Parent Involvement Plan 2015-2016 Milwaukie Elementary The Title I Parent Involvement Plan for 2015-2016 will be initially reviewed and revised at the January 12, 2016 Parent Group (PTO) meeting. 1. Describe key strategies to increase meaningful parental involvement designed to enhance home-school partnerships and improve student learning. Family involvement in education has a positive effect on student achievement and is an important strategy in reducing achievement gaps. Parental involvement is critical in facilitating children’s development and achievement and in preventing and remedying educational and developmental problems. Milwaukie Elementary provides a number of school events where parents can participate in learning about the school, curriculum, methods of instruction, content standards, and where they can spend time learning along with their child. Those include Open House in the fall of each year, ELD night, Family Fun Literacy night, middle school transition meetings, Kindergarten parent orientation meetings, Fall parent-teacher conferences, intercambio, Ninos del Corazon (community group), student of the week program, and Coffees with the Principal. These events are designed to inform parents on how their children are being taught, to teach parents strategies that will help them support their child’s learning at home, are opportunities for students to share what they know and to perform for their families, and provide quality time for students and their families to spend together. Regular and clear communication is important to student success at Milwaukie Elementary. Information is given to parents about common core state standards and how they relate to the curriculum, learning objectives, methods of assessment, school programs, discipline codes, and student progress. Sharing information with parents is accomplished through parent-teacher conferences, Open House, school and class newsletters, parent/student handbook, school and district websites, and phone calls. Translations and interpreters are available to ensure non-English speaking parents are fully informed. Regular bilingual phone, text and email messages and reminders are sent home in order to keep the lines of communication open. Providing opportunities for parents to volunteer in the school and classroom is encouraged. Parents and community members are welcome to volunteer as S.M.A.R.T tutors, classroom aides and curriculum resources, as well as to assist with field trips and in production. The Milwaukie/El Puente Parent Group (PTO) is a strong advocate for parent involvement and they organize school events, assemblies, fundraisers and other school-related activities. The PTO is very supportive of the staff and school and fund an annual Art Residency, field trips, classroom supplies, consumable textbooks and programs such as Spelling Mastery, provide technology, books and materials for the students, and organize volunteers for numerous events. Childcare and interpreters are provided at Parent Group (PTO) meetings to encourage parent participation. Opportunities for parent advocacy include being a member of the school Site Council where they give input on curriculum, instruction, professional development, facilities and budget issues. Parents also help to arrange and coordinate the Art Residencies. Families and students are supported by working collaboratively with many public and private agencies that provide family support services. These relationships include partnerships with public health and human service agencies, local businesses, youth-serving organizations, and religious, civic, and other community-based organizations. Linking families to services and community organizations strengthens home environments and student learning. These partnerships create shared responsibility for the well being of the children, families, and schools by all members of the community. Providing a welcoming and friendly environment encourages parents to come to school, participate in school events/committees, and to volunteer their time. Several staff members, including our principal, counselor, and two office staff, are bilingual and there are bilingual signs around the school. 2. Briefly describe the process used to develop and implement the parent Compact The Compact for Learning formalizes the relationship between parent and teacher to support their child by providing the basic needs for learning in the home setting including a quiet place to do homework, a focus on healthy foods and adequate rest, and limited electronic distractions. The compact is discussed with parents and then signed during fall conferences. 3. Describe the process used to meet with parents of students who have not met academic standards. Students not meeting benchmarks or who are reading below grade level are identified in early Fall and then again every 8-10 weeks thereafter. Data team meetings are held three times a year with each teacher, to analyze student data and determine how to support all student progress. Grade level intervention teams develop supplemental instructional plans for groups or individual students. Parents are notified that their child will be receiving additional instructional support. If the students needs more intensive supplemental support, the parent is invited to a meeting before and after the intervention begins so that they can be a part of the conversation and give input. Supplemental instruction includes additional in-school and after school interventions in reading, writing, and successful school skills. Parents receive information at the end of each intervention so that they know if the intervention has been effective or whether they will need additional supplemental support.