Parent and Family Engagement Policy | Plan

Each LEA that receives Title I, Part A funds must develop a written parent and family engagement (PFE) policy, while each school that receives Title I, Part A funds must develop a written school PFE plan. Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

LEA Role

Each LEA that receives Title I, Part A funds must develop a written PFE policy that describes how the it will implement the requirements and established the program components for parent and family engagement in Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). LEAs must develop this policy with the parents whose children receive Title I, Part A services; and have the policy approved by the board. Parents must agree with the provisions of the policy.  

If your LEA has an existing PFE policy that applies to all parents, it can be amended to meet Title I, Part A requirements. Here are some templates and resources.  

School Role

Each school that receives Title I, Part A funds must develop a written school parent and family engagement plan that describes 1) how the school will comply with the regulations that cover parent and family engagement in Section 1116 and 2) how school staff will work with parents to create a School-Parent Compact.

Participating schools must:

  • Develop this plan in partnership with parents whose children receive Title I, Part A services
  • Update this plan periodically or at least annually to meet the changing needs of parents and the school
  • Distribute this plan to parents in participating Title I, Part A schools (For ex: print in school handbooks, provide hard copies at conferences, distribute at the start of school year, etc.).

School-Parent Compact

The School-Parent Compact takes the form of a written agreement that identifies specific activities or shared responsibilities that parents, school staff and students will carry out to improve academic achievement. The School-Parent Compact must also outline activities that build productive partnerships that help children reach the learning goals of state academic standards.

 

Essential Components of a School-Parent Compact

Shared Responsibility

  • School responsibility
    • Provide high-quality curricula and instruction within a supportive and effective learning environment. The goal is to create the conditions under which children served by Title I, Part A programs can meet state standards.
  • Parent responsibility
    • Support learning. For example, parents should monitor attendance, make sure children complete homework assignments, impose limits on television time, create positive activities for extracurricular time, volunteer in their children's classroom and, where it makes sense, get involved with decisions that impact the education of children under their care.

Communication

Make sure your School-Parent Compact includes these important commitments related to communication and engagement:

  • Parent-teacher conference
    • Throughout the elementary grades, schedule at least one parent-teacher conference during the school year. Teachers and parents should discuss the compact relative to performance of the individual child.
  • Frequent reports
    • Make sure parents receive regular reports on the progress of their children.
  • Reasonable access
    • Parents must have reasonable access to school staff, opportunities to volunteer, as well as chances to observe and participate in class activities.
  • Meaningful communication
    • Two-way communication between student, family members and school staff is essential to building school-family partnerships. Make sure parents have the compact available in a language the parent can understand.

Annual Program Meeting

Schools must invite all parents of children who received Title I, Part A services and hold a meeting at least once in a school year. During the meeting, parents will learn about:

  • Title I, Part A programs and services at your school.
  • Requirements that govern this federal program.
  • Parent's right to be involved with Title I, Part A programs and services.

 

Annual Meeting Preparation Templates