• Montclair Elementary

     

    Parent and Family Engagement Plan 2023-2024

    Involvement of Parents

    Describes how the school will involve parents and families in an organized, ongoing, and manner, in the planning, reviewing, and improvement of Title I programs including involvement in the decision-making of how funds for Title I will be used. (ESEA SEctions 1116)

    Focus Area

    Evidence

    X

    Tentative dates/timelines

    Parent and family engagement in the planning, reviewing, and improvement of Title I programs (including the decision-making process of how funds are used).

    Title I Annual Parent Meeting

    X

    August/September/October

    School Advisory Council Meeting (SAC)

    X

    We will conduct 4 quarterly meetings, with the first meeting being held in September 2023.

     

    Coordination and Integration with Other Federal Programs

    Describe how the school will coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement programs and activities that teach parents how to help their children at home {ESEA Section 1116}.  

    Program

    Coordination

    X

    Head Start

    LEA cofunds Head Start for a maximum of 206 children.  These services are provided in schools with our highest poverty.  Family events provide guidance and modeling of emergent literacy development activities. 

    X

    Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten

    Title I Part A co-funds VPK services, by extending full day services in schools with our highest poverty.  Family events provide guidance and modeling of emergent literacy development activities.

     

    Title I, Part C

    Migrant families participate in a LEA Advisory Council for English Language Learners.  Translators are available for teacher conferences as well as to assist with translation of documents to be provided for families.  Family events provide guidance and modeling of emergent literacy development activities.

    X

    Title I, Part D

    Resources are provided for parents whose children are enrolled in Neglected & Delinquent programs.

    X

    ESOL-Title III

    Provides supplemental resources for English Language Learners (ELL) such as  services and paraprofessionals. 

    X

    Title IV, Part A

    Provides students with a well-rounded education, supports safe and healthy students, and supports the effective use of technology. Schools benefit through Capturing Kids’ Hearts training and the services of the secondary schools guidance TSA.

     

    Carl Perkins Career and Technical  Education Act

    Provides funds to increase the quality of career and technical education.

     

    Title IX, Part A

    Provides hygiene items, school supplies, enrollment assistance, social work, and advocacy.  Assistance for housing, food, clothing, and other emergency support are available for families referred under Title IX.  

    X

    IDEA 

    Provides students with disabilities a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs including an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), placement in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), appropriate evaluation, parent and teacher participation, and procedural safeguards.

    X

     

    Annual Parent Meeting

    Describe the specific steps the school will take to conduct an annual meeting designed to inform parents and families of participating children about the school’s Title I program, the nature of the Title I program (schoolwide or targeted assistance), Adequate Yearly Progress, school choice, and the rights of parents are covered at the annual meeting.   

    Phase 1: Hold at least one live, in-person* meeting

    • Held by mid October (by Friday of the second full week of the month)
    • Conducted before or after a school event or as a standalone event
    • Publicized in a timely manner utilizing a coordinated combination of at least two of the following (or similar) invitation formats to best reach all families in the weeks preceding the event(s):
    • School Messenger automated phone service
    • School Calendar
    • Newsletter/Flier
    • email/FOCUS messenger
    • Marquee/a-frame signs
    • Website/Social Media
    • Documented evidence families are informed of the school’s participation as a Title I school, the requirements of the Title I, Part A program, and the right of parents to be involved by maintaining evidence of
    • Invitations (copies, screenshots, scripts, messenger reports, etc)
    • Agenda
    • Sign-in sheets (or other attendance records from virtual participants)
    • Minutes/notes/presentation slides customized for the school
    • Summary of survey results

    *in-person meetings may be supplemented with simultaneous virtual broadcasts or wholly virtual if in-person events are restricted.

    Phase 2: Post “Missed Meeting” informational slide to the school’s website after the live meeting.

    • Presented using district-created Slides template
    • Posted for a minimum of two weeks following the live annual meeting; or the last two weeks of October at the latest
    • Posted in a prominent location of school’s website
    • Customized with school’s updated information and documents

     

    Flexible Parent Meetings

    Describe how the school will offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening.  

    How will the school provide, with Title I funds, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services related to parental engagement {ESEA Section 1116}. 

     

    Flexible Meetings

    Description of Meetings/Activity

    X

    Morning meetings

    Meetings will be offered before school

    x

    Afternoon meetings

    Meetings will be offered during/after school

    x

    Evening meetings

    Meetings will be offered before, during, and after school

    x

    Transportation

    Title I funds budgeted for transportation

     

    Child care

    Title I funds budgeted for child care

     

    Home Visits

    Title I funds budgeted for home visits

     

    Other

       












    Building Capacity of Parents

    Describe how the school will implement activities that will build the capacity for meaningful parent/family involvement, and building relationships with the community to improve student academic achievement.  Describe the actions the school will take to provide materials and training to help parents assist parents/families to work with their child. Include information on how the school will provide other reasonable support for parent/family engagement activities under {ESEA Section 1116}.

