TITLE I PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY

Smithfield Public Schools recognizes that the social, emotional, and academic growth of Smithfield students is best supported through the shared responsibility of parents, families, schools, and the community and expects that its Title I schools carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with this definition:

Parent and Family Engagement means the participation of families in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

A) that families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;

B) that families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;

C) that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;

D) the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESSA.

Requirements

In support of these beliefs, the Smithfield School Committee and Smithfield Public Schools agree to meet all statutory requirements from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Specifically:

Put into operation programs, activities and procedures for the involvement of parents and families in all of its Title I participating schools. Those programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation with parents and family members of participating students.

Work with its Title I school(s) to ensure that the required school‐level parent and family engagement policies meet the requirements of ESSA, and each include a home-school compact.

Incorporate this district‐wide parent and family engagement policy into its Local Education Agency (LEA) plan (Title I portion of the Consolidated Resource Plan (CRP) and involve parents in the joint development of this plan.

To the extent practicable, the Smithfield Public Schools will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.

If the LEA plan for Title I, Part A, is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school district will submit any parent comments with the plan when it is submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Education.

For both the development of the engagement plan and the development of the family engagement policy, participation by families can occur in the following ways, including but not limited to:

A) Serving on the district‐wide committee to develop the plan, participating in focus groups, and discussions during parent and family engagement meetings

B) Availability of written copies of the plan and policy by request for community review and feedback

C) Availability of the policy on the district website for community feedback

D) Review of the plan or policy each spring by a committee

Include parents and families in the process of school review and improvement including, but not limited to annually reviewing the school’s School Improvement Plan (SIP).

Provide the following necessary coordination, technical assistance, and other support to assist schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance through:

A) District Strategic Plan

B) School Websites

C) Parent Resources available upon request

D) News Releases

E) Open Houses

F) Parent and Family Engagement Nights

G) Parent and Family Workshops

H) Parent‐Teacher Conferences

Coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies and activities with activities in other programs by involving representatives from community groups (such as Tri-Town, Child Outreach, Early Intervention, RIPIN, Smithfield Human Services and YMCA) in the planning and implementation of activities as appropriate.

Conduct, in cooperation with parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this parent and family engagement policy to improve the quality of its Title I, Part A schools. The evaluation will include identification of the needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers and strategies to support successful school and family interactions. Smithfield Public Schools will use the findings of the evaluation about its parent and family engagement policy and activities to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parent and family engagement, and to revise, if necessary, its parent and family engagement policies.

Provide annual assistance to parents and families, as appropriate, in understanding topics including, but not limited to: Rhode Island State Standards, curriculum, state and district testing, Title I requirements, monitoring their child’s progress, working with educators, and strategies for supporting children at home.

Educate teachers, administrators, and other staff around ways to communicate and work with families as equal partners, as well as the value and utility of familial contributions.

Ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and activities is sent to parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and to the extent practicable, in a language that parents can understand.

Dissemination

This policy will be distributed to parents and family members of all participating Title I, Part A children on or before September 30th of the school year and/or when a child enters Title I for services.

ADOPTED: April 2011

REVISED: May 16, 2016; February 5, 2018