District Family Engagement Policy
Knox City-O’Brien CISD
Parent/Family Engagement Policy
Statement of Purpose
Knox City-O’Brien CISD is dedicated to providing quality education for every student in our district. To accomplish this objective, we will develop and maintain partnerships with parents and community members. Each student will benefit from supportive, active involvement of all members of the population. A positive link between home and school will create the most conducive learning condition for every child. These open communication lines will expand and enhance learning opportunities for all stakeholders.
Grade level learning objectives and goals will be distributed to all parents at the beginning of the school year. All students will be expected to work toward mastering these objectives. Our district 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 1 program and various other educational services offered through the district.
Knox City-O’Brien CISD intends to include parents in all aspects of the Title 1 program. Students will be given every opportunity for success through the development and enhancement of the home-school compact.
Parent involvement in Developing Policy
Knox City-O’Brien CISD’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of parents, community members, administrators, teachers, and other staff members. This committee will meet annually to discuss the design and implementation of the Parent Involvement Policy.
Knox City-O’Brien CISD will actively recruit volunteers for the PAC through various avenues of publicity. Committee selections will produce a diverse group of stakeholders that represent an array of student populations served by the district.
Meetings will be planned at convenient times and locations for all concerned parties. If a translator is needed, the district will arrange for one to be present.
Parent Involvement Activities to Improve Student Academic Achievement and School Performance
One of the primary functions of the PAC will be to identify ways that Knox City-O’Brien CISD can provide assistance and support to its campuses to create effective parent involvement. The administration will assist campuses in understanding the requirements of Title 1, Part A and in planning for effective programs to help parents in improving academic achievement.
Assistance may also include the distribution of informational handouts which explain state academic standards, assessments, and curriculum. Knox City-O’Brien CISD will also promote and encourage staff development for employees on establishing effective relationships with parents as a means to increase academic achievement.
Building the Schools’ and Parents’ Capacity for Strong Parent Involvement
Knox City-O’Brien CISD will involve the PAC in identifying barriers to parent involvement and to provide parent involvement strategies. The district will serve as a guide and resource for each campus. The school will support a variety of parental involvement strategies as it strives to develop and maintain an optimum learning environment for all students.
Annual Title 1 Parent Meeting: Knox City-O’Brien CISD will hold an annual meeting to review Title 1 guidelines and services offered through the district. Copies of the district’s current Parent Involvement Policy and the Home-School Compacts of each campus will be distributed at the meeting. Parents will be encouraged to become involved in revising and updating the policy as necessary.
The meeting will be held at a convenient time and location; notice of the meeting will be provided through written invitations to parents and through public notices. During this meeting, parents will be recruited to serve on the Parent Advisory Council. If needed, a translator will be available to help with non-English speaking parents.
Home-School Compact: In accordance with Title 1 regulations, each 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 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) 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 discuss the contents of the compact. They are also encouraged to sign that they are in agreement with the compact and return them to the school.
Staff/Parent Communication: Parents will be informed of school activities through various avenues of communication throughout the school year. Newsletters, conferences, personal contacts, 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.
Cross-Program Coordination of Parent Involvement Activities
Parent Involvement strategies will be incorporated into Knox City-O’Brien CISD curriculum and programs through the District Improvement Plan. Parent Involvement will be a top priority and will be aligned with the entire educational program.
Knox City-O’Brien CISD will coordinate Title 1 Parent Involvement activities with other programs within the district to meet special needs (Head Start, H-KSSA, PPCD, etc.)
Annual Evaluation
The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) will annually review and evaluate all aspects of the parent involvement program by distributing surveys and collecting data at all campuses. Parent surveys, including questions about the effectiveness of the program, will be distributed and the results analyzed. Teacher surveys and teacher contact logs will be used to determine the number and kind of interaction between schools and parents. The PAC will review and revise the District Parent Involvement Policy and Home-School Compacts at the campus level based on the results of this annual review.
