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BUCHANAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Title I Parental Involvement Policy
School Level
Statement of Purpose
The definition of Parental Involvement as stated in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is “engaged participation of parents of Title I students in a consistent, organized and meaningful way in the consultation, planning, implementing and evaluating of programs and activities to increase student achievement. Buchanan County Public Schools are committed to the goal of providing a quality education for every child in the district. To this end, we want to establish partnerships with parents and with the community. Everyone gains if school and home work together to promote high achievement by our children. Neither home nor school can do the job alone. 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 at every step along the way.
The Board of Education has taken an important step to raise the expectations for all students in Virginia’s public schools through the Standards of Learning. We recognize that some students may need the extra assistance available through the Title I Program to meet these expectations. Buchanan County Public Schools intend to include parents in all aspects of the district’s Title I program. The goal is a school-home partnership that will improve student achievement and school performance.
Parent’s Right to Know
According to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, parents have the right to request information on the qualifications of their child’s teacher and instructional aide. Information may include:
- Whether or not the teacher and aide have met the certification requirements of the state.
- Whether or not the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status.
- The bachelor’s degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher in the field of discipline of his or her certificate of degree.
- Whether or not the child receives services from a paraprofessional and if so, his or her qualifications.
Parent Advisory Councils
Each Title I school, whether a Targeted-Assistance School or Schoolwide Project, shall select one representative from said school to serve on a Title I District Advisory Council and four other representatives to serve on a School Advisory Council. Parents from Title I schools who are not employees of the school system, shall comprise at least fifty-one percent of the Council. The chairperson of the Title I District Advisory Council shall participate in District Planning Council meetings conducted for the Title I program.
The purpose of the council shall be to effect meaningful parent, teacher, student and community participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of all Title I programs in Buchanan County Public Schools.
The District Advisory Council shall meet (2) times each fiscal year. These meetings shall be for orientation; review, discussion of evaluation and approval of final evaluation; presentation of project proposal to council with discussion and input from council; discussion of project implementation and approval of final project application.
Annual Meeting for Title I Parents
An annual meeting shall be conducted for all parents of eligible children and concerned citizens. This meeting will be advertised through the local newspapers, the local radio stations, the Parent Resource Center website at www.buc.k12.va.us and through memos/flyers sent home by the Title I teachers.
Parental Involvement in Developing Written Policy
The District Advisory Council will meet to develop our district-wide Title I Parental Involvement Policy. The School Advisory Council may accept the same policy or choose to develop their own.
School/Parent/Student Compact
According to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, each school must share the responsibility with parents for improved student academic performance by developing a School/Parent/Student Compact jointly with parents of children participating in the program. Parents on each school’s Advisory Council will be involved in designing these compacts. The School/Parent/Student Compact will describe:
- The school’s responsibility to meet the state’s student academic standards:
- Shall provide high quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective environment.
- Shall send Title I progress reports three times per year.
- Shall schedule at least one parent-teacher conference a year, and as needed.
- Shall schedule parent meetings with due consideration to parent/family needs.
- Will strive to address the individual needs of the child.
- Will regularly communicate with you and the regular classroom teacher on the child’s progress.
- Ways in which parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning:
- Monitoring attendance, homework completion, and television watching.
- Reading with their child on a daily basis, if possible.
- Talking with their child daily about his/her school work.
- Use the Public Library and Parent Resource Center.
- Express high expectations and offer praise and encouragement.
- Establish a daily family routine with the child having responsibilities.
- Be a positive role model.
- Address the importance of communication between schools, teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through:
- Input in district policies.
- Attend/schedule parent/teacher conferences.
- Attend monthly Title I parent involvement meetings.
- Observation of classroom activities.
- Volunteer at school.
- Attend PTA meetings.
Parents will receive the compact from their child’s school. The compact will be a checklist of responsibilities that teachers, parents and students will each have for helping increase student achievement. Parents will be urged to discuss the compact with their children before signing it and having their children sign it.
Title I Staff-Parent Communication
Communication with parents will include a Title I newsletter distributed each month during the school term. There will also be notices sent home with children, phone calls, and conferences as needed. Title I also prepares and distributes to parents a Title I calendar marking meeting and workshop dates. Title I will utilize a website for the Parent Resource Center. This website will have a calendar of events, newsletters, links for parents and students, and much more.
Title I teachers shall hold an open house in the Title I labs at least once a year. Parents will be invited through written invitation. During this open house parents will have an opportunity to review, discuss and sign their child’s Personalized Educational Plan, School/Parent/Student Compact, and Student Improvement Plan (if applicable). The Parent Resource Center will also host an open house at least once a year for parents to visit and become aware of the valuable resources available for their use at home with their child.
