Jackson County Board of Education

Family and Community Engagement Plan

2005 - 2006

The Jackson County Board of Education recognizes the critical role that family and community involvement plays in the education of our children. In their effort to provide quality education for all students, the Jackson County Board of Education seeks to encourage and strengthen the partnership between home, community, and school, so that students may achieve their maximum potential. Research shows that regardless of their socioeconomic status or background, students with involved parents were more likely to earn higher grades and test scores and enroll in higher level academic programs; achieve higher promotion rates; have better attendance; have better social skills and improved behavior; and graduate and attend post-secondary school. Helping parents connect with their child’s learning process is invaluable for both the child and the school.

The Jackson County School System will follow all requirements of the Title I regulations including involvement of parents in all aspects (planning, implementation, and evaluation) of the district’s family engagement program. The LEA will exert effort to identify the desires of families and will act responsibly when considering those desires.

Families and community members have been closely involved in developing the Jackson County Board of Education Family and Community Engagement Plan through their participation in surveys, meetings, and personal consultations. The plan will be subject to annual review, updated as needed, and distributed to families of every student yearly through Student Handbooks, posting on the system’s website, and discussion at annual meetings. In addition, each school will have its own Family Involvement Plan that will also be reviewed annually and distributed to students’ families.

The LEA will provide coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing their own family involvement programs and in building schools’ and families’ capacity for strong family involvement. Support will include funding, materials, staff training and other resources, including coordination with other programs such as Adult Education, Head Start, Special Education, Homeless Education, Reading First Schools, the Family Resource Center, Pre-K programs, and other Federally funded Title Programs.

The Jackson County School District will conduct an annual evaluation of the family involvement program. This evaluation will specifically look at 1) the effectiveness of the program in increasing the participation of families, 2) identify barriers to greater participation by families in involvement activities, and 3) design strategies for school improvement and revision of family involvement plans as necessary.

The primary goals of the Jackson County Board of Education Family and Community Engagement Plan include: increased participation of parents and family members in their child’s education (including increased parent involvement in establishing school policy and decision making); increased opportunities for parents/family members to learn supportive parenting skills (including help with homework and decision making and goal setting for students); improved communication between schools and homes and communities; and increased collaboration between schools and community agencies and organizations. Benchmarks for measuring progress toward meeting these goals include:

Goal 1: Increased participation of parents and family members in their child’s education (including establishing school policy and decision making)

· Increase in parent attendance at school events such as Open House, Title I meetings, Back-to-School night, and Parent-Teacher Conferences

· Increase in the number of parent volunteers in each school

· Timely student progress reports given to all parents

· Active PTO organizations and school advisory councils and committees to include parents in school decisions

Goal 2: Increased opportunities for parents/family members to learn supportive parenting skills (including help with homework, and decision making and goal setting for students)

· Implementation of School-Parent-Student Compact and Student Handbooks to ensure parents are aware of their role in students’ education

· Provide workshops and newsletters on parenting and child-rearing techniques

· Family support services such as FRC to assist families with services

· Information on homework policies, assignments, and homework assistance

· Calendars sent home detailing school events and activities

Goal 3: Improved communication between schools and homes and communities

· Frequent communication with parents through notices, phone calls, memos, newsletters, etc. (Language translations as needed)

· Twice yearly parent-teacher conferences and additional meetings as needed

· Clear information on school policies and programs

· Regular communication with parents through notes, newsletters, phone calls, and other communication

Goal 4: Increased collaboration between schools and community agencies and organizations

· Planned integration of school in partnership with businesses, civic groups, and other community agencies