     

    PI Budget: $3,792.00

     

    Topic - Title of Activity

    Person Responsible 

    Materials/Training

    Provided to Parents/Families

    Tentative Date/Time

    (is it flexible?)

    Documentation

    Evidence 

    (announcement, agenda, sign in sheet, evaluation, etc.)

    1

    K-5th Grade Orientation

    Teachers and Administration

    Teachers developed a powerpoint with academic and behavior expectations as well as school tours for parents. 

    8/2023

    Announcement, agenda, powerpoint, sign in, and climate survey

    2

    Open House Conferences

    (elementary)

    Shenika Johnson

    FOCUS information, Individual student data shared, School Family Compact discussed

    September 12, 2023

    Sign-in sheet, agenda  

    3

    Parenting Tips and Information

    Guidance

    Various information given out to parents on topics such as ADHD, organization, bullying etc.

    Ongoing

    Climate survey

    4

    Progress Monitoring Meetings

    Teachers and RtI Team

    Students strengths and weaknesses discussed.  Interventions and strategies for home and school discussed.

    Ongoing

    Climate survey

    5

    Assessment Training

    Teachers and Guidance

    Information is given to parents explaining assessments, their child’s performance on each assessment and what that means.

    Ongoing

    Climate survey

    6

     

    Math Family Night

    Parent Engagement Liaison/ Math Reps.

    Fluency activities 

    10/26/23

    Flyer, Sign-in sheet, Agenda, and Event Evaluation

    7

     

    Literacy Family Night

    Parent Engagement Liaison/ Literacy Reps./Grade-Level Teachers

    Book with grade-level reading activities, at-home reading tips

    12/14/23

    Flyer, Sign-in sheet, Agenda, and Event Evaluation   

    8

     

    Third - Grade Parent Night

    3rd- Grade Teachers

    Comprehension strategies, student data, and at-home activities  

    Nov. 2023

    Flyer, Sign-in sheet, Agenda, and Event Evaluation

    9

     

    Kindergarten Parent Night

    Kindergarten Teachers

    Phonemic awareness, reading/writing skills, and literacy handouts

    Jan. 2024

    Flyer, Sign-in sheet, Agenda, and Event Evaluation

     

    Other Activities

    Describe the other activities, such as parent resource centers, the school will conduct to encourage and support parents and families in more meaningful engagement in the education of their children {ESEA Section 1116}. 

    We will offer parent-teacher conferences for all grade levels in the fall and spring. 














    Staff Development 

    Describe the professional development activities the school will provide to educate the teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, principals, other school leaders and other staff leaders and other staff with the assistance of parents/families and the school.  How to value and utilize the contributions of parents/families.  How to reach out to, communicate with and work with parents/families as equal partners. How to implement and coordinate parent/family programs, and build ties between parents/families and the school. {ESEA Section 1116}. 

    Focus Areas for Staff Development

    A

    Value and utility of contributions of parents and families.

    B

    How to reach out to, communicate with and work with parents/families as equal partners.

    C

    Implementing and coordinating parent/family programs.

    D

    Building ties between parents/families and the school.

     

     

     

    #      

    Topic - Title of Activity

    Person Responsible 

    Anticipated Parent Engagement Focus Area 

    (list the focus area/s) 

    Tentative Date

    Documentation

    Evidence 

    (agenda, sign in sheet, etc.)

    1

    School-based contact PD

    District Title I staff

    A, B, C, D

    July/August

    Agenda, sign in sheet, and evaluation

    2

    Empower book study

    Admin

    A, D

    Aug.-Oct.

    Sign in sheet

    3

    Elementary Conference Video

    Parent Liaison

    A,B,D

    Fall

    Sign in Sheet/ Evaluation Sheet

    4

    Faculty PD-

    Home-School Connection Topics Each Month

    Administration

    A,B

    Ongoing

    Teacher  feedback, climate survey, sign in, and agenda

    5

    Communicating with Working Parents

    Guidance

    A,B

    Ongoing

    Sign in, teacher feedback and climate survey

    6

    Building Ties Between Home and School

    Link to Title 1 Site

    D

    Ongoing

    Sign in,Climate survey

    7

     

    Cultural Sensitivity

    Guidance

    B, D

    Ongoing

    Sign in, Climate survey

    8

     

    Suite 360 Parent Modules at Family Nights

    PBIS Coach/

    Guidance

    D

    Ongoing

    Sign in, PTA, Suite 360 use

     

    Communication

    Describe how the school will provide parents of participating children the following: 

    • Timely information about the Title I programs;
    • Description and explanation of the curriculum at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the achievement levels students are expected to obtain;
    • 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 
    • If the school-wide program plan is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school will submit the parents’ comments with the plan that will be made available to the local education agency {ESEA Section 1116}. 

    Communication Focus Areas

    Type of Activity

    X

    Evidence of activity

    How does the school communicate timely information about the Title I program?

