Parent and Family Engagement

Each Title I school shall maintain a written parent and family engagement policy that is jointly developed with, distributed to, and agreed upon by parents of students participating in Title I, Part A programs and services. Parents shall be notified of the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy in an understandable and uniform format, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand. The policy must be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

• Title I School Parent and Family Engagement Policy Requirements

 

ESEA Section 1116(c)(1) requires schools receiving Title I, Part A funds to convene an annual meeting at a convenient time to inform parents of their school’s participation in Title I, Part A services, programs or activities. The school must offer multiple meetings and involvement opportunities such as morning or evening events. Schools must also, if requested by parents, offer opportunities for regularly scheduled opportunities to provide suggestions and to participate in decisions regarding the education of their student. 

• Title I Annual Meeting Checklist 
• Title I Annual Meeting Agenda Template 
• Engaging Stakeholders In Planning Guide

 

A component of the Title I, Part A school level Parent and Family Engagement policy, is for each Title I school to jointly develop with parents, a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved academic achievement. 

• Title I, Part A Parent-School Compact

 

Ensure all essential communications related to school, parent programs, meetings and other activities are sent to parents and families in a format and language parents can understand.

Families:

• Rocky Mountain Family Engagement Collective: Family Resources 
• CDE Family Resources

Staff

• Systemic FSCP Supports
• FSCP Online Learning Center 
• Rocky Mountain Family Engagement Collective: Educator Resources

 

Section 1112 (e)(1)(A)  of the ESEA requires LEAs to notify each parent of a student attending a Title I school that they may request (and the district must provide in a timely manner) the following information regarding the qualifications of their student’s teacher and/or paraprofessionals:

• Whether the student’s teacher has met Colorado’s qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction
• Whether the student’s teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which Colorado’s qualification or licensing criteria have been waived
• Whether the student’s teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher
• Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals and if so, the para’s qualifications

 

Section 1112 (e)(1-4) of the ESEA requires Title I schools to inform each parent of a student attending a Title I school of the following information:

• Processes for parents to request information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals
• Information on their student’s level of achievement and growth on Colorado’s academic assessments
• Timely notice that their student has been assigned, or has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher that does not meet Colorado’s licensure or certification requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.
• Processes for parents to request information regarding any State or local educational agency policy regarding student participation in any assessments and policy, procedure, or parental right to opt the child out of such assessment
• Inform parents of an English learner identified for participation in a language instruction educational program
• All the preceding information shall be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand

ESEA Title II

• Section 2102(b)(3)(A) of the ESEA states that in developing the application LEAs will “meaningfully consult with teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals (including organizations representing such individuals), specialized instructional support personnel, charter school leaders (in a local educational agency that has charter schools), parents, community partners, and other organizations or partners with relevant and demonstrated expertise in programs and activities designed to meet the purpose of this title”.

 

ESEA Title III and Title III - Immigrant Set-Aside

• Section 3116(b)(4)(C) of the ESEA states that in creating Title III funding plans the “the eligible entity consulted with teachers, researchers, school administrators, parents and family members, community members, public or private entities, and institutions of higher education, in developing and implementing such plan”.
• Section 3102(5) states that the purpose of Title III is “to promote parental, family, and community participation in language instruction educational programs for the parents, families, and communities of English learners”. 
• Section 3113 (b)(3)(G) states that each plan submitted shall provide an assurance that “the plan has been developed in consultation with local educational agencies, teachers, administrators of programs implemented under this subpart, parents of English learners, and other relevant stakeholders”.
• Title III activities can include funding for supplemental language instruction that includes parent and family engagement activities. 

 

ESEA Title IV

• Section 4106(c)(1) of the ESEA states that “A local educational agency, or consortium of such agencies, shall develop its application through consultation with parents, teachers, principals…. and others with relevant and demonstrated expertise in programs and activities designed to meet the purpose of this subpart.” As CDE utilizes a consolidated application, collaboration with parents regarding uses of Title IV funds may be included in larger conversations about ESEA fund plans as a whole.  

 

ESEA Parent and Family Engagement in the Consolidated Application

In the ESEA Consolidated Application, CDE requires a number of responses from LEAs regarding how parents and families are informed and consulted regarding uses of funds. Examples of these include the following: 

• Identify the stakeholders who were involved in reviewing relevant data (i.e., comprehensive needs assessment results, performance data, relevant survey data) and assisting with developing the ESEA Plan (Consolidated Application).
• Describe the process for meaningfully engaging stakeholders, selected in determining the needs and selected strategies of the LEA and/or participating schools.
• Discuss the process and the outcome data the LEA uses to inform decisions to modify, continue, or terminate ESEA-funded strategies. Include a description of how stakeholders are engaged
• in the evaluation of effectiveness.
• Select the strategies implemented by the LEA to conduct outreach and implement programs, activities and procedures for effective involvement of families.
• Describe how the LEA implements effective outreach to parents and families of multilingual learners on their involvement as it relates to a) the academic achievement of students b) attaining English proficiency, achieve at high levels c) meeting the Colorado Academic Standards.

LEAs receiving a Title I, Part A allocation of $500,000 or greater must use the Parent Activities set-aside for at least one of the following activities:

• Support schools and nonprofit organization in providing PD for district and school personnel regarding parent and family engagement strategies
• Support programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community and at school
• Share information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement
• Collaborate, or provide subgrants to schools to enable the school to collaborate with community-based organizations, businesses or employers
• Engage in any other activities and strategies that the district determines are appropriate and consistent with the parent and family engagement policy
• Provide literacy or math trainings to share practices with families that support student academic achievement
• Provide transportation and child care costs to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions associated with family involvement activities
• Conduct in-home conferences between teachers or other educators to maximize parental involvement and participation
• Adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement

LEAs that receive a Title I, Part A allocation of less than $500,000 may budget parent engagement activities in the Consolidated Application, however it is not required. 

ESEA Parent and Family Engagement in Monitoring

CDE’s monitoring process formalizes the integral relationship between CDE and Colorado LEAs in implementing effective programs using Federal funds. A set of clear monitoring indicators clarifies for LEAs, and CDE monitoring personnel, the critical components of this accountability and provides a standard against which LEA policies, practices, and procedures can be measured. During the formal monitoring process, LEAs will be required to provide evidence of parent and family engagement, which is part of stakeholder engagement processes and procedures. 

• CDE Federal Programs Monitoring 
• Stakeholder Engagement In Federal Programs Guidance Document 
• State and Federal Accountability Crosswalk: Stakeholder Engagement

 

Additional Resources

Other CDE Offices 

• Office of Family, School, and Community Partnerships
• State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education (SACPIE)
• Promising Partnership Practices

Additional Resources   

• US Department of Education, Parent and Family Engagement Non-regulatory Guidance 
• A Parents’ Guide to ESSA 
• A Parent Guide to State and Local Report Cards
• National Standards for Family-School-Partnerships
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Parent Privacy Rights Act (PPRA)