Part I: General Expectations
Montgomery County Schools recognize that the education of each student is a responsibility shared by the school and the student’s family. Montgomery County Schools endorse the parental involvement goals of Title I (20 U.S.C. § 6318) and Title III (20 U.S.C. § 7012(e) and encourages the regular participation by parents of all children including those eligible for Title I and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) programs in all aspects of those programs.
In keeping with these beliefs, it is the intention of the Montgomery County Schools to cultivate and support active parental involvement in student learning. Montgomery County Schools will:
- Provide activities and procedures to meet the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) guidelines as monitored by the Title I Supervisor.
- School level parent involvement policies will meet ESEA guidelines as determined by the Title I Supervisor, including specific means of supporting parental involvement activities.
- District policy will be incorporated in the district Title I application.
- Families with limited English proficiency or disabilities or who are in transition or migratory will receive information written in an understandable language and format.
- Families who have a complaint about the operation of the Title I program may submit a formal complaint following the procedure outlined in the Title I Guidebook available at each Title I school.
- Families will be involved annually in the decisions on the allocation of funds for parental involvement. Title I funds may be used to pay reasonable and necessary expenses associated with parent involvement activities, including transportation, childcare, or home visit expenses to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions.
- Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be governed by the federal statutory definition of parental involvement:
- Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring –
- That parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
- That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school
- That parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child
- The carrying out of other activities such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.
Part II: Implementation
This section is a description of implementation of the components of the District Wide Parental Involvement Policy.
- Montgomery County Public Schools will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development of its district wide parental involvement plan under sections 1112 and 1116 of the ESEA:
- MCPS will establish a District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).
- Parents, teachers, and administrators will serve on this Council.
- DPAC will meet twice a year.
- DPAC will plan activities at the school level to involve all Title I families and support the education of their children.
- All Title I schools will have at least one parent representative on their Continuous School Improvement Plan committee.
- MCPS will coordinate and collaborate with Head Start and the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) by inviting representatives from both organizations to serve on the DPAC.
- MCPS, in conjunction with the Title I Supervisor, will provide assistance to families in understanding topics such as but not limited to:
- The State’s academic content and academic achievement standards
- The State and local assessments
- How to monitor and support their child’s progress
- Materials and training to assist parents in working with their children will be provided at each school.
- Literacy training and the use of technology will be offered.
- Reading tips for parents for implementation at home will be addressed when planning parent activities.
- The effectiveness of the workshops and trainings as well as all other offerings will be evaluated via a survey of families conducted by each Title I team in the spring at each school.
- Parent involvement programs will be coordinated with representatives from Head Start and VPI to support and encourage more families to be active participants in their child’s education beginning at age 3.
- The Title I Supervisor will meet with representatives from Head Start throughout the New River Valley to share ideas and resources to increase parental involvement among low income families.
- Title I forms and letters translated into Spanish ensure that information related to school and other activities is sent in an understandable format.
- MCPS will educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff with the assistance of parents in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school.
Part III: Discretionary District Wide Parental Involvement Policy Components
- Montgomery County Schools will build parents’ capacity for involvement in the school and school system to support their children’s academic achievement, such as the following discretionary activities listed under section 118(e) of the ESEA:
- MCPS established DPAC to provide advice on matters related to parental involvement in Title I, Part A programs.
- Persons who serve on DPAC represent all Title I schools as administrators, parents, teachers, and support staff.
Adopted: September 11, 2012
Revised: April 30, 2014
The content and effectiveness of this policy will be evaluated annually with regard to improving the academic quality of the schools receiving Title I, Part A, or LEP funds. This evaluation will identify barriers to greater participation by parents and use the findings of that evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to revise, if necessary, this policy.