School Level Title I Parent and Family Engagement Procedures

Elmwood Academy Title I School Parent and Family Engagement Procedure is developed in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Section 1116(b). This policy outlines how Elmwood Academy will carry out the requirements of Section 1116, ensuring that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents and family members of Title I children in an understandable format and language.

This procedure will be:

• Developed jointly with and agreed upon by parents and family members of Title I children.

• Written in an understandable format and provided in a language parents can understand.

• Distributed to all parents and family members of Title I children.

• Made available to the local community.

• Updated annually to meet the changing needs of parents, family members, and the school.

Involvement in Procedure Development and Review

How will the school involve parents and family members in the development of the parent and family engagement policy?

Elmwood Academy will involve parents and family members in the development of the Title I Parent and Family Engagement Procedure through an annual input meeting held in the spring. Parents will be invited to provide feedback and suggestions on the procedure’s content and effectiveness. Additionally, a draft of the updated procedure will be shared with Title I families for review and comment before finalization.

Annual Meeting and Program Information

How will the school meet with parents and family members annually?

Elmwood Academy will convene an annual Title I meeting as part of parent-teacher conferences in the fall, to which all parents and family members of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend. During this meeting Reading Interventionists inform parents of the school's participation as a Title I school, explain the requirements of the Title I program, and highlight the rights for parents to be involved. Information regarding the Title I program will also be disseminated through the school website, newsletters, and during fall and winter parent-teacher conferences. These conferences are held during the day and evening hours to accommodate schedules.

When and where will the meetings be held?

In addition to the annual Title I meeting held during parent-teacher conferences, Elmwood Academy will offer a flexible number of meetings throughout the school year, including both morning and evening options, to accommodate diverse parent schedules. These meetings will be held at the school, with virtual options provided. Specific dates and times will be communicated well in advance through school calendars, newsletters, and the school website.

How will the school involve parents and family members in school review and improvement of the parent and family engagement program?

Elmwood Academy will involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the Title I program, including the school's parent and family engagement program. This involvement will occur through parent surveys, feedback opportunities during parent-teacher conferences, and dedicated discussion sessions at the annual Title I meeting and other parent engagement events.

How will the school inform parents and family members about the Title I program?

Elmwood Academy will provide parents of participating children with timely information about the Title I program through various channels, including:

• Informational brochures distributed at the beginning of the school year through Sapphire and during parent-teacher conferences.

• Dedicated sections on the school website.

• Presentations during the annual Title I meeting and other family engagement events.

• Individual discussions during fall and winter parent-teacher conferences.

How will the school explain the curriculum, State standards, and assessments?

Elmwood Academy will provide parents of participating children with a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards. This information will be shared through:

• Informational materials distributed during parent-teacher conferences.

• Discussions during individual parent-teacher conferences, where teachers can explain specific assessments (Fastbridge screeners, common curricular assessments) and student progress.

• Trimester report cards

• Updates through SeeSaw App or other online resources

How will the school accommodate meeting requests?

We will provide, if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children. The school will respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible. Parents can request meetings by contacting their child's teacher or the school’s principal.

School-Parent Compact

How will the school involve parents and family members in the development of the school-parent compact?

A Home-School compact will be jointly developed with parents and family members and school staff at the annual spring meeting. This compact will outline how parents, the interventionists and teachers, and students will share in the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and the parents will build and develop partnerships to help children achieve the State's high standards. The compact will be discussed and reviewed annually during fall and winter parent-teacher conferences.

The compact shall:

• Describe the school's responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the children served under this part to meet the challenging State academic standards, and the ways in which each parent will be responsible for supporting their children's learning; volunteering in their child's classroom; and participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time (ESSA, Section 1116(d)(1)).

• Address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum:

• Parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually (fall), during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child's achievement.

• Frequent reports to parents on their children's progress.

• Reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child's class, and observation of classroom activities.

• Ensuring regular two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff, and, to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand.

Building Capacity for Parent Involvement

What assistance will be provided to parents and family members to understand the academic standards, State and local academic assessments, and how to monitor their child's progress?

Elmwood Academy will provide assistance to parents and family members in understanding the challenging State academic standards, State and local academic assessments, and how to monitor a child's progress and work with teachers to improve the achievement of their children. This assistance will be provided through:

• Workshops and information sessions during parent-teacher conferences.

• Informational handouts and online resources.

• Reading materials and games to work with their children in the home.

• Individual discussions with teachers during parent-teacher conferences.

• Seesaw or other online communication tools.

• Annual summer reading books and activity packets for families.

How will the school provide training materials to parents and family members?

Elmwood Academy will provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children's achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parent involvement. These materials and training opportunities will be offered during designated parent engagement events, and information will be available at the school's front office and on the school website.

How will the school use parents to train staff on how to work with parents as equal partners?

Elmwood Academy will educate teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and family members, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents and family members as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and family members and the school. This will include inviting parent leaders to share their perspectives and experiences during staff development sessions and SPAC skits.

Coordination and Communication

How will the school coordinate with other federal, State and local programs include public preschool programs?

Elmwood Academy will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with other federal, State, and local programs, including public preschool programs. This coordination will involve sharing information about school events and resources with these programs and collaborating on joint initiatives that encourage and support parents and family members in more fully participating in the education of their children.

How will the school ensure information is in a language parents can understand? This should include how documents are translated.

Elmwood Academy will ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents and family members of participating children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents and family members can understand. Key documents, including this policy, school newsletters, and important announcements, will be translated into the primary languages spoken by our Title I families. Communications between teachers and families will also occur on the Talking Points application that allows for two-way translated communication through texting. Phone communications will utilize Language Line. Mechanicsburg Area School District is updating their website with translation features for families to be further included into events and happenings within our building.

How will the school include parents and family members of English Learners?

Elmwood Academy will, to the extent practicable, provide opportunities for the informed participation of parents and family members, including parents and family members who have limited English proficiency, parents and family members with disabilities, and parents and family members of migratory children. For English Learners, this will include:

• Providing translated materials and interpreters at meetings and conferences, including parent-teacher conferences.

• Offering specific workshops and resources tailored to the needs of English Learner families.

• Ensuring that communication from the school is culturally sensitive and accessible.

SCHOOL-LEVEL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURE: LAST REVIEWED 5/22/2025