Parent Family Engagement Policy
RANCHITO AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY
2020-2021
Ranchito has jointly developed with, and distributed to, parents of Title I children a written parental and family involvement policy, agreed on by such parents, that describes the means for carrying out the Title I requirements. Parents are notified of the policy in a uniform format and to the extent possible, in a language they can understand.
This policy describes the means for carrying out the following Title I parent and family requirements:
This policy describes the means for carrying out the following Title I parent and family requirements:
Section 1: Involvement of Parents in the Title I Program
To involve parents in the Title I program at Ranchito, the following practices have been established:
- An annual meeting is convened for all parents of participating children, at a convenient time, notice provided to parents through the school website and flyers, and Blackboard phone calls, to inform them of the policy, their rights under Title I, and how they can be involved in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs in the school.
- Meeting dates and times are selected by the parents, to the extent possible, and are flexible to encourage broad parent involvement. Parents are encouraged to participate in ELAC; SSC; LSLC, Kindergarten Orientation and Conversation with the Principal meetings.
- At such Title I meetings, parents of Title I students are involved in an organized, ongoing and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the school’s Title I programs, including the planning, review and improvement of the school’s Title I parent and family engagement policy and the joint development of the School Plan for Student Achievement. All parents of Title I students are notified of such meetings through Blackboard phone calls, school’s website and flyers.
- At parent meetings, including Conversation with the Principal meetings, and the school website, parents of Title I students are provided with timely information about Title I programs.
- Through Open House, the school website, ClassDojo, parent meetings and school events such as STEAM Night, parents are provided a description and an explanation of the curriculum used at the school, the academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the achievement levels students are expected to meet with the state standards. Additionally, teachers provide detailed explanation during parent-teacher conferences.
- Upon request by a parent or parents of Title I students through either, the teacher or the office, the school will schedule meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate in decisions relating to the education of their children, and to respond to any such suggestions as soon as possible. Parents of Title I students participate in decisions relating to the education of their students through the SSPT process, as well as participation in school councils responsible for making budgetary decisions which impact Title I programs.
- If the School Plan for Student Achievement is not satisfactory to Title I parents, the reasons will be shared in this policy.
Section II: Building Capacity for Involvement
Ranchito engages Title I parents and family members in meaningful interactions with the school to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school to improve student achievement. It supports a partnership among staff, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. To help reach these goals, the school has established the following practices:- Through parent meetings, including Conservation with the Principal, council meetings such as ELAC and SSC, parent trainings, as well as parent-teacher conferences and the Kindergarten Orientation, the school provides parents with assistance in understanding the State’s academic content standards, state and local academic assessments, and how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children.
- Through the parent center, trainings providing materials are scheduled for families to help them work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, paying special attention to support foster parents. Ranchito has a Specialized Population Counselor that works with the Healthy Start Navigator, in reaching out to parents to provide needed resources.
- Professional development is provided, with the assistance of Title I parents, to teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, assistant principals, other school leaders, and other staff about the value and utility of the contributions of parents and family members. In addition to reaching out to, and communicating with, and working with parents as equal partners to build ties between parents and the school. For example, the Inclusion Committee, LSLC and parents working with the Parent Center.
- The school coordinates and integrates the Title I parent and family engagement program with other programs, and conducts other activities, through the Parent and Family Center, such as workshops, seminars, classes and trainings, to encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.
- Through flyers, the front marquee, school website and Blackboard calls home, the school distributes information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities to Title I parents and family members in a form and, to the extent practicable, in a language that they understand.
- When a Title I parent requests for support for their child or family, the school refers that parent to the appropriate person on staff that can address the parent’s needs.
Section III. Accessibility
Ranchito provides opportunities, to the extent practicable, for the participation of all Title I parents and family members, including parents and family members with limited English proficiency, parents and family members with disabilities, and parents and family members of migratory students. Information and school reports are provided in a form and language that parents understand.- Telephone calls to parents in their home language
- All written communication sent in English and Spanish
- Interpreters available for all parent meetings and conferences
- Adult ESL classes offered on campus
Section IV: Shared Responsibilities for High Student Academic Achievement
Ranchito distributes to parents of Title I students a School-Parent Compact. It is attached to this policy. The compact, which has been jointly developed with parents and approved by them, outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. Parent meetings, including Conversation with the Principal and council meetings, were held where the compact was discussed and revised accordingly. Title I parents will receive a copy of the compact attached to this Parent and Family Engagement Policy. Staff is available to address any questions by parents concerning the compact.The Compact describes specific ways the school and families will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve California’s high academic standards. It addresses the following legally required items, as well as other items suggested by parents of Title I parents.
- The school’s responsibility is to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables children to meet California’s academic standards. Ranchito is a one to one school with kindergartners and first grade using IPADS and second through fifth chrome books. Ranchito is STEAM certified and, as such teachers are incorporating science, technology, engineering, art, and math throughout the curriculum. Ranchito has an innovation lab providing space and materials for classes to participate in science and engineering activities. Ranchito also offers after school and Saturday intervention providing support to students who will benefit from additional instruction.
- Parents can volunteer in their child’s classroom by first completing a volunteer application and getting the required TB clearance.
- Ranchito reaches out to parents for their input in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time, through Conversation with the Principal, various committee meetings such as ELAC, SSC, LSLC and informal meetings with the principal.
- Workshops are offered through the Parent Center, and advertised through bi-lingual flyers, to inform parents of what is expected of students at each grade level through a review of state standards and mandated testing. The workshops provide strategies to the parents to support their children at home. Teachers also reach out to parents through ClassDojo and during parent-teacher conferences.
- Ranchito embraces ongoing communication between parents and teachers on an ongoing basis through the following:
-
- Bi-annual parent-teacher conferences during which the compact shall be discussed as it relates to the child’s achievement;
- Frequent reports to parents on student progress, via ClassDojo, email or telephone calls;
- Reasonable access to staff, if convenient for both parties, before or after school, recess, or lunch;
- Requests by parent or teacher regarding opportunities for parents to volunteer and participate in their child’s class and/or observe classroom activities; and
- Continue throughout the year to ensure a two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff, and, to the extent possible, in a language that family members can understand.
This document was revised and approved by School Site Council on January 14, 2021.
Austin Beutner,
Superintendent of School
Superintendent of School
Edwin Molina,
Principal
Jose Gallegos,
Assistant Principal