Progress reports are sent home the second, fourth and last six week periods. Teachers write positive and constructive comments to parents as well as indicating if they would like a conference with parents. There is also a place for parents to mark if they would like to request a conference.
Title I teachers and staff invite Parent Advisory Council members to join them at an in-service meeting each year. The program for this meeting is planned so it will address parents and teachers.
Each year Title I will sponsor a culminating activity to honor students who have excelled. The District Advisory Council will help with the planning and implementation of this event. Parents and School Advisory Councils will be invited to attend.
Matching Programs to the Needs of Parents/Students
Each year, Title I will assess the needs of parents and students through a questionnaire sent home to parents. This will allow the Title I program to be tailored to meet those needs. Workshops and other programs will be available to match the expressed needs. Parents will be notified of opportunities through the individual schools. Parents may call the Central Office (276.935.8135) or the Parent Resource Center (276.935.2711) at any time to express an interest in a particular workshop or to make suggestions.
Parent Resource Center
The Title I program will operate a Parent Resource Center, located at the Buchanan County Technology & Career Center, for the purpose of providing materials and training for parents to help them promote the education of their children at home. The Parent Resource Center will be open daily for parents and their children to use. The Resource Center will be open on Tuesdays until 7 o’clock each week to allow access for working parents.
The Parent Resource Center will offer various programs for parents and their children on certain Tuesday evenings. Parents may check the Parent Resource Center website for upcoming events at the PRC.
Evaluation
An annual evaluation (survey) will be conducted allowing parents an opportunity to respond to questions related to the Title I program and its effect upon their child’s education program. There will be an annual evaluation of the Title I program. There will also be an annual evaluation of the Title I Parental Involvement Program.
BUCHANAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
Title I Parental Involvement Opportunities
Title I provides the following opportunities for parents to become involved in their child’s education.
- Open House
Parents can visit Title I labs, meet the teachers and staff. Parents can talk about their child and discuss their child’s personalized educational plan, complete the school/parent/student compact, and where applicable discuss the child’s student improvement plan. The Parent Resource Center will also host an annual open house for parents and their children to come and see the available materials free for them to use.
- Parent Conferences, Telephone Calls, and Letters
Title I staff and teachers communicate with parents in these ways. Parents may also initiate communications through these means.
- Progress Reports
These reports are sent home the second, fourth and last six week periods. Teachers write positive and constructive comments to parents, as well as indicating if they would like a conference with the parents. There is also a place for parents to mark if they would like to request a conference.
- District and School PAC’s
Title I establishes a five member School PAC at each school. One of these five members agrees to serve on the District PAC. PAC members are invited to attend PAC meetings and workshops. Members are asked to help plan, implement and evaluate the Title I Program.
- Newsletters
Newsletters filled with lots of helpful information and suggestions are sent home each month. Newsletters are also available on the Parent Resource Center website.
- Calendar of Events
Parents receive a calendar of Title I events scheduled for the current school term. Parents can also access upcoming events on the PRC website.
- Monthly Meetings/Workshops
Monthly meetings and/or workshops are presented throughout the year to give parents suggestions on how to help their children with academics. These meetings/workshops are held on varied days and at varied times to better accommodate parents.
- Annual/Orientation Meeting
Parents are invited to this meeting at the beginning of each school year. The Title I Director and staff are present to talk with parents about the program and to listen to concerns or comments parents may have.
- Joint In-Service
The Title I teachers and staff invite PAC members to join them at the December in-service meeting each year. The program for this meeting is planned so it will address parents and teachers. The Title I staff prepares and serves lunch for parents in attendance.
- Surveys, Questionnaires and Evaluations
Parents are given opportunities for input by completing various types of forms throughout the school term.
- Annual Culminating Activity
Each year, Title I sponsors a culminating activity to honor students who have excelled. The DPAC will help with planning and implementing this event. Parents of the children and the school PAC will be invited to participate.
- Preschool “Bag Lady Reading Program”
A sixteen week program for preschoolers—a different bag of books is sent home with preschoolers each week during the program. The program’s purpose is to underline the importance of reading to children, therefore encouraging parents to set aside time to read with their children on a regular basis.
- Book Buddies (Grades 3-6)
Groups of parents and children read a novel over a period of time and come back together and discuss the experience.
- Parent Resource Center
Located at the Buchanan County Technology & Career Center, the PRC has a wealth of materials for parents to check our and use to help improve the academic achievement of their child. The PRC maintains a website for parents to go to for information about school, meetings, newsletters, and much more. The PRC is open daily for parents to visit or to bring their children to visit.
- PRC Classroom Visitations
Classrooms throughout the county bring their students to visit the PRC. Parents are encouraged to visit with their child’s class.
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