Rogers New Technology High School
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PLAN
2015 ---2016
Parent Coordinator/Facilitator: Dr. Lance Arbuckle, larbuckl@rps.k12.ar.us
STANDARD I: Parenting
Parenting skills are promoted and supported.
To promote student learning, the school will offer support to parents by providing resources to
improve parenting techniques and skills:
1. Create an electronic “Parent Center” in Echo
a. Organize parenting websites, articles, and other informative e-materials regarding
responsible parenting.
b. Allow parents an opportunity to download materials for review and use.
c. The Parent Center in Echo contains media resources on the following topics:
1. Drug Prevention
2. Violence Prevention
3. Education Support
4. Health & Wellness
2. Promote parenting websites, as well as local and toll free numbers to parents.
a. Information will be placed on the school website and available through the Echo
portal. The information will be highlighted at parent/teacher conferences, during
Echo Parent Training Nights and periodically highlighted on the school Facebook
and Twitter pages.
3. Plan and engage in activities determined by the school as beneficial to promoting and
supporting responsible parenting.
a. School employees will be trained through professional development to recognize
that there are a variety of parenting traditions and practices within the
community’s cultural and religious diversity.
b. Staff members will be encouraged to demonstrate respect for families and the
family’s primary role in the rearing of children to become responsible adults.
c. Inform parents of free parenting classes and workshops offered by various local
and online agencies.
4. The school's electronic handbook will include the school's commitment to parental
involvement, the process for resolving parental concerns, and tips for how parents can
foster their child's success. The electronic handbook will be made available to parents
using the Echo portal.
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5. The building principal will designate one certified staff member to serve as a parent
facilitator to organize meaningful training for staff and parents and to undertake efforts to
ensure that parental participation is recognized as an asset to the school. The district will
pay the parent facilitator a stipend for assuming duties as required by ACT 307 of 2007.
STANDARD II: Communication
Communication between home and school is regular, two-way and meaningful.
To encourage communication with parents the school will:
1. Schedule no less than two (2) parent/teacher conferences per school year. One
conference will be held in October and the other in February.
a. A purpose of this time can be to establish an opportunity for parents and educators
to share information such as student strengths and learning preferences.
2. Use a variety of communication tools seeking to facilitate two-way interaction between
parents and teachers that include but are not limited to conferences, phone calls, emails,
text messages, websites (including ParentLink, Facebook, and Twitter), as well as letters.
3. Provide clear information regarding course expectations and offerings, student
placement, school activities, student services, and optional programs by providing all
families with a course description guide.
4. Provide continuous access to electronic grade reports via the Echo portal and regular
absentee risk reports to parents. Provide support services and follow-up conferences as
needed.
a. Echo allows for parents to view real-time grades for learners broken down by
school wide learning outcome (SWLO).
b. Semester report cards will be sent to parents.
c. All parents will be offered training on how to access their student’s grades
electronically.
5. Disseminate information on school policies, discipline procedures, assessment tools and
school goals. Include parents in any related decision making process.
a. School goals will be reported by principal in beginning of the year orientation to
parents.
b. Student handbooks will be distributed electronically to all students as part of the
district beginning of the year process.
6. Encourage immediate contact between parents and content facilitators when concerns
arise.
7. Translate communications to assist non-English speaking parents when requested.
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8. Content Facilitators will communicate with parents regarding student behavior and
achievement, via electronic or written communication ex: texting.
9. Provide opportunities for parents to communicate with principal through electronic
means, orientations, open houses, and open door access.
a. These opportunities may be both formal and/or informal in nature.
10. Provide staff development regarding effective communication techniques and the
importance of regular two-way communication between the school and the family.
11. Plan and engage in other activities determined by the school to be beneficial to encourage
communication with parents.
a. Host Echo Parent Training Events & Open House / Block Party event(s) so that
parents can meet their child’s content facilitators.
b. During registration events, parents will be notified of content offerings including
Advanced Placement, team taught and/or blended courses. Parents will also be
informed about opportunities including student internships, early college
experiences, and community service opportunities.
c. Host culture building / block “party” events that enable parents to become more
involved in their child’s education. Provide information on the school webpage
and on local television and radio broadcast.
12. Send all parents Informational Packets which are composed of a student handbook and
"Tips for Parents".
13. Invite all parents to multiple events that allow training and communication between the
home and school. These training and informational events will include Open House, the
annual report to the public, as well as possible online tutorials that serve to improve
communication between the school and home.
