Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science is committed to the goal of providing quality education for every child in this district. To this end, we want to establish partnerships with parents and with the community. Everyone gains if our school and homes work together to promote high achievement by our children. Parents play an extremely important role as children’s first teachers.
Their support for their children and for the school is critical to their children’s success every step along the way.
Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science recognizes that some students may need the extra assistance available through the Title I program to reach the state’s high academic standards.
Glacier Hills intends to include parents in all aspects of the school’s Title I program. The goal is a school-home partnership that will help all students in the district to succeed.
PART I. SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY REQUIRED COMPONENTS
A .
Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science will jointly develop/revise with parents the school parent involvement policy/procedures and distribute it to parents of participating children and make available the parent involvement policy/procedures to the local community.
(List actions): We will convene on April 27, 2016 at 3:00 p.m., meeting with available Title 1 parents to plan the Title 1 Parent Involvement policy/procedure(s) for 2016-17. This is to discuss any pertinent ideas to help improve the Title I program for the following school year.
Information from the annual spring Parent Questionnaire is also considered and discussed. The
Title I Parent Compact, regarding school’s and parent’s/guardian’s responsibilities, is evaluated.
At the beginning of each child’s Title I program, the Title I Parent Compact is sent home for parents/guardians to review, write comments, and sign their consent. A cover letter explaining the program is also included. Information regarding the Title I program is available on the
Glacier Hills website .
B. Convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved;
(Describe when and where the annual meeting will be held.)
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We will plan a morning parent event for the first week of October. We have chosen this date to be near the beginning of the school year, and will hopefully be able to have the event outside.
Informative handouts are available regarding the definition of the Title I program, and also reading and math strategies for parents to follow when helping their children with homework.
Title I Teachers record which families attended family events on the Title I Compacts.
C. Offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide, with funds provided under this part, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement;
(Describe how flexibility is provided.)
If a parent is unable to attend our fall event, they can contact a Title I teacher to request a phone conference or request that the Title I teacher attend the Fall/Spring Parent Conferences, held
November 5 and 6, 2015 and February 11 and 12, 2016. Transportation is available on request.
D. Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the school plan under section 1112, schoolwide under section 1114 and the process of the school review and improvement under section 1116.
(List actions)
1. Parent feedback forms at Parent Involvement meeting. 2. Parent Questionnaire sent home the week of March 30, 2016. 3. Meet with parents April 30, 2016, to plan, review and improve the school plan.
E. Provide parents of participating children – a. Timely information about programs under this part;
Information about the Title I program will appear in the school newsletter, the Glacier Hills
Elementary website under District196.org, and letters, brochures or fliers that are sent home. b. Description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; and
Curriculum: In August a school calendar is sent to all parents, and included is an outline of our district’s curriculum in all areas. The curriculum of each respective grade level is printed in packet form and is available. Our curriculum is also available on the district website: district
196.org. Forms of academic assessment, i.e. progress reports: The explanation of the
(performance) rubric used on student progress reports is available on the district website.
Classroom teachers at parent conferences also explain this rubric. MAP tests are given in grades
2-5, once a year, and parents are notified of their child’s proficiency levels. Included in the parent report are expected growth targets. Student proficiency, grade level expectancies are shared by the classroom teacher at each parent conference. Said expectancies are also available to parents at any time during the year. During the 2015-2016 school year, support will be offered in Literacy for students in grades k – 5, unless scores indicate a greater need in a particular grade level. Also, if scores indicate, Math assistance will also be offered on a limited basis.
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c. If requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practically possible.
(List actions)
Communication via email, Parent Advisory meetings and the Parent Involvement Committee.
When requested, Title I teachers will meet with parents to discuss needs/concerns of their child.
F. If the schoolwide program plan is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, submit any parent comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the local educational agency.
(List actions)
Not Applicable.
G. Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science will inform parents and parental organizations of the purpose and existence of the Parental Information and Resource Center in
Minnesota (i.e., Minnesota Parent Center, Bloomington, MN).
(Describe)
Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science will publish the location and existence of the
Mn. P. C., Bloomington, Mn., in the August 2015, newsletter. A good website for parent information is http://www.pacer.org/mpc/.
PART II REQUIRED SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT
As a component of the school-level parental involvement policy, each school shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement.
- Licensed teachers specially trained to develop alternative small group lesson instructions for
groups of students.
- Conduct a parent/teacher conference in elementary schools, annually (at a minimum), during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child’s achievement.
Provide frequent reports to parents on their children’s progress; and
Provide parents with reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class and observation of classroom activities.
(List actions)
• At the beginning of the year a Title I Parent Compact form is sent home with each eligible child. Parents/guardians need to review the compact and sign the back of the form, agreeing to allow their child to participate in the program. The information on the front of the Compact records the child’s reading and math progress. This information reflects how the child was chosen for Title I services.
•
Title I teachers may meet with parents/guardians of Title I students at Parent-Teacher
Conferences, if the parent wishes. Title I teachers can also arrange phone or email conferences with parents, if that is desired. Conferences are held twice during the school year: November 5 and 6, 2015, and February 11 and 12, 2016.
Children’s progress is discussed.
