Rupak Gandhi, Principal
Parent Involvement Policy 2015-2016
Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center (SHMSTC) is committed to the
education of the children in our community. For students to be successful their
parents/guardians must be actively involved in their education. We believe that when
parents/guardians are involved in the educational process, school becomes more of a
priority for their children. It is our mission to instill a commitment to life-long learning
within our students. It is our pledge to maintain open lines of communication between
the home and the school, and our goal is to provide abundant opportunities for parental
involvement throughout each school year.
SHMSTC has developed this policy to describe how we involve parents/guardians in the
development of school policy to help parents/guardians help their children to achieve in
school and to ensure that parents/guardians with limited English proficiency or
disabilities of any nature can participate in their child’s education. This policy was
developed with the assistance and approval of the parents/guardians of children
participating in the Title I program as Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology
Center as well as the Principal, VIPS Coordinator, Title I Coordinator, PAC President,
and Shared Decision Making Committee representative.
Policy Involvement
Each year, SHMSTC invites the parents/guardians of all children who participate in the
campus-wide Title I programs to multiple meetings. These meetings are usually held in
conjunction with meetings to which the parents/guardians of all students of SHMSTC are
invited such as, Open House, College Night, PTA meetings, Coffee with the Principal,
etc. At these meetings, Title I law is discussed including legal requirements under the
law, the rights of parents/guardians and students under the law, and the benefits of the
law to the students and parents/guardians. Various Houston ISD, SHMSTC and
community partner staff members are invited to these meetings to assist with
presentations on various topics related to Title I. These presentations are made in both
English and Spanish. In these meetings SHMSTC explains how parents can become
involved in the planning, review and improvement of Title I programs.
Program Involvement
SHMSTC provides parents with timely information about offered Title I programs
including Teacher-led credit recovery classes, the Houston ISD online credit recovery
initiative (Grad Lab), Summer School, tutorials, advanced academics, technology
programs for students and parents/guardians, Special Education services and bilingual
programs and services, expectations for our students and how student performance is
measured. SHMSTC shares how the school as a whole is performing as well as how
EXCELLENCE – WHATEVER IT TAKES
9400 IRVINGTON | HOUSTON, TEXAS
| 77076-5299
| (713)696-0200
Rupak Gandhi, Principal
individual students are performing in relation to expected proficiency levels on state
mandated assessments such as the TAKS, EOC and STAAR exams and district mandated
measures such as content area benchmarks and common assessments. Test results for
individual students are sent home for parents to review as soon as they become available.
SHMSTC holds Title I Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings regularly. We
encourage parents/guardians to make suggestions, share experiences and participate in
the decision making process at the school. If the school-wide program plan is
unsatisfactory to parents/guardians, SHMSTC submits parent feedback to the Houston
ISD Department of External Funding and revises the plan as advised by the Houston ISD
Title I, Part A Parental Involvement Program Administrator, the Parent Advisory
Committee and/or the Shared Decision Making Committee.
Parents are also invited to participate on the Project Advisory Team, which meets each
month with the design team that will be helping design the new Sam Houston MSTC. At
these meetings, parents can provide input to the design of the new Sam Houston MSTC.
Shared Responsibilities for High /School Academic Achievement
A School-Parent Compact was initially developed in 2003 by the Parent Advisory
Committee. It is reviewed and revised annually by the current PAC. /this document
serves as an agreement between all parties that they will complete certain duties and
uphold responsibilities to ensure the success of the students. This compact is also used to
motivate students and parents/guardians to become more involved in the educational
process. It serves to remind parents/guardians that they are valued as equal partners in
their child’s learning. The document outlines how parents/guardians , school staff and
students all share in the responsibility for improving student academic achievement
including the means by which SHMSTC, parents/guardians will partner to help students
achieve to high standards.
This compact describes the school’s responsibility to provide high quality curriculum and
instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment. It also describes the ways
in which parents/guardians are expected to support their student’s learning and how they
will participate in decision-making relative to the education of their children. The
agreement also stresses the importance of ongoing communication between teachers and
parents/guardians through conferences, progress reports, report cards, access to ParentStudent Connect, and the opportunity for parents to observe classes and/or volunteer at
SHMSTC.
Building Capacity for Involvement
SHMSTC will build capacity for strong parental involvement to ensure effective and
meaningful involvement of parent/guardians in the education of their children and
EXCELLENCE – WHATEVER IT TAKES
9400 IRVINGTON | HOUSTON, TEXAS
| 77076-5299
| (713)696-0200
Rupak Gandhi, Principal
support a partnership among the school, parents/guardians and the community in order to
improve student academic achievement. It is the responsibility of SHMSTC to help all
involved to understand educational laws. Parents/guardians are provided with
information local, state and national educational goals, Title I requirements, state and
district mandated assessments, the School Improvement Plan, Special Education
meetings as wells as PTA and PAC meetings. Information is always transmitted in both
English and Spanish.
Additionally, monthly informational sessions for parents/guardians are held which are
designed to help parents/guardians access student progress information and teach them
how they can work together with educators to help their students as well as how they can
become involved in school decision making. Technology and literacy trainings are also
offered.
Participation and involvement of all parents is important to SHMSTC. Information
pertaining to student achievement, school activities, parent programs, meetings and all
opportunities for parent/guardian participation are sent to student homes in both English
and Spanish. Interpreters are provided for parent conferences and all school meetings.
An on-campus parent resource center is also available to all parents/guardians during
normal school hours. Handicap access to all areas of SHMSTC is provided to ensure that
parents/guardians with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in all activities.
Home visits are conducted by SHMSTC staff under certain circumstances. If it is not
possible for a parent/guardian to come to the school due to illness or injury, a home visit
may be arranged at the parent/guardian’s request. Also, if parents/guardians are unable to
be contacted by telephone, a home visit may be deemed necessary.
The community business partners of SHMSTC contribute to parent/guardian involvement
at the school through sponsorship of various activities such as the ESL and Computer
Technology classes offered free of charge to parents of SHMSTC student by Houston
Community College. These programs promote better quality living though literacy.
As a team we can help all students succeed,
______________________________________
Rupak Gandhi, Principal
Revised 11/30/15
EXCELLENCE – WHATEVER IT TAKES
9400 IRVINGTON | HOUSTON, TEXAS
| 77076-5299
| (713)696-0200
Rupak Gandhi, Principal
EXCELLENCE – WHATEVER IT TAKES
9400 IRVINGTON | HOUSTON, TEXAS
| 77076-5299
| (713)696-0200