14. Provide the Echo online portal which allows parents and students can obtain grades,
monitor student progress, and have access to daily classroom agendas, lesson plans, and
activities..
15. Provide certified teachers/content facilitators with a minimum of two hours. Training will
be designed to enhance understanding of effective parental involvement strategies and the
importance of setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental
participation.
16. Develop student Academic Improvement Plans (AIP) that identify areas of weakness in
literacy for all students below proficient on the 8th grade benchmark literacy exam, the
Biology End of Course exam, Algebra I End of Course Exam, Geometry End of Course
Exam, and the 11th grade Literacy exam. AIP's will also determine interventions for
student to increase their skills in needed areas. AIP's will be developed by the student’s
counselors, content facilitators, administrators, and parents, to best meet the needs of the
students.
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17. Provide student academic support and career development by using the Project Based
Learning (PBL) instructional model. This model allows for authentic real world learning
and student presentations to build both oral and written skills.
18. Fulfill the vision of the Rogers Graduate Profile by participating in all three unique
learner experiences offered to Rogers New Technology HS graduates – early college
experience, internships, and community service opportunities.
STANDARD III: Volunteering
Parents are welcome in the school. Their support and assistance are valuable to the success
of the school.
To welcome parents in the school, the school shall:
1. Have school policies and/or procedures that encourage a parent to visit the school. These
policies/procedures include, but will not be limited to:
a. Policies/Procedures concerning how and where a parent may pick-up his or her
child outside the school building each day.
b. Policies/Procedures concerning how and when parents may visit a child’s
classroom during school events.
c. Ensuring that office staff greetings, signage near the entrances and any other
interaction with the parents create a climate in which parents feel valued and
welcome.
d. Educating and assisting staff members in creating an inviting climate and
effectively utilizing volunteer resources.
2. Post e-statements attesting to the school’s commitment to parental involvement and
distribute statements to the parents of students.
3. Engage in other activities determined by the school to welcome parents into the school.
a. Volunteer and visitor tags are prominently displayed in the main office and easily
accessible to parents entering the building.
4. Maintain active involvement with parents. A PTO has been created and is working to be
accessible to all parents in our school environment. Rogers New Technology High
School is committed to involve all parents to ensure the success of all students.
STANDARD IV: Learning At Home
Parents play an integral role in assisting and promoting student learning.
To help parents in assisting students, the school shall:
1. Schedule regular “PARENT MAKE A DIFFERENCE NIGHTS” where parents are given
a report on the state of the school as well as an overview of:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
What students will be learning
How students will be assessed
What parents should expect for their child’s education
How parents can assist with and make a difference in his or her child’s education
2. All students in Rogers Public Schools are exposed to character education. Character
words are integrated into each building’s curriculum. Schools have the option of using
the character words on a weekly or monthly basis. Character Education words are sent
home weekly in elementary parent newsletters to help encourage parents to use and
discuss Character Education words in the home. In the elementary, character words are
displayed on the schools' marquees to help encourage parent/student communication of
character words. In the secondary schools, character words are displayed on daily
announcements which are scrolled and accessible for view on local Cox TV Cable
Channel 221.
STANDARD V: Decision Making
Recognize that parents are full partners in the decision making process that affects his or
her child and family.
To encourage parents to participate as full partners in the decisions that affect his or her child
and family, the school shall:
1. Publish the school’s process for resolving parental concerns, including how to define the
problem, whom to approach first, and how to develop solutions.
2. Sponsor seminars to inform parents how to be involved in the decisions affecting course
selections, career planning, and preparation for post-secondary opportunities.
3. Form a site advisory board to share ideas, needs and desires for the school. Suggestions
will be presented to the staff.
4. Treat parent concerns with respect and demonstrate genuine interest in developing
solutions.
5. Engage in other activities that the school determines will encourage parents to participate
as full partners in the decisions that affect his or her child and family.
a. Parents serve on the school improvement committee.
6. Provide support for students in making healthy lifestyle choices by implementing systems
to aide in decreasing the average BMI on routine annual student screening and increasing
collaboration between all segments of the school community in support of positive
lifestyle choices.
STANDARD VI: Collaborating with the Community
Recognize that community resources strengthen school programs, family practices and
student learning.
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To take advantage of community resources, the school shall:
1. Engage in other activities that the school determines to use community resources to
strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning.
a. The school will seek support for students and parents by contacting the local
businesses for coupons and prizes for activities and events.
b. Student organizations with the assistance of parents and teachers will provide
service to non-profit agencies in the community.
c. Develop partnerships with local businesses and service groups.
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