Tulsa Public Schools Policy 9403: Parent and Family Engagement
PURPOSE: Tulsa Public Schools shall promote parent and family engagement in all schools and work as equal partners with parents and families in preparing every student for the greatest success in college, careers and life, as mandated by Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The Board believes and acknowledges that parent and family engagement raises the academic achievement level of students. Additionally, parents become empowered, teacher morale improves, and communities grow stronger when parents and families take an active role in educating their children. Schools shall involve parents and families in the education of their children at all grades levels.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist all schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. Section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, Part A, Parent and Family Engagement, establishes that to build capacity for parent and family engagement within schools, a district is to “develop jointly with, agree on with, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy.” This policy and subsequent policies regarding building parents’ and families’ capacity for engagement will be implemented throughout Tulsa Public Schools.
Building Parents’ and Families’ Capacity for Engagement
The Board believes that empowering parents and families to insist on improvement, giving schools extra incentive to do so, and by giving parents and families options regarding their children’s education helps the district to realize its vision of “Destination Excellence” for patrons of the community. As a result of this belief, the Board shall create an environment of supportive and collaborative parent and family engagement.
- Program Information for parents and families: Tulsa Public Schools shall provide assistance to parents and families of all children in understanding such topics as the state’s academic content, achievement standards, the assessments being used, the requirements of Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and how to monitor their children’s progress and work with educators to improve their achievement.
- Materials and Training: Tulsa Public Schools shall provide materials and training as applicable, such as literacy training and training on how to use technology, to help parents and families work with their children to improve achievement.
- Educate Educators: Tulsa Public Schools shall educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents and families, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and families, in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents and families as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent and family programs, and build ties between parents, families and the school.
- Preschool Coordination: Tulsa Public Schools shall, “to the extent feasible and appropriate,” coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement programs with Head Start, Even Start, and other preschool programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent and family resource centers, which encourage and support parents and families in more fully participating in the education of their children.
- Understandable Communication: Tulsa Public Schools shall ensure that information related to school and parent and family programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents and families of all children in a format, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents and families can understand.
- Other Requested Activities: Tulsa Public Schools shall provide such other reasonable support for parent and family engagement activities as parents and families may request.