Last modified: December 1, 2023

Policy No. 7130 Parent and Family Engagement

• Download Policy No. 7130 Parent and Family Engagement

The Provo City School District Board of Education recognizes that parental engagement contributes to the achievement of academic standards by participating in district programs.

The Board of Education views the education of students as a cooperative effort among school, parent and community. The board expects that its schools will carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with the statutory definition of parental engagement.

Parental engagement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities including and 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; and that other activities are carried out, such as those described in section 1116 of the ESSA (Parent Involvement).

The board adopts as part of this policy the following guidance for parent engagement. The district will:

• Put into operation programs, plans, activities and procedures for the engagement of parents in all of its schools consistent with federal laws, including the development and evaluation and parent engagement school plans and establish LEA and Title I school parent engagement policies (PCSD 7130 F1).
• Ensure LEA and school policies, school plans, programs, activities and procedures will be planned and operated with parents of participating children in their respective local schools.
• Provide the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist all schools in the planning and implementing of effective parent engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. 
• Build the school’s and parent’s capacity for strong parental engagement.
• Conduct, with the engagement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of policies and plans in improving the academic quality including: a. Identifying barriers to greater participation of parents in activities, with particular attention to participation of parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background; and b. The needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers; and strategies to support successful school and family interactions.
• Use the findings of the annual evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parent engagement, and to revise, if necessary, the parent and family engagement policies and plans.
• Document the annual evaluation of policies and parent engagement plans including, but not limited to: evidence of communication, meetings, committee members participating, and needs assessment.
• Ensure Title I schools jointly develop with parents a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and student will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards (ESSA Section1116; PSCD 7130 P1, F2, F3).
• Ensure Title I schools convene an annual meeting to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under Title I and to explain the program requirements and the right of the parents to be involved (ESSA Section1116; PSCD 7130 P1).

References

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Section1116

Title I Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged; Improving Basic Programs; Basic program requirements, Local Educational Agency Policy

Approved by Board of Education

October 13, 2015

Revised: May 5, 2023

Procedure and Forms

Procedure 1: Title I schools ESSA requirements

Form 1: Title I schools – School Family Engagement Policy Template

Form 2: Title I schools – School/Parent Compact Option 1 Template

Form 3: Title I schools – School/Parent Compact Option 2 Template