
(G)Provide opportunities to engage with community organizations
ANNUAL EVALUATION
The Milford School District will take the following actions to conduct, with the meaningful engagement of parents/family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this parent/family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of its Title I, Part A schools. The evaluation will include identifying barriers to greater participation by parents/families in activities (with attention to those who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background). The evaluation will also include identifying the needs of parents/family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers and strategies to support successful school and family interactions. The school district will use the findings of the evaluation about its parent and family engagement policy to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental/familial engagement, and to revise, if necessary, its parent/family engagement policies. Strategies include:
(H)Share and receive feedback from volunteer parents/family members representative of our district population
(I) Offer surveys as a vehicle to share voice and collect data
(J) Provide opportunities for parents/families to solicit ideas and support regarding engagement with our schools
RESERVATION OF FUNDS
The Milford School District will involve the parents/family members of children served in Title I, Part A schools in decisions about how the 1 percent of Title I, Part A funds reserved for parent and family engagement is spent and will ensure that not less than 90 percent of the 1 percent reserved goes directly to Title I schools.
(K) An annual joint meeting with the district Budget Oversight Committee will provide opportunity to report out budget priorities and requirements of all federal title programs
(L) Regular monthly reports regarding the district revenue and expenditures are shared at regular school board meetings
COORDINATION OF SERVICES
The Milford School District will coordinate and integrate parent/family engagement strategies with parent/family engagement strategies, to the extent feasible and appropriate, with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children by:
(M)Engage early childhood centers throughout our community
(N)Engage adult education programming opportunities throughout our community
(O)Foster dual enrollment partnerships with higher education institution
(P) Foster community partnerships to support student internships and future employment
BUILDING CAPACITY OF FAMILIES
The Milford School District will, with the assistance of its Title I schools, build family capacity for strong family engagement by providing materials and training on such topics as literacy training and using technology (including education about the harms of copyright piracy) to help parents/families work with their children to improve their children’s academic achievement. Assistance will also be provided to parents/families in understanding the following topics:
- The challenging academic standards
- The required academic assessments including alternate assessments
- The requirements of Title I, Part A
- How to monitor their child’s progress
- How to work with educators
BUILDING CAPACITY OF SCHOOL STAFF
The Milford School District, with the assistance of its schools and parents/families, will educate and engage its district wide staff on specialized instructional support and other methods to engage with parents/families using parent/family expertise and skill sets, to contribute to the overall success of every student by:
(Q)Sharing and receiving feedback from volunteer parents / family members representative of our district population via meetings, surveys, workshops, webinars, etc.
(R)Providing annual meeting opportunity for parents / families to engage with members of Milford Education Association (MEA)
(S) Establishing effective communication methods between home and school
ADOPTION
The Parent and Family Engagement Policy has been developed jointly and agreed on with parents and family members of children participating in Title I, Part A programs. This policy was adopted by the Milford School District on January 25, 2021 and will be made available to all parents of participating Title I, Part A children.
ADOPTED: 1/25/21
Documents
Parents Guide to Student Success
The American Psychological Association reports that parent engagement increases grades, test scores, attendance, and health outcomes. Additionally, teacher – family communication is associated with increases in the likelihood students complete homework, pay attention and participate in class, and are educationally motivated. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires schools, local education agencies, and state education agencies work together to engage parents and families.
Parents Guide to Student Success
Educational Activities to do with your Child
Exceptional Children Resources for Families and Communities
Global Family Research Project
Office of Early Learning Resource for Families & Communities
Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc.