School-Family Compact & Policy

 

The school distributes to parents and family members of Title I, Part A students, a school-parent compact (Compact). This Compact, which has been jointly developed with parents, outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. This Compact describes specific ways the school and families will partner to help children achieve the state’s high academic standards. This Compact addresses the following legally required items, as well as other items suggested by parents and family members of Title I, Part A students:

1.  The school's responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction (ESSA Section 1116[d][1]).

2. The ways parents and family members will be responsible for supporting their children's learning (ESSA Section 1116[d][1]).

3. The importance of ongoing communication between parents and family members, and teachers through, at a minimum, annual parent-teacher conferences; frequent reports on student progress; access to staff; opportunities for parents and family members to volunteer and participate in their child's class; and opportunities to observe classroom activities (ESSA Section 1116[d][2]).

4. Parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the Compact shall be discussed as it relates to the individual child's achievement (ESSA Section 1116 [d][2][A]).

5. Frequent reports to parents and family members on their children's progress (ESSA Section 1116[d][2][B]).

6. Reasonable access to staff, opportunities for parents and family members to volunteer and participate in their child's class, and observation of classroom activities (ESSA Section 1116[d][2][C]).

How does the school address this?

Cram holds an annual meeting at the beginning of the school year, to which all parents of participating students are invited and encouraged to attend. This meeting informs parents and family members of our school's participation inTitle I program, and to explain the requirements and rights of parents to be involved. Information regarding Title I is given at our annual Back to School Night in August.

Cram provides flexible meeting times (morning, afternoon, evening, or virtually) and may provide (with Title 1 funds) transportation, childcare, or home visits, as such services relate to parents' involvement. This will give all stakeholders an opportunity to participate in school activities, meetings and conferences to better meet the needs of their students. It will also provide families with access to the school and the information that will better prepare them and their students. Our School involved parents in an organized, ongoing, and timely way in the planning, review, and improvement of the school's Title 1 program, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school's parent and family engagement policy and the development of the schoolwide program plan. An annual survey and quarterly surveys are conducted by parents and students to assess the needs. Cram Elementary Parental Involvement Policy and the School-Parent Compact are reviewed annually by the SSC, ELAC, the School Leadership Team, and the Cram Staff. The progress of the Title 1 program is reviewed each time SSC meets. Cram works diligently to provide parents of Title 1 students with: timely information about the Title 1 program through Aeries communications, Instagram, Back to School Night, SSC, ELAC, Coffee with the Principal and Counselors, and PTA. This information includes a description and explanation of the curriculum and use of the school, assessments used to measure student progress, and the achievement of the challenging state academic standards. At parent-teacher conferences, SSC, PTA, Coffee Conversations, and ELAC meetings, assessment information on students' academic progress on grade level standards are shared with parents and families. Students' progress in relation to state and local standards will be explained to parents, including the curriculum being used, grade-level expectations from proficiency, data reporting for state and local assessments, and available interventions in Math and ELA for students needing support. If requested by parents, the school provides opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and will respond to any such suggestions as soon as practically possible through formal parent-teacher conferences, informal requests by parents for meetings, back to school night, SSC, ELAC, and PTA.

The school engages Title I, Part A parents and family members to improve the achievement of their children in meaningful interactions with the school. This Compact supports a partnership among staff, parents and family members, and the community to improve student academic achievement. To help reach these goals, the school has established the following practices:

The school provides Title I, Part A parents and family members with assistance in understanding the state’s academic content standards, assessments, and how to monitor and improve the achievement of their children (ESSA Section 1116[e][1]) in which ways?

Cram provides this at parent-teacher conferences, informal parent requests, SSC, ELAC, PTA, Coffee Conversations, and through teachers' ongoing parent communication, information on standards mastery, assessment data, intervention, and how to support parents in modeling their child's education. Cram continues to provide parents of Title 1 students with: timely information about the Title 1 program through Aeries communication, Instagram, Back to School Night, SSC, ELAC, and PTA. The information includes a description and explanation of the curriculum and use of the school, the assessments used to measure students progress, and the achievement of the challenging state academic standards. At these parent events assessment information on student academic progress on grade level standards are shared with parents and families. Student progress in relation to state and local standards will be explained to parents, including the curriculum being used, grade-level expectations from proficiency, data reporting for state and local assessments, and available interventions in Math and ELA for students needing support academically and social and emotional support. When requests are made, Cram listens and responds to its community and provides opportunities for discussions and explains how support takes place in our school and the many support groups and systems we have on campus.

The school provides Title I, Part A parents and family members with materials and training to help them improve the achievement of their children (ESSA Section 1116[e][2]) in which ways?

Cram provides parents and family members with training and materials to help them improve the achievement of their children.

With the assistance of Title I, Part A parents and family members, the school educates staff members in the value of parent and family member contributions, and how to work with parents and family members as equal partners (ESSA Section 1116[e][3]) in which ways?

At school meetings, Professional Learning Community, data meetings, grade level meetings, leadership meetings, and PBIS meetings, strategies to enhance parent involvement are discussed and integrated into our education program and/or SPSA.

The school coordinates and integrates the Title I, Part A parental involvement program with other programs, and conducts other activities, such as resource centers, to encourage and support parents and family members in more fully participating in the education of their children (ESSA Section 1116[e][4]) in which ways?

Parent involvement strategies within the SPSA are integrated based upon parent input. The school offers a flexible number of meetings, such as, meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide (with Title 1 funds) transportation, childcare, or home visits, as such services relate to parent involvement [20 ESSA 6318 Section 116(c)(2)]. A flexible number of meetings will be held at various times based on parent need and will include childcare.

The school distributes information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities to Title I, Part A parents and family members in a format and language that the parents and family members can understand (ESSA Section 1116[e][5]) in which ways?

Cram provides parents with timely information about school and parent programs through Aeries communication, Instagram, Back to School night, SSC, ELAC, and PTA. This information is distributed in languages that parents and family members can understand. The school also utilized Language Line for translation services when appropriate.

The school provides support for parent and family member involvement activities requested by Title I, Part A parents and family members (ESSA Section 1116[e][14]) in which ways?

Parent involvement strategies within the SPSA are integrated based upon parent input. The school offers a flexible number of meetings, such as, meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide (with Title 1 funds) transportation, childcare, or home visits, as such services relate to parent involvement [20 ESSA 6318 Section 116(c)(2)]. A flexible number of meetings will be held at various times based on parent need and will include childcare.

The school provides opportunities for the participation of all Title I, Part A parents and family members, including those with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and migratory students; and that the information and school reports are provided in a format and language that parents and family members can understand (ESSA Section 1116[f]) in which ways.

Cram provides parents of Title 1 students with: timely information about the Title 1 program through Aeries communication, Instagram, Back to School night, SSC, ELAC, and PTA. This information includes a description and explanation of the curriculum and use of the school, the assessments used to measure student progress, and the achievement of the challenging state academic standards. At parent-teacher conferences, SSC, PTA, and ELAC meetings assessment information on student academic progress on grade level standards are shared with parents and families. Student progress in relation to state and local standards will be explained to parents, including the curriculum being used, grade-level expectations from proficiency, data reporting for state and local assessments, and available interventions in Math and ELA for students needing support. If requested by parents, the school provides opportunities and regular meetings for parents to participate as appropriate decisions relating to their students' education and social and emotional concerns.

 

This Compact was adopted by the Cram Elementary School and will be reviewed yearly.