Parent Involvement Policy
Approved August 20, 2018
Revised July 25, 2023
Introduction
Research has shown that the attitudes, behavior and achievement of children are enhanced when parents or other caregivers are involved in their children’s education. To that end, our School has adopted this parent involvement policy in order to promote learning and provide amore positive learning experience for the students of Connecting Waters Charter Schools (CWCS).
Parents who enroll their children in CWCS shall, through specific enrollment and curriculum contracts, accept responsibility for their children’s education. CWCS will support its students and parents with appropriate educational materials, and with a team of education specialists (credentialed teachers) and advisors. CWCS education specialists and advisors shall advise and assist parents and students in all aspects of student education pursuant to relevant contracts.
Charter School Expectations and Objectives
In establishing the Charter School’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family involvement, CWC has established the following practices:
1. CWCS involves parents and family members in the joint development of the Charter
School’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan.
● CWCS will publish an online monthly newsletter with notification of upcoming participation opportunities.
● CWCS will maintain a parent listserve with reminders of upcoming events.
● CWCS’s Board of Directors will assist in planning, reviewing and improving programs, the parent involvement policy and the schoolwide action plan. The Board of Directors will meet at least four (4) times a year (once per quarter) at the designated location and will be made up of 5-7 board members. Additionally, the Board of Directors will be involved in decisions regarding parent involvement activities.
● All parents of CWCS are invited to attend the Board of Director meetings where parents are able to make suggestions relating to the education of their children.
● Within 30 days of the beginning of school, CWCS will provide a Parent/Student Handbook.
2. CWCS provides the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity within the Charter School in planning and implementing effective parent and family involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance, which may include meaningful consultation with
employers, business leaders, and philanthropic organizations, or individuals with expertise in effectively engaging parents and family members in education.
● [List/briefly describe the specifics of how this happens at the Charter School.]
3. CWCS coordinates and integrates parent and family engagement strategies to the extent feasible and appropriate, with other relevant federal, state, and local laws and programs.
● Monthly Parent Advisor Council Meetings
● Open House & Other events that celebrate student success
● DELAC meetings
4. CWCS conducts, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the Policy in improving the academic quality at the Charter School.
● Parents are invited to participate in surveys each year and to provide feedback about their children’s education
5. CWCS conducts, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of barriers to greater participation by parents/families (with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority
background).
● Listserve communication ensures that all families have access to information to involve parents and family members
6. CWCS conducts, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with Charter School personnel and teachers.
● Parents and students are involved in the Educational Plan that is update monthly
7. CWCS conducts, with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of strategies to support successful Charter School and family interactions.
● The school provides parent training throughout the year to support parent and family success.
8. CWCS uses the findings of the annual evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental and family engagement, and to revise, if necessary, the Parent and Family Engagement Policy.
9. CWCS involves parents in the activities of the Charter School to adequately represent the needs of the population.
● Through parent and student surveys and inquiries CWCS assesses the needs of the students through educational course offerings and events to brings staff and families together.
Within this policy, the word “parent” is employed. This word is intended to reach any caregiver of students enrolled in CWCS, including but not limited to, parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, stepparents, etc.