FILE:  IFD

Cf:  IDDG

PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Vermilion Parish recognizes that in order for students to succeed in school and later in life, schools, families, and the community must work together.  The Vermilion Parish School System actively fosters effective partnerships between families, the schools and the community.  Research shows that when each of these entities is involved in children’s education, their attitude, behavior and achievement is positively enhanced.  Providing the children of all Vermilion Parish schools equal access to a quality education is our top priority.  At the start of each school year, a school-parent compact, which outlines how the school, the teacher, the parent and the student will share in the responsibility for improved student achievement is signed, binding the commitment by all involved.

Parent/family engagement is the interaction between schools and families and their engagement in the educational lives of their children.  It is relationships built on mutual trust and meaningful two-way communication.  The school district helps schools plan for their parent/family engagement component.  Parent refers to any caregiver who assumes responsibility for nurturing and supporting children, including biological parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, stepparents, etc.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 addresses the educational challenges facing high-poverty communities.  The federal Title I program was designed to ensure that all students have a fair and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and master state academic achievement standards and assessments.

Currently, fourteen (14) schools serving grades kindergarten to twelve receive Title I funding.  A percentage of funding is allocated towards parental involvement in twenty (20) schools.  Before the start of each school year, the accountant informs each school of their budget and all accounting procedures.  Schools are also given information on allowable expenditures for the budget.  The school district federal programs department helps by providing coordination, support and assistance to each school in building the capacity for strong family involvement.

The Vermilion Parish District Title I Parent/Family Engagement Policy sets the expectations and establishes the framework for parental participation in all Title I schools. The following are assurances and guidelines:

• The school district policy is developed and implemented with the inclusion of all families and reaches beyond barriers of culture, language, disabilities and poverty.  It is included in all student-parent handbooks to ensure that every parent receives a copy.  The district parent/family engagement committee members meet annually to review the plan as well as their child’s school activities, strategies, and programs that align to the school’s goals.  All schools include parents in decision making on the Schoolwide Plan, Master Discipline Plan, Multi-Tiered System of Supports Team, etc.
  
  

• The school district will assist schools in designing presentations and information to parents on understanding student achievement topics such as state testing, accountability topics, how to monitor their child’s progress and how to work with educators to improve the achievement of their children.  Schools will increase family engagement by providing workshops and trainings at a variety of times along with multimedia communications sent home throughout the year to educate families on ways to support their child’s education through a better understanding of:

• The Louisiana Believes website (www.louisianabelieves.com) has numerous resources for all families, as well as the Vermilion Parish School System’s web site (www.vpsb.net).  Every school has a website which includes timely and relevant information for families.
  
  

• The school district will assist schools with an annual meeting which is held at the beginning of the school year.  The school will identify itself as a Title I school, explain the rights of parents and inform parents of school requirements associated with Title I.  Throughout the school year, many opportunities are offered for parents to participate in their child’s education.  Some activities include Meet and Greet, Open House, AR Day, Standardized Testing Night, Read Across America, Pancakes with Parents, Math Day, Reading Day, 100th Day of School and Family Reading Night.
  
  

• The school district helps to assure that each Title I school, when carrying out the parent/family engagement requirements, provides full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency or with disabilities.  All English Learner parents will be provided translation upon request.
  
  

• Schools in Vermilion Parish offer LA4, Title 1, and 8(g) preschool classes throughout the parish.  There are 3 parent-teacher conferences held throughout the year.  Parents of Head Start programs are invited to attend all workshops and seminars.
  
  

• Activities and meetings are held both during the day and at night to allow attendance by many families.  Schools are encouraged to offer child care to enable parents to attend school activities.  Reasonable and necessary expenses associated with parent engagement activities such as transportation will be provided when needed.
  
  

• School District and school staff provide families with helpful community resources as needed.
  
  

• School District and school staff make home visits as necessary to further assist/communicate with families.

This school district policy was developed jointly with, and agreed upon with, parents of children participating in Title I schools, who serve as members of the School District Parent/Family Engagement Committee.

Adopted:  August 25, 2016

Revised:  April 15, 2021

Revised:  July 21, 2022

Ref:    20 USC 6312 (Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools)

20 USC 6318 (Parent and Family Engagement)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:235.2

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 8-25-16, 4-15-21, 7-21-22

Vermilion Parish School Board