Waller Elementary School 

20-21 Parent and Family Engagement Plan

 The Parent and Family Engagement Plan (PFEP) must be jointly developed with parents and must be distributed to parents in an understandable and uniform format, and in the language parents can understand. It must be made available for the community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of the parents and the school. [Section 1116(b)]. 

 Instructions: Describe the means by which the school will carry out the ESSA requirements below. 

1. POLICY INVOLVEMENT

 A. By what means will the school conduct a Title I Annual Meeting (convened at a convenient time, to which all parents are invited and encouraged to attend) to inform parents of their school’s participation in Title I, the requirements of Title I, and the right of parents to be involved [Section 1116(c)(1)]? 

"Due to COVID, a virtual Title I Annual Meeting was be held on three different days – one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. Notification, in English and Spanish, will be distributed via Peachjar. The PowerPoint will be distributed for parents who were not able to attend the virtual meetings through the district’s social media accounts

 B. By what means will the school involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the PFEP [Section 1116(c)(3)]? 

All parents are given the opportunity to complete a paper or on-line Title I Spring Parent Survey. The results of the survey are tallied and shared with the faculty for their thoughts on ways to improve our PFEP for the following school year. An evaluation of the current PFEP is conducted during a SAC meeting. Based on the evaluation and survey results, revisions to the plan are made for the next school year. The plan will be reviewed during SAC meetings throughout the year to make revisions according to the changing needs of parents and the school. (Meetings will be held virtually and shared on DoJo)

 C. By what means will the school involve parents in the joint development of the School Improvement Plan [Section 1116(c)(3)]? 

During our SAC meeting, results from a comprehensive needs assessment are discussed. Strategies from the current year’s SIP are reviewed. Revisions are made based on needs, barriers, and parent input. (Meetings will be held virtually and shared via DoJo)

 D. By what means will the school provide parents opportunities, if requested, for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in making decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible [Section 1116(c)(4)(C)]? 

The opportunities for parents will include but are not limited to evaluation forms at parenting events and Title I nights, IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, SAC meetings, CST meetings, Facebook,DoJo and Parent Compact meetings. Suggestions made by parents, if practical and reasonable, will be implemented in a timely manner. (All meetings will be held virtually this year) In addition, parents/students will complete the Leader in Me survey twice a year. This information will assist school leaders and staff on fulfilling the needs of our school community.

 E. If the School Improvement Plan is not satisfactory to the parents, by what means will the school provide parents an opportunity to submit comments with the plan when it is submitted to the district [Section 1116(c)(5)]? 

Parents who are not satisfied with the school improvement plan will complete a form to be submitted with the plan to the district.

2. BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INVOLVEMENT

 In Table A, list the activities that will address topics F - J.                                                                      F. Assist parents in understanding:

• State academic standards;
• State and local academic assessments;
• requirements of Title I;
•  monitoring a child’s progress; and
•  work with educators to improve the achievement of their children [Section 1116(e)(1)] 

G. Description and explanation of:

• Curriculum in use at the school [Section 1116(4)(B)]

H. Description and explanation of:

•  Academic assessments used to measure student progress [Section 1116(4)(B)]? 

I. Description and explanation of:

•  Achievement levels of the State academic standards that students are expected to obtain [Section 1116(4)(B)] 

J. Provide materials and training to:

•  help parents work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology (including the harms of copyright piracy), to foster parental involvement [Section 1116(e)(2)]  (LEA note: this includes Parent Portal training)

Table A - 

Parent Training Opportunities

 List all activities for requirements F through J and transition activities that involve parents. 

*To be updated throughout the year.                                                                                                                Table B - Other Events/Activities

 Other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children [Section 1116(e)(4)]. 

*To be updated throughout the year

 K. By what means will the school educate the faculty, staff, and administrators, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school [Section 1116(e)(3)]?  Based on parent surveys, parent engagement, and community resources, the school will utilize training and relationship building opportunities to train, educate, and engage faculty and staff to strengthen the relationships with parents through communication, personal experience, and active partnership. In addition, the school will share information and solicit suggestions from SAC. Canvas training will be done. The school volunteer liaison will communicate and provide connections for community involvement.

 L. To the extent feasible, by what means will the school coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with other Federal, State, and local programs, including public preschool programs that encourage and support parents in participating in the education of their children [Section 1116(e)(4)]? 