    Title I Annual Parent Meeting

    X

    Google Slides/Screenshot; Advertisement, Agenda, Minutes, Sign-in Sheet

    SAC

    X

    Advertisement, Agenda, Minutes, Sign-in Sheet

    Electronic Communication

       

    Mail Out to Parents

       

    Family Nights

    X

    Advertisement, agenda, sign-in sheet, and evaluation

    School Website

    X

    Screenshot

    School Messenger

    x

    Copy of call out

    Flyers

    x

    Copy of flyer

    Other

       

    How does the school communicate timely information about curriculum, assessment, and achievement?

    Title I Annual Parent Meeting

    X

    Google Slides/Screenshot; Advertisement, Agenda, Minutes, Sign-in Sheet

    Family Nights

    X

    Flyer, Agenda, Sign-in sheet, Evaluation

    Newsletters

    X

    Copy of newsletter

    Open House (elementary)

    X

    Sign-in sheet, agenda

    SAC

    X

    Advertisement, Agenda, Minutes, Sign-in Sheet

    Website

    X

    Screenshot

    FOCUS

    X

    Screenshot

    RTI Parent Meetings

       

    Conferences 

    X

    Sign-in sheets

    Other

    X

    Class Dojo communication - Screenshot

    How does the school offer opportunities for regular meetings for families to participate in making decisions and give feedback?

    SAC Meetings

    X

    Advertisement, Agenda, Minutes, Sign-in Sheet

    PTA Meetings

       

    Conferences (elementary)

    X

    Conference sign-in sheet, conference agenda with notes

    Other

       

    Accessibility

    Describe how the school will provide full opportunities for participation in parental involvement activities for all parents.  Include how the school plans to share information related to school and parent programs, meetings, school reports, and other activities in an understandable, uniform format and in a language that parents/families can understand.

    Describe the opportunities that families have to fully participate in their child’s education.

    Families can participate in SAC meetings that will take place four times throughout the year.   

    Describe how the school will share information to families in an understandable, uniform format and in different languages as needed.

    All necessary accommodations are made for parents, students with disabilities, and those with limited English.  Interpreters and translated documents are available through the district. 

     

     

    Barriers  

    Describe the barriers that hinder participation by parents during the previous school year in parental involvement activities. Include the steps the school will take during the upcoming school year to overcome the barriers (with particular attention to parents who are disabled, have limited English proficiency, and parents/families of migratory children) {ESEA Section 1116}. 

    Barrier(s): 

    Including the 

    Specific Subgroup

    X

    Plan of Action (Steps to overcome)

    Language

       

    Disabilities

       

    Transportation

       

    Child Care

    X

    Activities for younger children provided at events

    Schedule

    X

    We will offer meetings at various times of the day to accommodate the parent’s schedule

    Homelessness

       

    Communication

    X

    Giving 2 weeks notice for events

    No WiFi Availability

       

    Other

       







    Assurances about the Parent and Family Engagement Plan

    I, Elizabeth Greenburg, do hereby certify that all facts, figures, and representations made in this application are true, correct, and consistent with the statement of assurances for these waivers. Furthermore, all applicable statutes, regulations, and procedures; administrative and programmatic requirements; and procedures for fiscal control and maintenance of records will be implemented to ensure proper accountability for the expenditure of funds on this project. All records necessary to substantiate these requirements will be available for review by appropriate district, state, and federal staff for a minimum of five (5) years. I further certify that all expenditures will be obligated on or after the effective date and prior to the termination date of the project. Disbursements will be reported only as appropriate to this project, and will not be used for matching funds on this or any special project, where prohibited.

    Assurances

    • The school will be governed by the statutory definition of parent and family engagement, and will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with the definition outlined in ESEA Section 8101;
    • Involve the parents of children served in Title I, Part A in decisions about how Title I, Part A funds reserved for parental involvement are spent {Section 1116 (a)(3)(b);
    • Plan was jointly developed/revised with parents and distributed to our families and the local community {Section 1116 (b)(1);
    • Engage parents and families, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under this part, including the planning review, and improvement of the school parent and family engagement policy and the joint development of the school wide program plan under Section 1116 (c)(3);
    • Use the findings of the Parent and Family Engagement Plan review to design strategies for more effective parent and family engagement, and to review, if necessary, the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan {Section 1116 (a)(E);
    • If the plan for Title I, Part A, developed under Section 1112, is not satisfactory to the parents and family of participating children, the school will submit parent and family comments with the plan when the school submits the plan to the local educational agency [Section 1116(b)(4)];
    • Provide to each parent an individual student report about the performance of their child on the state assessment {Section 1112 (e)(1)(B)(i);
    • Provide each parent timely notice when their child has been assigned or has been taught for four (4) or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable State certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned {Section 1112 (e)(1)(B)(ii)}; and
    • Provide each parent timely notice information regarding their right to request information on the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers and paraprofessionals {Section 1112 (e)(1)(A).