1.063 Family and School Partnerships.
(1)
The
(2)
The school
district is committed to meet its responsibility to provide high quality
curriculum and instruction in a safe, caring and supportive learning
environment that enables students, with the support of families and the
community, to meet the highest academic achievement standards.
(3)
The
(a)
Creates a home
environment that instills the value of education.
(b)
Expresses high
expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers.
(c)
Becomes involved
in their children’s learning activities and school.
(4)
The district and
schools shall identify and implement effective parent and guardian involvement
and communication practices that improve student learning and meet the needs of
its families. The practices shall
include:
(a)
Parenting. The district and
schools shall promote parenting and child-rearing skills, understanding child
and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support students’
learning. Staff members shall strive to
understand families and appreciate the diversity of cultures and approaches to
child rearing. Parent training shall be
offered through a variety of media and at times when working parents and
guardians may attend. A parent resource
center shall be established at each school site with information and materials
that may help parents and guardians in their role as their child’s primary
teacher.
(b)
Communicating. The district
and schools shall communicate with families about school programs and student
progress through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communications. These shall be clear, understandable,
consistent, two-way and meaningful and shall promote mutual respect and
appreciation. The communication with
parents and guardians shall include a description of the curriculum in use in
the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress
and the proficiency levels of students as they progress, including performance
on grade level standards. A variety of
communication methods and opportunities shall be used and special efforts
made to contact traditionally hard to reach families. Personal contact at open houses or other
school events and through parent-teacher conferences, telephone or home visits,
shall be used to seek parental assistance with student academic or social difficulties
or to recognize achievements.
(c)
Volunteering. The district
and schools shall support efforts to improve recruitment, training, activities
and schedules to involve families as classroom volunteers, and participants at
school sponsored or other school related events. Volunteer training shall be offered through a
variety of media and at times when working parents and guardians may attend.
(d)
Learning at
Home.
The district and schools shall create conditions that support the
involvement of families with their children in learning activities at home,
including homework.
(e)
Decision
Making. The district and schools shall include
families as participants and full partners in school improvement planning,
school decisions, governance, and advocacy through parent groups, school and
district advisory councils, committees and other parent/guardian
organizations. Information shall be
given and opportunities shall be provided for parents and guardians to make
suggestions and participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the
academic progress of their children.
(f)
Collaborating
with the Community. The district and schools shall collaborate
with businesses and other community groups to coordinate resources to
strengthen schools, families and student learning. Partnerships with governmental agencies and
other groups to make school programs and services available to families after
regular school hours shall be developed.
(5)
Parents and
guardians shall be involved in the development, implementation and evaluation
of family involvement programs and the effectiveness of this policy.
(6) The district and school shall provide
professional development opportunities for staff members to enhance their
understanding of effective parent and community involvement strategies.
Statutory authority: 1001.42, 1001.51 and 1001.54, F.S.
Law implemented: 1002.23 and 1012.98, F.S.
Policy Adopted:
See Administrative Procedure A-17-Title 1 Parent
Involvement