Westfall Local School DistrictTITLE I

PARENT HANDBOOK2015- 2018

Approved by Westfall Local Board of Education

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Title I Schools

Westfall Elementary School, Janice Gearhart ……………………………PrincipalWestfall Middle School, Jason Fife…………………………………………… PrincipalWestfall High School, Billy Dennis …………………………………………… PrincipalAmy Hill ………………………………………………………………………………….. Title I CoordinatorBrynn Hoffman ……………………………………………………………………….. Special Education CoordinatorCara Riddel………………………………………………………………………………. Superintendent

Westfall Elementary9391 State Route 56

Williamsport, OH 43164740-986-4008

Westfall Middle School19545 Pherson Pike

Willamsport, OH 43164740-986-2941

Westfall High School19463 Pherson Pike

Willamsport, OH 43164740-986-8834

District Office19463 Pherson Pike

Williamsport, OH 43164740-986-3671

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Westfall Local School District, as the educational hub of the

community, is to produce responsible, emotionally and physically healthy students who excel in academics, technology, the arts, and graduate career or college ready. This will be accomplished in a safe secure and nurturing environment by creatively using

all resources; developing effective community partnerships; and providing every student with appropriate, high quality, relevant education.

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Title ITitle I is a federally funded program designed to improve educational opportunities by providing aid to elementary and secondary education. The intent of Title I is to expand learning opportunities while supplementing basic skills instruction in reading and math.This program serves students who have need of improving their reading and/or math skills. The goals of the Title I program are to:

Develop positive attitudes towards reading/language arts and math Individualize reading/language arts and math instruction according to

student needs Increase reading/language arts and math achievement Increase student self-esteem Involve children with parent(s) in reading/language arts and math activities

at school and at home

TITLE I PROGRAM AT WESTFALLThe Title I is a K-8 School-wide Program at Westfall Elementary and Westfall Middle School, as well as Targeted Assistance at Westfall High School, designed to improve the educational success for all students enrolled within the program. Based on the assumption that all children are capable of learning and that student achievement is in direct correlation to expectations set, the following goal has been set:

By 2018, all students kindergarten through grade 12 will show a minimum of year’s growth in academic core areas as determined by value added data and local assessments.

The Title I program is designed to reach as many students as possible providing them with the opportunities and support needed to achieve higher standards of performance within the classroom. Individual or small group help is provided to students who are “struggling” with a given concept – determined by the classroom teacher through the use of pre/post testing, daily work, and informal observations.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFFThe Title I staff has met and/or exceeded the criteria set by the State of Ohio for highly qualified teachers. All Para-professionals within the school have met the requirements for being highly qualified through passing the State Para-professional test or having the needed college credits.

Parents Right to KnowWhat do I know about my child’s teacher? The federal education law put in place by President Bush called “No Child Left Behind,” requires that all parents in a Title 1 school be notified and given the opportunity to request information about the professional qualifications of classroom teachers and paraprofessionals that work with their child.If you are interested in this information you may send your request to the building principal who will provide a response.

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Third Grade Guarantee

The Third Grade Reading Guarantee now requires that students in kindergarten through grade three take a reading diagnostic to determine if the student is reading at grade level. The diagnostics are given at the beginning of each school year.

What are the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee? There must be a reading improvement and monitoring plan to include: Identification of specific reading deficiency Description of additional instructional services Opportunities for parents to be involved in the instruction services A process to monitor reading progress Specialized, research based reading curriculum All students on reading improvement and monitoring plans (RIMP)have

teachers with reading endorsements on their teaching licenses or have passed a rigorous test of reading principles designatedby the state board of education

Students retained by the third grade reading guarantee allreceive at least 90 minutes of reading daily

All students retained by the third grade guarantee have a “high performing teacher” as determined by their third grade reading guarantee, but still demonstrate proficiency in other areas.

Procedures are in place to provide intensive reading remediation targeted at the student’s specific reading deficiencies immediately after identifying a student who needsa reading improvement and monitoring plan.

Policy in place to have a reading improvement plan completed by the student’s teacher and parents within 60 days of identifying a student as “not on track.”

Students may be retained if they do not reach their required scores on the OAA reading assessment at the end of third grade.

