Superintendent Parent Forum

“Strategies for increasing parent engagement in your schools”

October 24, 2013

Welcome to the Superintendent Parent

Forum!

Amendment 66—Colorado Commits to

Kids Campaign

Amendment 66 – Colorado Commits to Kids Campaign Colorado state representatives passed a bill that shifts the way we fund public education in the state, and increases funding by asking voters to raise $950 million in new revenue.

If passed in November, we would prioritize the following six areas:

Reduce class sizes, offer tutoring interventions to students

Individualized Instruction

Increase access to the arts

Enrichment Programs

Length time to enable enrichment and tutoring; reducing summer

learning loss

Expanded Academic Time School Maintenance

Increase funding to maintain the aging facilities that our students

learn in

21st Century Learning

Prepare students for 21st century careers by investing in classroom

technology

Expand preschool programming to all students

Preschool Programs

The District’s Commitment to Family

Engagement Superintendent Tom Boasberg

District Expectations for Parent Involvement

• Parents as active participants in school-based governance councils

• Parents as active participants on district and community initiatives

• Parents as academic partners

Shared Responsibility for Student Achievement:

Parents as Partners Superintendent Tom Boasberg

What the research says…

Thirty years of research confirms that when parents are effectively engaged in their children’s education, students:

earn higher grades receive higher test scores attend school more regularly demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors graduate from high school at higher rates and are more likely

to enroll in higher education

U.S. Department of Education (1998), Family Involvement in Children’s Education

The research is clear…

Studies show that, regardless of the economic, ethnic, or cultural background of the family, parent involvement in a child’s education is a major factor in determining the child’s success in school.

National PTA, 2002

What types of family engagement activities are most

likely to increase student achievement?

WEBINAR SERIESAchieving Excellence and Innovation in

Family, School, and Community Engagement

Applying Research to PracticeLower

impact on student

achievement

Higher impact on

student achievement

Parent coordinators

Parent training events

Goal-setting talks

Weekly data-sharing folders

PotlucksParent social

services

Regular, personalized communication

Positive phone calls home

Homevisits

Student performances

Generic school newsletters

Interactive homework, trips, and tools for home learning

Classroom observations or mini-lessons

Fundraisers

Parent volunteering

Parent resource rooms

Back toschool night

Parent-teacher conferences

FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY

PARENT TEACHER HOME VISITIt started with 1 School

PARENT TEACHER HOME VISIT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

5

23

35

48

Office of Family and Community Engagement

DPS Family Engagement Resources

Family Engagement Standards:

A framework for increasing family engagement

Patsy RoybalDirector of Research & Training

Family Engagement StandardsWhat are the Family Engagement Standards

and what do they mean?

Family Engagement Standard #1

Standard 1. Creating a Culture that Embraces Family and Community Engagement: School staff creates an environment that values family and community engagement in student learning and is respectful, welcoming, and responsive.

Indicators Exemplary Quality of Implementation

Families, schools and communities are active academic

partners

The principal and school leaders set the expectations that families and community share responsibility for student achievement by developing a school culture with corresponding policies and procedures for an on-going, open, two-way communication between parents, the community and the school.

School provides regular progress updates, including successes and challenges, and communicates overall and grade-specific academic expectations and learning to families and community members in the language of the students and their families.

The school identifies and integrates resources and services from the community to strengthen school-based services and offerings for student learning and development.

The school taps into families' talents, cultural heritage, language, skills and knowledge to strengthen curriculum, student and family activities, and learning.

Fosters a respectful, welcoming, and

responsive environment

• School has a communication plan to effectively communicate with parents and the community on a frequent and regular basis throughout the school year, formally and informally, in the languages spoken by the parents and the community.

Office staff are trained in culturally responsive customer service and are welcoming and respectful. When possible, office staff should reflect the languages and cultures of the community.o School staff are informed and knowledgeable about all activities related to the school and provide accurate and

timely information to parents and demonstrate a commitment to find information that may not be readily available.o The school has dedicated space, venue, and opportunities for families and the community to network and share

news, updates, resources, and their needs. The school has an administrator, teachers and additional staff members trained and designated to listen to parents to

address their concerns, suggestions and/or positive feedback for school improvement.

Family Engagement Standards #2Standard 2. Volunteering, Decision-Making, and Collaborating: The school shares responsibility, offers opportunities, and removes obstacles for families to be partners in the school and student learning.

Indicators Exemplary Quality of Implementation

Provides opportunities for collaboration and

decision-making

The school has policies, procedures and processes to actively consult with families from diverse backgrounds and solicit feedback before making important decisions such as changes in curriculum, school policies and new school programs; and communicates decisions to families in a timely and effective manner.

Parent, school, and DPS community committees, such as CSC, ELA PAC, and the Superintendent Parent Forum are fully functioning and abide by policies and procedures.

Provides opportunities for volunteering and school engagement

The school has an effective volunteer and engagement program developed collaboratively with parents which includes:

o Assigning a point person(s) to organize and oversee efforts;

o Training for teachers and staff on how to effectively utilize parent and community volunteers;

o Orientation, training, supervision, support, evaluation, feedback, and recognition of the volunteers;

o A variety of opportunities for family and community members to participate throughout the year;

o Volunteer and school engagement opportunities that are publicly communicated and open to all.

Ensures accessible programming and

removes obstacles to participation

School staff takes responsibility to identify and remove barriers to family engagement related to race, ethnicity, language, culture, socio-economic status, family structure, religion, and families with special needs.

Policies and procedures are in place to ensure that all families and students have access to school-sponsored programs and events, including academic services. Policies and procedures include, but are not limited to: o Locations of the activities are easily accessible and activities are offered during times and dates when

families are most likely to attend. o Advanced notice is provided with details of the activities so that families can make accommodations, if

needed.o There is no cost or very little cost to participate. o Services, such as childcare and interpretation, are always made available to families to maximize

participation and outreach.o When possible, provide food and beverages to create a more welcoming environment.

Family Engagement Standards #3Standard 3. Supporting Student Learning and Success: The school and families work together to support student learning and success. The school keeps parents informed about their child’s academic progress and how the school is performing; and actively engages parents as academic partners.

Indicators Exemplary Quality of Implementation

Develops the family’s ability to strengthen

student learning

The school has structures in place to offer all parents ongoing trainings and resources to build their capacity and actively engage them in their children's education.

All teachers and school staff communicate with parents about specific ways to support their students' academic achievement at home.

The school provides multiple opportunities to make individual and positive connections with families to build relationships.

Throughout the year, the school creates opportunities for families and students to participate in learning and engaging activities together.

Understands and responds to students'

background and needs

Teachers, school staff and parents discuss students’ individual learning styles, strengths, academic and personal needs. Together they develop learning goals to support academic success at school and at home.

Teachers, school staff and parents discuss students’ and their family’s cultural background, language and experiences that may impact student learning and align support to provide opportunities for success.

Ensures that teachers and school staff

communicate with parents about student

progress and link student work to

academic standards and learning

All teachers and school staff establish and communicate grade-specific learning, expectations, and responsibilities for all -

parents, teachers and students.

Teachers and school staff provide monthly classroom and student updates, including successes and challenges.

Breakout Session

Elementary/ Middle School

High School School

Spanish-Speaking

(10:05-11:15 AM)

Breakout Session

Spanish-Speaking

K-8 School High School

(7:05-8:15 PM)

Save the Date!

Tuesday, December 10th

Park Hill Golf Club