Our VPK parents are invited to attend all parenting activities and curriculum nights, Parent Leadership Classes, during our Open House, and Title I Annual Meeting we will have community partners available to speak with parents including but not limited to Crime Stoppers, local law enforcement and fire department and Pan Care personnel. (All meetings will be held virtually)

 M. By what means will the school provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request [Section 1116(e)(13)]? (Based on the Title I Spring Parent Survey results, what activities did the parents request that are included in this plan?) 

Based on the results of our spring parent survey, parents are requesting help understanding Eureka math. During our Parent Leadership classes and during our Curriculum nights, we are adding help for parents to become familiar with the Eureka Website which provides parents and students online tutorials. Canvas training will be provided. All meetings will be held virtually.

 N. Elementary Only - How will the school ensure that teachers conduct a parent-teacher conference for individual students at least annually, during which the compact is discussed [Section 1116 (d)(2)(A)]? 

Parents will be encouraged at the Virtual Open House to sign-up for a parent-teacher conference that will be done virtually or by phone to complete a compact. For parents who don’t sign-up, teachers will make contact requesting a virtual or phone conference.

 O. Optional – How will the school develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses in parent involvement activities [Section 1116(e)(13)]? 

During Virtual Open House we will have different community resources available to let parents know how their organizations can help. All resources will be provided virtually. School volunteer Liaison will make

connections and build community relationships.

 P. Optional – By what means will the school involve parents in the development of training for teachers, principals, and other educators to improve the effectiveness of the training [Section 1116(e)(6)]? 

Staff training will be discussed with parents at Virtual SAC meetings and an evaluation will be given for parents to voice their opinions, comments and questions about the training.

 Q. Optional – By what means will the school provide literacy training for parents if the LEA has exhausted all other sources of funding [Section 1116(e)(7)]? 

We will share with parents literacy training opportunities that are available in the community as well as try to establish a literacy training for parents at the school. The school media specialist has developed a home-school reading program that is focused on goal driven data for parents and students.

 R. Optional – By what means will the school pay reasonable and necessary expenses, including transportation and child care costs, to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions [Section 1116(e)(8)]? 

Provided we are able to do in person events later on in the year. When events are planned at the school, food will be provided and day care will be available. (As of right now all events will be held virtually)

Utilize the school van, along with our social worker to assist parents in participation of school related meetings.

 S. Optional – By what means will the school train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents [Section 1116(e)(9)]? 

Parent volunteers will be asked to help recruit other volunteers. We will also ask volunteers to be part of a directory that will allow them to contact other volunteers for carpooling, etc.

 T. Optional – By what means will the school conduct in-home conferences for parents who are unable to attend at school [Section 1116(e)(10)]? 

Our social worker, parent liaison and guidance counselor will make home visits.

 U. Optional – By what means will the school adopt and implement model approaches to improve parent involvement [Section 1116(e)(11)]? 

We will continue to use Smore and Newsletters to contact parents and provide information about school activities. The Parent Liaison will also make phone calls as necessary.

3. ACCESSIBILITY

 V. By what means will the school provide opportunities for informed participation of parents and family members (including parents and family members with limited English proficiency, with disabilities, and parents of migratory children). [Section 1116(f)]? (List the barriers identified by parents in the Title I Spring Survey and the methods by which the school will assist to overcome the barriers.) 

Based on the Spring Parent Survey results, work schedules were listed as the top barrier to participation. We plan to offer virtual morning and evening events to give every parent an opportunity to participate. Our social worker provides translation services to all ELL families at Waller to assist with completing surveys, etc..

 W. By what means will the school ensure that information related to school and parent programs, school reports, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents in a format and in a language the parents can understand [Section 1116(e)(5) and (f)]? 

All school communications are translated for our ELL families. Google Translate and staff members assist with this. Our new ADA approved website will translate all uploaded documents. Bilingual staff members assist with virtual conferences and phone calls.

 X. By what means will the school offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening to accommodate parents’ schedules [Section 1116(c)(2)]? 

Based on the spring parent surveys responses, the majority of parents indicated that right after school and evenings (5pm-8pm) are the most convenient times for virtual meetings. This will be taken into consideration when scheduling virtual events.

 Y. By what means will the school provide parents with timely information about meetings, activities, and events [Section 1116(c)(4)(A)]. 

A minimum of 2 weeks notice will be our school policy. This will give parents an opportunity to save the date. Various methods of communication, Facebook, IRIS alerts, Newsletters, Smore, 2 flyers for each event, will be used to notify and remind parents about events to ensure the greatest participation.

 Title I Expenditures Parent and Family Engagement (Adjust to reflect the planned expenditures) 

Volunteer Liaison