· Service learning projects for students

· Include business and civic leaders in school committees and decision making

Requirements	Activities and Strategies	Participants	Time & Date	Evidence of Compliance
Conduct parent-teacher conferences as scheduled by the district	*Discuss student progress and performance with parents *Offer suggestions, materials, and information on homework, attendance, subject content, behavior, etc. *Offer additional parent meetings as needed	Administrators, teachers, parents, and students	Fall and Spring Flexible schedules	*Copies of notices of meetings *Attendance data *Sign-in sheets
Conduct Back to School Night/Open House	*Back to School Night and Open House for parents to meet principal and teachers and to tour school	All schools	Fall	Marquees in town Notices to parents Sign-in sheets
Provide frequent reports to parents on performance and progress of their child	*Send report cards home every nine weeks *Send copies of additional progress reports mid-nine weeks or as necessary *Provide TCAP and/or Gateway data and interpretation of scores *Notify parents if child is not performing to expectations so parents will have the opportunity to intervene *Notify parents of performance of child’s school	Administrators, teachers, parents, and students	Every nine weeks At scheduled meetings Annual District Report Card	*Copies of reports sent to parents *Report cards
Provide a district website	*Provide district contact information, school calendar, policies, and other pertinent information	District technology coordinator	Ongoing	http://volweb.utk.edu/school/ jackson/
Conduct annual Title I school meeting	*Inform families of Title I requirements and opportunities	Title I Schools	Fall	Sign in sheets Invitation letter Agenda
Distribute School Handbook	*Provide parents with information about school policies, attendance, homework, etc.	All Schools	Beginning of School Year New Students upon Enrollment	Copy of handbooks
Provide curriculum and assessment information	*Provide information on process for accessing curriculum standards, assessment information, and expected proficiency levels of students	All Schools	Fall	Parent Information Brochure Student Handbook
Provide TCAP Terra Nova and Gateway information	*Annual measure of school, teacher and child progress *Provide individual student data and school data to parents *Annual report at School Board meeting	All Schools	Timely	District Report Card TVAAS Data Individual student assessment results Board Meeting Agenda
Distribute school newsletters/calendars	*Provide current and timely information to parents	All Schools	At least monthly	Samples of newsletters and calendars
Make homework assignments accessible to parents	*Encourage partnership between home and school through Homework website and other communications to parents	All schools Homework website - JCMS	Ongoing (Daily for website)	Newsletters Website
Monitor student attendance and contact parents regarding excessive absences	*Mail letters to parents of students regarding excessive absences *Conduct attendance review meeting for parents and students when excessive absences occur	Attendance Supervisor	Ongoing	Attendance letters
Establish behavior expectations through distribution of Code of Conduct	*Inform parents of expected behavior *Provide discipline review committee for appeals by parents	District office personnel School administrators Teachers	Fall Reviews as requested	Code of Conduct Review committee minutes Handbooks
Publicize school breakfast and lunch menus	*Provide weekly menu for each school	All Schools	Monthly	Sample menu
Provide absentee packets for students who miss school	*Provide homework assignments and other information to parents of absent students	All schools	Ongoing	Sample packets
Provide before- and after-school homework assistance	*Conduct before- and after- school tutoring sessions	All Schools Extended contract personnel	Ongoing	Notice to parents Sign-in sheets
Conduct Safe and Drug Free Schools programs	*Provide students and parents with violence and drug prevention programs	All Schools SDFS Coordinator	Anti-Drug Programs Life Skills (where applicable) No Bullying D.A.R.E.	Flyers Newsletters Sign-in sheets
Conduct Freshman Orientation program/Two Path Planning meeting with parents and students	*Assist with transition into high school for incoming freshmen and their parents *Involve parents in planning students’ high school schedule	Coordinated effort between Jackson County High School and Jackson County Middle School and Dodson Branch	Spring	Notice to parents
Conduct Middle School Orientation program	*Assist with transition into middle school for incoming fourth grade students and their parents	Jackson County Middle School and Gainesboro Elementary	Spring	Notice to parents
Head Start-to-Kindergarten Transition Program	*Help Head Start students transition to kindergarten	Entering Kindergarten students	Spring	Notice to Parents Roster of attendees
Conduct Kindergarten early registration program	*Provide early registration and screenings for incoming kindergarten students with information for parents	Kindergarten teachers at GES and DB	Spring	Administration, principals, teachers, and staff	Ongoing	Sign-in sheets Handouts Agendas
Various programs featuring students throughout the year (Veteran’s Day Program, Grandparent’s Day, Holiday Programs, Kindergarten Wedding, etc.)	*Encourage parents to visit schools and become involved in students’ activities *Emphasize positive aspects of school	All Schools All students Teachers and staff	Ongoing	Programs, notices to parents, newspaper coverage
Maintain Family Resource Center	*Coordinate family support programs to assist families with needed services	District Office Family Resource Center Director	Ongoing	FRC year-end documentation of services provided, number served, and activities conducted
Assist families by providing programs, activities, and training	*Provide training sessions and/or materials related to homework assistance, discipline, etc.	All Schools District Office Personnel	Ongoing	newsletter Samples of materials provided Sign-in sheets for sessions
Encourage participation by parents from special populations (i.e. SPED, ELL, migrant, etc.)	*Distribute information in a format understandable by families	All Schools	Ongoing	Sign-in Sheets Invitations Notices
Provide Public School Choice (if required)	*Public school choice offers children who are enrolled in a school that does not meet targets for improving achievement the option to enroll in another school that is meeting the targets.	High Priority Schools	In a timely manner	High Priority list
Distribute and analyze family surveys	*Determine parent satisfaction with district and school	Parents	Spring	Survey forms
Organize and maintain Parent Advisory Committee	*Include parents in district and school decisions, developing parent leaders	District All Schools	Timely	Committee members list Sign-in sheets
School-Parent-Student Compact	*To show shared responsibility for student progress	All Title I schools	Signed annually	Sample compact
Determine barriers to family involvement	*Survey families to determine barriers that prevent participation	Representative sampling from each school	Annually	Survey forms
Provide allocation for family involvement activities	*Designate a portion of Title I funding for parent involvement activities	Title I Director	Fall	Budget documents
Offer flexible meeting times to ensure parents have opportunities to attend meetings	*Hold meetings in AM and PM whenever possible	Administration, principals, teachers, and staff	Ongoing	Sign-in sheets Handouts Agendas

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