Involvement Plans
Onalaska Independent School District
District Parental Involvement Plan
2012-2013
The mission of Onalaska Independent School District is a commitment to pursue excellence in education through utilizing all community resources and providing our students with opportunities to become productive contributing members of society. The district’s parent involvement plan is designed to ensure our district parents are involved as knowledgeable partners in this endeavor.
Developing the Parent Involvement Policy
An advisory committee will be formed consisting of parents, community members, teachers and staff, and principals and/or administrators to develop and revise the Onalaska ISD Parent Involvement Policy. The need for volunteers to serve on this committee will be publicized and then volunteers will be selected. The parent volunteers will represent the diversity of the student population, and one or more parents on the advisory committee will have children participating in a Title 1 program. The advisory committee will convene at a time and place convenient to all its members.
Additionally, Onalaska ISD understands that the parental involvement policy is a part of the district and campus improvement plans. The advisory committee will also provide input regarding the development and revision of the district and/or campus improvement plan.
Parents of students in all grade levels will be included in a variety of coordinated and comprehensive activities that encourage parent involvement. The activities will vary according to the grade levels served on each campus, however, the goal at every campus is to increase parent involvement which will in turn, bring about higher student achievement.
Parent Involvement in Planning, Review, and Implementation of Title I Programs Including School-Parent Compacts
Each campus involves parents on its Campus Improvement Committee. It is this committee that makes certain decisions with the guidance of the campus principal. The Title I campuses distribute the School-Parent Compact at the annual Title I Parent Meeting and Parent/Teacher Conference Day. The responsibilities of all parties involved are explained in the compact and in return, the parents are asked to sign the compact to show their commitment to their child’s success in school. The compacts are also discussed with the faculty at faculty meetings.
During the spring planning time, the parents involved on the Campus Improvement Committee are consulted regarding the use of the campus allocation of federal and local money. The parents are involved in every aspect of campus plans. They are asked for input in the implementation of the campus plans for its federal funds. The main guideline for the planning and expenditure of federal funds is determined by whether or not the expenditure will increase student achievement.
Building Capacity
Onalaska ISD values the partnership of the parents in their children’s education. There are ways parents make significant contributions to student success both at home and by volunteering at the school. Student achievement is the result of effective home-school-community partnerships.
Onalaska ISD shall:
• Provide assistance to parents in how to monitor a child’s progress, and how to work with educators to improve student achievement.
• Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve student achievement.
• Provide training to teachers and school personnel with the assistance of parents to implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school.
• Provide information in a format and language the parents understand.
• May involve parents in the development of training for teachers.
• May provide necessary literacy training.
• May pay reasonable expenses associated with local parental involvement activities.
• May arrange school meetings at a variety of times.
• May develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations in parental involvement activities.
Coordination of Programs
Onalaska ISD will develop a partnership with its public pre-school program. Parental involvement strategies will be coordinated to assist the transition from pre-school to elementary school.
Annually, Onalaska ISD will assess the needs of the parents and children in the school community using a variety of tools including a survey or questionnaire. The findings will be used to revise the Title 1 program to meet the current needs. Workshops or other training will be made available to educators and parents to address these needs. Parents will be notified about training opportunities.
Reservation of Funds
Onalaska ISD is required to set aside at least 1% of its Title 1 funds for the purposes of parental involvement if the Title 1 Part A allocation is $500,000 or above. Even though OISD’s Title 1 Part A Program currently receives less than the $500,000 allocation, the district is required to provide a parental involvement program. The campus principals will consult with the Title 1 Advisory Committee about allowable use of funds. The campus principal will then authorize the use of the funds designated for parental involvement.
Curriculum and Academic Assessments
All Onalaska ISD campuses disseminate information to its parents concerning the use of academic assessments to guide instruction and achievement of its students. The dissemination of this information can be in the form of a newsletter, notices home to parents, or information posted on the campus website. As required by the NCLB Act of 2001 all Title I campuses focus on student achievement. Academic assessments are written to test the students’ learning to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and in preparation for the State Standardized Testing.
Parent Involvement and Participation of Parents of Migratory Students, Parents with Disabilities, and Parents of Diverse Cultures
Onalaska ISD has involved its parents through several activities included in its District Improvement Plan. The activities range from increasing the attendance rate by making personal calls to parents of children who are absent to involving parents in the use of data folders in which the students monitor their learning. Parents may also be involved in activities that academically prepare students for life after secondary school and entering the work force.
Onalaska ISD makes every effort to fulfill the needs of every parent in order to increase the parent’s involvement in its schools.
Evaluation
Onalaska ISD will work with its Title 1 Advisory Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the parental Involvement Program. Surveys, classroom observation, assessment data, and other resources will be used to determine the needs and develop revised strategies for student success. Parental input will be sought. Revisions to the Title 1 Program and the Parental Involvement Policy will be developed and agreed upon with parent input and will be communicated to the parents in the district or school.
Onalaska Independent School District
Campus Parental Involvement Plan
2012-2013
The mission of Onalaska Independent School District is a commitment to pursue excellence in education through utilizing all community resources and providing our students with opportunities to become productive contributing members of society. The district’s parent involvement plan is designed to ensure our district parents are involved as knowledgeable partners in this endeavor.
Developing the Parent Involvement Policy
An advisory committee will be formed consisting of parents, community members, teachers and staff, and principals and/or administrators to develop and revise the Onalaska ISD Parent Involvement Policy. The need for volunteers to serve on this committee will be publicized and then volunteers will be selected. The parent volunteers will represent the diversity of the student population, and one or more parents on the advisory committee will have children participating in a Title 1 program. The advisory committee will convene at a time and place convenient to all its members.
