Douglass K-8 Optional School

Family Engagement Plan

 

The Family Engagement Plan provides parents and community personnel an opportunity to be actively and meaningfully involved in the education of their child/children attending our school.  Our plan is revised annually in collaboration with Douglass stakeholders in order to meet the changing needs of the school community.  Our goal is to inform parents on a regular basis regarding their child’s achievement and provide parents the skills necessary for them to assist in the overall academic achievement of their child/children.

 

Douglass School pledges to eliminate barriers to meaningful parental involvement in the following ways:

• Develop a school-parent compact and family engagement plan jointly.

• Provide meetings on a flexible schedule to ensure full parent participation in planned school/parent meetings.

• Clarify educational terms by using simple and direct language when communicating with parents.

• Provide printed materials for parents in English and Spanish.

• Provide interpreter services when necessary.

• Communicate information via school Web site and e-mail, by phone link,  school marquee, newsletters, information board, notices and calendars.

• Provide avenues and opportunities for parents to express and communicate ideas/suggestions and concerns which are conducive to realistic and timely responses from school staff.

• Continue to encourage daily dialogue between teachers and parents regarding student behavior and achievement.

 

Douglass School will invite and encourage parents to become meaningfully involved in their child’s education and to build capacity for strong parent participation in the following ways:

• Organize ongoing activities and committees in which parents are a part of the review and planning of school related functions and or decisions.  Committees will consist of the TSIP, SBDMC, Site-Based Decision-Making Council, PTO and Watch D.O.G.S.

• Encourage attendance and participation in school/parent regular monthly meetings.  Meetings will be scheduled  flexibly in mornings, afternoons and evenings in order to accommodate varied parent schedules and allow for maximum parental participation as the school staff  endeavors to:

                              -Keep parents informed of current school events, activities, and issues,

                              -Inform parents of the school’s Title I and NCLB status,

                              -Provide curriculum awareness and explain assessment data

                              -Report student progress and proficiency level

• Promote participation in Family Literacy program and family services to enhance parents’ ability to assist in the educational process of their child/children

• Provide information regarding programs academically and non academically, events and school activities in a timely manner. 

• Distribute receipt of notices and other communication from the school in a timely manner in order to allow ample time for parental response and/or participation

• Assume ownership of a current parent/student handbook explaining school rules, policies and procedures

• Participation in the revision of the TSIP, Family Engagement Plan and School Compact

• Supply a current Family Engagement Plan, School Compact, right to know and Title One information during the flexible annual meetings.

• Utilize partnerships with community organizations, adopters, businesses, and the Parent Resource Center at Douglass to assist in the coordination and integration of parent involvement programs.