The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Section 1116 requires Title I, Part A districts and schools to conduct outreach to all parents and family members and implement programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents and family members of participating children. Districts must actively engage with parents and family members in planning activities and developing state and local education plans, school improvement plans, and Title I plans.
DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS
DISTRICT PARENT ENGAGEMENT POLICY
Each Local Education Agency (LEA) that receives Title I, Part A funds shall develop jointly with, agree on with, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy. The policy shall be incorporated into the LEA’s Consolidated District Plan and establish the LEA’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family involvement. The district policy needs to be written in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents can understand. If requested, the district should provide alternative formats. The policy should be accessible to the local community.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
A district that receives a Title I, Part A allocation of $500,000 or greater must reserve an amount not less than 1% for parent and family engagement activities. An amount not less than 90% of the reserved funds shall be distributed to Title I, with priority given to high-need schools. A district may reserve an amount greater than 1% for parent and family engagement expenditures. Districts must annually report the expended amount in the ESEA Performance Report. Activities and strategies must include at least one of the following:
- Provide school personnel professional development regarding parent and family engagement strategies.
- Support programs that reach parents and family members at home, at school, and in the community.
- Disseminate parent and family engagement-focused best practices information.
- Collaborate with community-based organizations or employers with a successful record in improving and increasing parent and family engagement.
- Engage in additional activities and strategies that are determined appropriate and consistent with the district’s parent and family engagement policy. See ESSA Section 1111(a)(3)(D).
School Requirements
SCHOOL PARENT ENGAGEMENT POLICY
A school receiving Title I, Part A funds shall jointly develop with, agree on with, and distribute to Title I parents and family members a written parent and family engagement policy. School policy needs to be written in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents can understand. If requested, the district should provide alternative formats. The policy should be accessible to the local community.
ANNUAL TITLE I, PART A MEETING
Each school served under Title I, Part A must convene an annual meeting, at a time convenient for parents, to inform them of their school’s participation in Title I, Part A programs. Parents of all participating students should be invited. Information should include:
- Program requirements and parental involvement rights
- A description of the school’s curriculum
- State and local academic assessment used to measure student progress
- Achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards
- Planned family engagement activities and strategies for collaborating with educators
Schools must provide opportunities for regular meetings at flexible times for parents to participate in decisions about the education of their children. Schools should maintain documentation of parent meeting(s) with minutes, agendas, sign-in sheets, etc.
SCHOOL COMPACT
A school receiving Title I funds must develop a school-parent compact. The school-parent compact is jointly developed between the school and the Title I student’s parents and outlines the activities to share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. This document must be annually reviewed and signed by all participating students and parents and kept on file at the district level.
PARENT & FAMILY RIGHT TO KNOW
Each district and school served under Title I, Part A is required, in accordance with ESSA, to notify parents of their rights to know, including the right to request and receive information in a timely manner.
