Annual parent meeting Essay Example for Free

Annual parent meeting Essay Each year, Title I programs are required to host a meeting for parents to explain what the Title I program is and how parents can become involved in the Title I program. (This is different from the Annual Review meeting, which is also a requirement). At this meeting, the following issues must be addressed: Explain their school’s participation in Title I (whether they are schoolwide or targeted) Explain the Title I requirements (schoolwide or targeted, whichever is applicable) Explain what participation in Title I programming means, including: o A description and explanation of the school’s curriculum; o Information on the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress; and Information on the proficiency levels students are expected to meet. Explain the district parental involvement policy, school parental involvement policy, and school-parent compact. Explain the right of parents to become involved in the school’s programs and ways to do so. Explain that parents have the right to request opportunities for regular meetings for o parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions about the education of their children. The school must respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible. In order to keep parents informed, schools must invite all parents of children participating in Title I Part A programs and encourage them to attend. In a schoolwide program, this means ALL parents should be invited; in a targeted assistance program, just those parents with children participating in Title I should be invited. Schools must also offer a flexible number of additional parental involvement meetings, such as in the morning or evening so that as many parents as possible are able to attend. You must be able to document this meeting with minutes, agendas, sign-in sheets, etc. You may want to do more than the law requires for this meeting, especially if you often have problems with attendance. Below are a few things to keep in mind regarding the Annual Parent Meeting: This can be an introduction to the Title I program, a workshop, a welcome night, etc.; the format is up to you. Preferably, this meeting occurs at the beginning or in the fall of the school year. This meeting, whatever form it takes, must be documented with minutes. Is there two-way communication at this meeting, or is it the teacher/administrator giving information to parents about the program? Do you involve parents in the agenda? Do you try to get ideas from them on what this meeting should involve? Annual Title I Parent Meeting Requirements 8/2010 Page 1 Training Opportunities The Title I program should provide parents with opportunities to become partners with the school in promoting the education of the child at school and at home. This should include information about specific methods parents can use at home to complement their child’s education. The Annual Review Each year, schools must hold a meeting to review their entire Title I program. This meeting typically takes place in the spring of the school year. Therefore, if there are programmatic changes to be made, they can be implemented the subsequent school year. Questions to be considered include: â€Å"What worked well this year?† and â€Å"What changes would we like to make for next year?† Student Eligibility Targeted assistance Title I programs must inform parents that their child is eligible to receive Title I services. This notification must be sent home on an annual basis. Parents must be given the opportunity to decline services if they so choose. Below are a few things to keep in mind regarding informing parents of student eligibility: Documentation of parent notification for eligibility must be maintained. Be sure to retain copies of parent permission signatures, especially if parents decline services. Informing Parents of Student Progress Parents must be kept informed of their child’s progress. In targeted assistance programs, some type of progress report must be sent home to the parents to show their child’s progress with Title I services. This report may be sent home during conferences, with other report cards, or any other time a Title I teacher wishes. It is very helpful to send suggestions as to how parents can help their child with skills and areas in which the child may be struggling. Below are a few things to keep in mind regarding informing parents of student progress: The method used to notify parents must be documented. This notification must be disseminated at least twice a year, ideally more often. The notification must contain assessment results from at least three different assessments in the various areas the child receives Title I services. For instance, if a child receives services in reading and math, three reading and three math assessment results must be documented. Annual Title I Parent Meeting Requirements 8/2010