Parent and Family Engagement

Over the past three decades, studies have shown that children whose parents/families are involved in school activities have higher achievement scores.  By taking an active role in your scholar's school, you show your child that you and the school are working together to increase their success.

What is parent and family engagement?

Parent and family engagement is a parent’s/family's active participation in their child's educational life.  Getting your child to school every day is parent engagement.  Helping out in your scholar’s class is parent engagement.  Attending meetings, workshops, and activities sponsored by Title I and the school is parent engagement.  Serving on committees is parent engagement. Family engagement is an empowering partnership among families, educators, practitioners, and the community with shared responsibility for the personal success of children and youth.

Why do parents and families need to be involved?

• Parents and families must understand ways to support their scholar’s in academic content and social-emotional learning.
• Parents and families need to understand that just as scholars have changed, teaching techniques and methods have also changed to meet the demands of today’s scholars.  By observing in your scholar’s class, you can see firsthand how children are being taught and ways to support the school’s efforts.
• When children realize that their parents and families consider school activities important enough to visit, observe, and participate in in, they recognize the importance of learning.
• A scholar’s self-confidence is based on how well he/she learns what he/she is supposed to know.  Research findings point to positive academic achievements as self-esteem builders.
• Parents and families need to be involved in the Title I program and the school. Teamwork will help all children perform at their highest potential.

How do I get involved?

• The easiest way to get involved is to talk to your scholar’s teacher or visit the Family Resource Center at your scholar’s school.  As your scholar’s first teacher, you can assist the teacher in meeting many of your scholar’s needs. Establishing a friendly, open, honest relationship with your scholar’s teacher is the first step. The Family Resource Center is your place to ask questions, get involved, clarify information, and get to know the school.
• Become a school volunteer!  Parents are always welcome and encouraged to participate.

St. Charles Parish Schools Parent and Family Engagement Policy

The St. Charles Parish School Board recognizes that parent and family engagement is essential as we partner to educate our district’s scholars and prepare them for life-long learning. This responsibility is shared by the family, school, district, and community, who must work together as knowledgeable and collaborative partners. The district intends to cultivate and support active family involvement that supports student learning.

For schools receiving Title I Part A funding, St. Charles Parish School Board:

1. Involves parents and family members in jointly developing the local educational agency’s (LEA) Title I, Part A plan and the development of school support and improvement plans.
2. Provides the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity of all participating schools within the LEA in planning and implementing effective parent and family engagement activities that improve student academic achievement and school performance. This may include meaningful consultation with employers, business leaders, and philanthropic organizations or individuals with expertise in effectively engaging parents and family members in education.
3. Coordinates and integrates parent and family engagement strategies to the extent feasible and appropriate with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs.
4. Conducts, with the meaningful engagement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of all schools served under this part, including identifying:
1. Barriers to greater participation by parents/families in activities authorized by this section (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);
2. The needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers and
3. Strategies to support successful school and family interactions;
5. Uses the findings of such evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental and family engagement and to revise, if necessary, the parent and family engagement policies described in this section.
6. Involves parents in the activities of the schools, which may include establishing a parent advisory board comprised of a sufficient number and representative group of parents or family members served by the LEA to adequately represent the needs of the population. This advisory board will help develop, revise, and review the parent and family engagement policy.