Additionally, Onalaska ISD understands that the parental involvement policy is a part of the district and campus improvement plans. The advisory committee will also provide input regarding the development and revision of the district and/or campus improvement plan.
Parents of students in all grade levels will be included in a variety of coordinated and comprehensive activities that encourage parent involvement. The activities will vary according to the grade levels served on each campus, however, the goal at every campus is to increase parent involvement which will in turn, bring about higher student achievement.
Parent Involvement in Planning, Review, and Implementation of Title I Programs Including School-Parent Compacts
Each campus involves parents on its Campus Improvement Committee. It is this committee that makes certain decisions with the guidance of the campus principal. The Title I campuses distribute the School-Parent Compact at the annual Title I Parent Meeting and Parent/Teacher Conference Day. The compact is explained to the parents and in return, the parents are asked to sign the compact to show their commitment to their child’s success in school. The compacts are also discussed with the faculty at faculty meetings.
During the spring planning time, the parents involved on the Campus Improvement Committee are consulted regarding the use of the campus allocation of federal and local money. The parents are involved in every aspect of campus plans. They are asked for input in the implementation of the campus plans for its federal funds. The main guideline for the planning and expenditure of federal funds is determined by whether or not the expenditure will increase student achievement.
Building Capacity
Onalaska ISD values the partnership of the parents in their children’s education. There are many ways parents make significant contributions to student success both at home and by volunteering at the school. Student achievement is the result of effective home-school-community partnerships.
Onalaska ISD shall:
• Provide assistance to parents in how to monitor a child’s progress, and how to work with educators to improve student achievement.
• Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve student achievement.
• Provide training to teachers and school personnel with the assistance of parents to implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school.
• Provide information in a format and language the parents understand.
• May involve parents in the development of training for teachers.
• May provide necessary literacy training.
• May pay reasonable expenses associated with local parental involvement activities.
• May arrange school meetings at a variety of times.
• May develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations in parental involvement activities.
Annual Meetings
All campuses convene parent meetings early in the first semester of the school year. The meetings are schedule to allow for parents to attend according to their work schedules. Each campus holds a Meet the Teacher Night before or shortly after school begins.
• The elementary campuses hold their meetings the week before school starts. The scheduling of this meeting is set up to accommodate parents’ work schedules. At these meetings the students and parents come to school to locate their classroom, meet the teachers, and become familiar with the campus administration and campus layout.
• The secondary schools hold their Meet the Teacher Nights the week prior to the first week of school. At this level the parents and students tour the building and visit each teacher’s classroom to become informed about the curriculum being taught as well as each individual teacher’s classroom expectations. Students are able to pick up their class schedules or take care of any unfinished paperwork before classes begin at this time.
• Title I campuses hold their parent meetings to inform the parents of the requirements of the federal funding the school receives, the explanation of the school parent involvement plan, the School-Parent Compact required of each Title I school, as well as the expectation of parent involvement at each Title I campus.
• Notification of each of these meetings is disseminated through campus newsletters, notices sent home to parents by their students, district and campus websites. Each type of notification is presented in English and Spanish.
• Throughout the school year the elementary campus presents special family oriented nights such as Family Reading Night, Family Math Night, and Family STAAR Night.
• The secondary campus will hold many of the same family night activities but also include Family College Nights, upcoming 7th grade & Parent Night, upcoming 9th grade & Parent Night (EOC), and FAFSA night. It is at the secondary level that the students are exposed to the different possibilities of post secondary opportunities.
School-Parent Compacts
The Title 1 schools of Onalaska ISD will consult with each school’s Parent Advisory Committee to annually develop, review, and revise the school-parent compact. The compact will identify the responsibilities of the staff to provide high-level curriculum and instruction, and the expectations of the parents to provide support in their children’s learning. The compact will address the best ways to maintain positive, timely communication between school and home. The compacts will be available to all parents and families with the student handbook materials, on the school website, and/or it will be discussed at Meet the Teacher Night in the elementary schools.
Curriculum and Academic Assessments
All Onalaska ISD campuses disseminate information to its parents concerning the use of academic assessments to guide instruction and achievement of its students. The dissemination of this information can be in the form of a newsletter, notices home to parents, or information posted on the campus website. As required by the NCLB Act of 2001 all Title I campuses focus on student achievement. Academic assessments are written to test the students’ learning to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and in preparation for the State Standardized Testing.
Parent Involvement and Participation of Parents of Migratory Students, Parents with Disabilities, and Parents of Diverse Cultures
Onalaska ISD has involved its parents through several activities included in its District Improvement Plan. The activities range from increasing the attendance rate by making personal calls to parents of children who are absent to involving parents in the use of data folders in which the students monitor their learning. Parents may also be involved in activities that academically prepare students for life after secondary school and entering the work force.
Onalaska ISD makes every effort to fulfill the needs of every parent in order to increase the parent’s involvement in its schools.
Evaluation
Onalaska ISD will work with its Title 1 Advisory Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the parental Involvement Program. Surveys, classroom observation, assessment data, and other resources will be used to determine the needs and develop revised strategies for student success. Parental input will be sought. Revisions to the Title 1 Program and the Parental Involvement Policy will be developed and agreed upon with parent input and will be communicated to the parents in the district or school.
