Russell Elementary School
Cobb County School District
“Empowering Dreams for the Future”
Tammy Watson
Principal
Parent Involvement Policy
2015-2016
Revised March 04, 2015
Russell Elementary School is a School Wide Title I Program. As of February 2012, The State of Georgia
was granted a waiver from NCLB. According to the definitions in the waiver, Russell Elementary school
has been identified as a Non-Designation School.
School Goals: The measurable goals/benchmarks we have established to address the needs are in the
areas of math, writing, social studies and science.
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At Russell Elementary School, all students will improve all students will improve by 2-4 % points
in Math, reading, ELA/ writing , social studies, and science.
In an effort to further close the achievement gap, our Economically Disadvantage students,
English Language Learners, and Students with Disabilities will improve by 2-4 % in math, reading,
writing, science, and social studies.
The teachers at Russell will focus on utilizing the Workshop Model (which consists of a clear
opening, student work time, and closing) for each lesson in writing and math, while integrating
science and social studies in these lessons. The teachers will also have a set time for direct
instruction in science and social studies.
Russell Elementary has jointly developed this policy and compact with our parents to describe how we
will support the important role of parents in the education of their children. In cases where the
students reside in a Neglected and Delinquent residential facility, a representative from that Facility can
serve as a proxy for the parent (s). At Russell Elementary, we build capacity for parent/community
involvement by implementing the six types of involvement: Parenting, Communications, Parent
Volunteering, Learning at Home, Decision-making and Governance, and Collaboration and Exchanges in
the Community. This policy will be distributed to our parents and the local community, through our
parent’s handbook and to the new parents as they register during the school year.
Based on the requirements of Title I Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Section
1118 and the needs identified by our parents and school staff surveys, we will provide reasonable
support for parental involvement activities as parent may request. The following strategies were
outlined:
I.
Russell Elementary will provide training to educate the teachers, pupil services personnel, principal,
and other staff in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, in
the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to implement and coordinate parent
programs, and build ties between parents and the school, providing Professional Development Parent
involvement and six standards to build Parent Capacity.
II. An annual Title I information session and other flexible scheduled meetings will be held throughout
the school year. These meetings will cover the following information:
a. Title I Programs
b. College and Career Ready Performance Index
c. Parent’s right to know about Teacher and Paraprofessional qualifications
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Parent Information Workshops & Parent volunteering
School policies and procedures
School curriculum
Student assessments
Local and State assessments
Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (K12)
Transitioning from Russell Elementary School to Floyd Middle School.
III. Parents will receive information from our school in their child’s home language in a timely manner.
Russell Elementary uses the following communication methods to provide parent with timely
information:
a.
b.
c.
d.
IV.
The Parent Compact will be distributed to parents during fall parent teacher conferences or
as new students are enrolled in the school. Both English and Spanish versions of the
compact will be available. In addition, all students receive a student handbook which
includes the code of conduct, procedures and a calendar of events. During the first week of
school, teachers review this information with students. Also, parents are asked to sign that
they have read the handbook and discussed its content with their children.
Information about school policies and involvement opportunities are communicated
through direct parent contact by the following staff:
a. School Council
b. PTA
c. Parent Liaison
d. School Counselors
e. Administration
Annual and regular meetings of parents will be convened to discuss the school-wide
program, including parent rights to be involved in the school plan. Russell Elementary School
will convene an orientation Open House which will be held at the beginning of the school
year for all parents. Parents are encouraged to attend. Items to be discussed that evening
include:
1. Inform parents about the guidelines, purpose, goals, and expectations of the
Title I program.
2. Inform parents of their important role in their child’s success.
3. Inform parents of school, grade level, and individual teacher policies and
procedures.
4. Present an introduction to the grade level curriculum.
Timely information about events at Russell will be sent out via Russell’s phone system in
English and Spanish. ( Russell Phone number:770-437-5937)
Facebook, monthly newsletter from teachers posted on the web should be added.
Russell Elementary will build our parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement. In order
To ensure effective involvement, we encourage all families to be education partners in their
Children’s school success by:
a. Inviting parents to attend all meetings by giving them the Russell Elementary
Parent Involvement Activities Plan.
b. Inviting parents to serve on committees such as the School Council, School
Improvement Plan Committee, Parent Policy/Compact Action Planning
Committee, and the PTA.
c. Providing meetings held during the school day and outside school hours.
These dates and times are listed in the Russell Elementary Parent
Involvement Activities Plan.
d. Visiting our Family Resource Center in room 102 Monday to Friday from 7:00
am to 2:00 pm, where materials are provided for check out. Various topics
might include child devolvement, academic homework strategies, self-help
strategies, and multiple games and books to increase student achievement,
computers with internet access, printer and copier.
e. Providing transitioning activities such as the Summer Enrichment program for
Kindergarteners, rising third graders, and rising fifth graders. We have a
kindergarten parent orientation each Spring in which we give parents a tour
of the school, answer questions they have about their child coming to public
school, and in which they are able to meet the teachers and visit classrooms.
We also visit our feeder middle school, with the fifth grade students in order
for them to learn about the process of transitioning to the next level
f. Providing reasonable support such as having Computer and Math classes for
parents to learn about what their students are learning in the classroom. We
provide transportation through county school buses for after-school tutoring.
When parent meetings are held after school hours, childcare is provided, if
needed. On the school council, parents are representatives, which allow their
concerns to be voiced. This allows the teachers and administrative team to
determine how to best meet their needs. We also have parents as members
on committees such as STEM and Learning Nights, and Key Teams, such as
Leadership and Family, Community
V.
Parents will be provided information on school performance, student’s individual
assessments, and school curriculum.
a. Information on School Performance is located on the Russell Elementary School
web site, www.cobbk12.org/Russell
b. The results of norm-referenced and standardized tests are sent home with students
who have participated in these tests.
c. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held to further assist parents the opportunity to
give input on how to work with their children.
VI.
Parents and community members will be given timely responses to their concerns and
suggestions:
a. All concerns and suggestions submitted in writing or verbally are responded to in a
timely manner. Concerns and suggestions regarding the Title I Plan will be submitted to
the Title I Office. Information from parent surveys has resulted in the development of
the Russell Elementary Parent Activities Plan...
VII.
School Parent Compact
a. The parent compact was developed jointly on March 4, 2015 with our parents, staff, and
Russell students. All families, school staff, and students are asked to participate by
signing the compact to show their support. The compact will be distributed at the
October Parent-Teacher Conference
VIII.
School and Community Partnership
a. Our school builds ties between home and school by educating teachers, pupil services
personnel, administration, and other staff by gathering input from parents on how to
reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal educational partners.
b. Our school partnerships with the local community. Some of our partners are Home
Depot, Mableton Kroger, Pugmire-Lincoln Mercury, The Presbyterian Village, Chick-Fil-A,
Joseph A. Bank, Liberty Mutual, BB&T,KOHL’S, Sparkles Smyrna, Gateway Marshal Arts,
Cobb EMC, Huddle House,i9Sports,The Space Art Studio, Soho Data and Voice,
Cumberland Pointe Eye Care, HandsOnAtlanta, Eye level of Smyrna, Chattahoochee
Windows and Doors, Dreamweaver Dance Company Inc., Auto Bell Car Wash, IBM, Hurt
Road Baptist Church, Shaw Temple, Partners read with our students and provide
additional support for Learning Nights, Field Trips, and Russell Events.
If you have additional comments, questions, or concerns about this policy, you may contact Tammy
Watson –School Principal at Russell Elementary at 770-437-5937 or email at Tammy.
Watson@cobbk12.org
Sincerely,
Tammy Watson
Principal