TITLE I PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

CLARENDON ELEMENTARY

2010-2011

A child’s mind is a precious thing. I dreamed I stood in a studio

and watched two sculptors there. The clay they used was a young child’s mind and they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher. The tools he used were books, music, and art. The other, a

parent, working with a guiding hand, and a gentle loving heart.

Day by day, the teacher toiled with touch that was deft and

sure. While the parent labored by his side and polished and

smoothed it over. And when at last, their task was done, they were proud of what they had

accomplished for the thing they had molded into the child could neither be sold nor bought, and

each agreed they could have failed if each had worked alone.

TITLE I LAW

The purpose of Title I is to improve the basic programs of Clarendon Elementary and to provide opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge and skills contained in the state content standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills—TEKS) and to meet the state performance standards (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills—TAKS). Districts receiving Title I, Part A funds must implement programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in the Title I program. A written parental involvement policy must be developed and agreed upon jointly with parents and distributed to parents. Parental involvement is required as one of the ten components of the school-wide Title I program.

GOAL OF TITLE I PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

The goal of Title I parental involvement is to provide opportunities and information for parents that will help them assume a more meaningful role in improving student achievement and increase their effectiveness when participating in the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of Title I programs. “Effective parental involvement is built on mutual trust, respect, communication and commitment between the parents, the school and the community. The partners are equals working together to set goals, find solutions and carry out and evaluate these solutions.” --Rutherford, 1987

PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITES

A meeting will be held each fall and each spring to share mutual expectations for students so all parents are an integral part of facilitating achievement.

Parents are invited to attend special programs or activities presented by students. Information is sought from parents of students receiving special programs services

regarding campus planning and decision making. Opportunities are available to participate as parent and community representatives on

campus and district improvement committees. A School-Parent Compact meeting affords the opportunity for input into school

policies and practices. Parents are sent a survey to have input into the future of the school and its vision. The web page information site is www.clarendonisd.net Parents are invited to be sponsors of extracurricular activities

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Parents are invited to conference with teachers during their normal conference hours. Parents of students that are failing at the end of any 3 weeks are invited to conference

with the students’ teachers.

ASSESSMENT

FORMAL ASSESSMENTS –Norm-referenced tests tell parents how their child compares with other students, often in terms of a percentile rank. Criterion-referenced assessments, such as the TAKS, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, tell parents whether their child has mastered a body of knowledge and skills that the state has established as important. INFORMAL ASSESSMENTS –This type of assessment is closest to actual learning and to children; and is therefore most likely to influence daily instructional decisions and to engage children in evaluation of their own work. When assessment and instruction are melded, both teachers and students become learners. From the information obtained, the teacher can determine the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Three week progress reports are sent home for students who are failing in any subject. Six weeks report cards indicate the degree of mastery of a student’s performance in the content standards, or curriculum frameworks, of Clarendon Elementary.

CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND CONTENT STANDARDS

The state of Texas has developed a required curriculum that must be taught in Texas schools. This curriculum is the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). It is foundational in nature, and textbook companies strive to develop curriculum that meets those standards within the covers of their books. Mastery of the curriculum, apart from informal assessments within the classroom, is to be evidenced in the TAKS test our 3rd, 4th.& 5th graders take each spring. The School Success Initiative focuses on 5th Grade. Students in 5th Grade will be expected to pass the TAKS Reading and Mathematics test in order to be promoted to the next grade levels. Reading is the essential skill and the foundation for all other subjects. Success in school and student achievement is attributable to reading. Reading is also a foundational skill for critical-thinking, problem-solving, and other higher-order skills. Improve reading and everything improves. However, knowing how to read is just the beginning. Students must know how to read well and be well-read to achieve true literacy. Building a vocabulary can only be accomplished through abundant reading practice with real books, some which requires parental involvement at home. We believe that the Accelerated Reading program at Clarendon Elementary, along with our SAXON phonics program, as well as our 90 minutes per day Reading instruction schedule provide our students the time and practice necessary to become fluent and well read students. The addition of the C-Scope Curriculum promises to be a tremendous asset to our foundation subjects, as well.