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• Book bags are sent home with the child, if this seems like a viable option. This allows parents to observe their child’s progress in reading. When needed, Title I teacher-written notes or phone calls are used to discuss a child’s progress. These methods of communication are noted on the Parent Compact.
• Opportunities to observe the child’s classroom or Title I group will be available on a reasonable basis, monitored by administration. Parents can volunteer in many areas in the classroom including: Reading books, helping with parties, chaperoning field trips, helping with math, etc.
BUILDING CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT
To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, each school and local educational agency assisted under this part – a. Shall provide assistance to the parents of children served by the school or local educational agency, as appropriate, in understanding such topics as the State’s academic content standards and State student academic achievement standards, State and local academic assessments, the requirements of this part, and how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children;
(List actions)
We have run parent assessment interpretation sessions for Title I parents. This session informed parents of appropriate achievement expectations for their child according to the
MCA’s, MAP’s, and report cards. b. Shall provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement;
(List actions)
Parent involvement meetings: Fall meeting in October and a spring meeting to be held in
May. We will share reading/math tip articles with parents and book bags are sent home in addition to the monthly school newsletter where Title I News is listed. c. Shall educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school;
(List actions)
Staff training on best practices relative to working effectively with parents is done during staff meetings. d. Shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, the
Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, and public preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children;
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(List actions)
We are supported by our school social workers, which provide ongoing support for families in need. e. Shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents of participating children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents can understand.
(List actions)
Parent Compacts are written in a language that parents understand. Currently we have
Title I Compacts written in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Chinese, Hmong, and
Vietnamese. District interpreters are available for meetings, conferences, and phone calls. f. Shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under this as parents may request.
(Describe)
Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science is always striving to meet parent expectations. Language interpreters are available upon request. There are also opportunities available for classroom volunteers, Literacy Link and Art Adventure. g. May involve parents in the development of training for teachers, principals, and other educators to improve the effectiveness of such training. h. May provide necessary literacy training from funds received under this part if the district has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for such training. i. May pay reasonable and necessary expenses associated with local parental involvement activities; including transportation and child care costs, to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions. j. May train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents. k. May arrange school meetings at a variety of times, or conduct in-home conferences between teachers or other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend such conferences at school, in order to maximize parental involvement and participation. l. May adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement. m. May establish a district parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental involvement in programs supported under this section. n. May develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses in parent involvement activities.
PART III ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
In carrying out the parental involvement requirements of this part, districts and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with children with limited
English proficiency, parents with children with disabilities, and parents of migratory children,
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including providing information and school reports in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents can understand.
(List actions)
A Glacier Hills Somali Family Liaison is available. School Social Workers continue their involvement with: City of Eagan & Eagan Police Department, YMCA, ISD 196 Collaborative
Team, Dakota Hills & Blackhawk Middle School Staff, and Prevention Advisory Council (Districtwide). School Social Workers assist families by communicating summer and after school programs.
PART IV ADOPTION
This Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science Parental Involvement Policy/Procedures has been developed/revised jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I program, as evidenced by meeting minutes.
The Parent Involvement Policy/Procedures was developed/revised by Glacier Hills Elementary
School of Arts and Science on May 20, 2015 and will be in effect for the period of school year
2015-2016. The school will distribute this Parent Involvement Policy/Procedures to all parents of participating Title I children and make it available to the community on or before September, 2015.
Cynthia MacGregor
_______________________________________
(Signature of Title I Authorized Representative)
May 20, 2015
These parents were involved with the development of this document:
(List parents)
Parents of Title I students who were able to attend the May 20, 2014 meeting:
Jess Loos
Ana Romero
Matt and Nicole Whipple
Angie Cameron
Jennifer McGovern
Sara Lang
Toni Resendez
Brooke Resendez
Jennifer Herman
Mike Mought
Patricia Pichardo
Vicky Ritacco
Jessica Thomas
Angela Bridgeman
Sarah Brandner
Eduardo Rodrigez
Ina Augustin
Santosh Devkota
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Cynthia MacGregor beth.determan@district196.org cynthia.macgregor@district196.org
Beth Determan Kristie Hondl kristie.hondl@district196.org
Title I is a federally funded program whose purpose is to provide additional assistance to students in grades 1-5 who need reinforcement in the areas of reading, math or written language. This year we will be servicing grades 4-5 only. Title I does not replace the classroom reading or math instruction but provides supplemental assistance to students who are functioning below grade level. Title I is
NOT a special education program and Title I teachers are fully certified teachers who receive on-going professional development in reading and math instruction.
Criteria for entrance to the program is determined by reading assessments such as the Diagnostic
Reading Assessment (DRA), math assessments such as the Measures of Academic Performance
(MAP) and AVMR and/or teacher recommendations.
Students who qualify for this program will receive additional instruction by teachers who will use resources that support grade level curriculum. Parent consent is required and instruction takes place in small groups in separate Title I areas four days per week. Most students are served a full school year; although there are times when they are exited during the year if teachers and parents agree that a child is achieving well enough to leave the program. Progress reports are sent home each trimester.
Glacier Hills includes parents in all aspects of the Title I program. Our goal is a school-home partnership that will help all students succeed.
May 16, 2016 – Please save the date for our Spring Title I Family Event
Title I Links
Glacier Hills Parent Involvement Policy/Procedure 2015-2016
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