Westfall Schools provides a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction, the StrategicBalanced Literacy Framework. Diagnostic & Formative assessments are a critical component of this model. All students Kindergarten – 3rd grade are assessed using one or more of the followingdiagnostic assessments:

MAP: Measures of Academic Progress DRA: Developmental Reading Assessment KRA: Kindergarten Readiness Assessment

The state will determine the approved diagnostic tools for assessment.The diagnostic assessments are in place and will be administered by September 30 th of the current school year.

Communication outreach to families will include: Notice of the 3rd Grade Guarantee Parent Reading Partnership Letter & Plan Identifying Data Intervention Plan

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Progress Monitoring Plan Plan for collaboration between the RTI team & home

An extended school day will be offered fall of the 2015 school year.

This year parents will receive notification using the template on the following page.

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SAMPLE – Not for UseWestfall Elementary Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan

* The district form is in electronic version and uses drop-down boxes to select specific criteria for the Students RIMP. The selections are an inclusive list of all intervention programs and will be selected based on student need.

Name________________________________________ Date_______________________________

Teacher______________________________________ Current Grade Placement______________

Current DRA 2 Level____________@ grade level_________ Comprehension __________________

Reading Skills (check appropriate skills)

Pre-Emergent Readerso Early print concepts (Front and back of book, book is the right way up, left to

right, top to bottom, knows the print is the part to be read)o Using pictures to make own meaningo Recognizing letters of the alphabeto Recognizing some words including high frequency wordso Extending phonemic awarenesso Early letter sound correspondence

Emergent Readerso Developing print concepts such as one-to-one correspondence,o Knowledge of beginning soundso Recognize letters of the alphabeto Recognizes high frequency wordso Uses knowledge of language patternso Early text structures

Developing Readerso Uses beginning, middle and final letters to identify wordso Uses spelling patterns and word endingso Uses text features such as table of contents, headings and visual literacyo Does not need to rely on pictureso Text structures such as chapters

Fluent Readerso Uses strategies such as skimmingo Root wordso Similes, antonyms, prefixes, etc.o Visual literacies such as graphs, tables, cycles, etc.o Text structures such as glossaries

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Additional Comments:

SAMPLE – Not for UseIntervention Programs

___ Comprehension Tool Kits

___ Edmark

___ Lexia

___ Project More

___ Explorations in Non-fiction writing

___ Fundations

___ Leveled Literacy Intervention

___ Read Naturally

___ SOAR Reading

___ Wilson Reading

___ SPIRE

Please check appropriate methods Progress Monitoring

__ 90 minute reading block daily __ bi-weekly

__ small, flexible grouping __ weekly

__ 30 minutes twice of week of intervention

__ 30 – 45 minutes 4- 5 days a week intense intervention

__ extended school day

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Westfall Local School DistrictTitle 1Policy Guidelines Parent Involvement

Philosophy of Parent Participation

Westfall Local School District recognizes that parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. The involvement of parents helps children learn more effectively. Research has demonstrated that parental involvement increases the effectiveness of Title I programs.

By working with teachers and by reinforcing and promoting learning objectives in the home, parents can dramatically improve their children’s educational achievement. Both research and intuition confirm that parental consultation and involvement are key ingredients in successful educational programs.

Westfall Local School District Title Program will include these activities in its program:

1. At least one public meeting will be held annually to explain the Title Program annually The Westfall Mall and Round-Up is held at the beginning of each school year. a. All parents will be invited. b. Community members of the Westfall Local School District will be encouraged to

participate. c. The purpose of the meeting shall be to discuss with parents the programs and activities

carried out with School-wide Title funding, inform parents of their rights to consult in the design and implementation of Title projects, solicit their input, and provide parents an opportunity to establish mechanisms for maintaining on going communications ‐among parents, teachers, and agency officials.

2. Parent’s suggestions in planning, developing, and implementing the Title Program. 3. Parents will be encouraged to assist in Title projects in planning and implementing them. 4. Timely information, materials and suggestions will be provided to help parents promote

education of their children in their homes. 5. Copies of this policy posted on the school website and available paper copy by request.

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Westfall Local School District Parent Involvement Policy

Westfall Local School District will do the following:

1. Involve parents in the joint development of a written parental involvement policythat describes ways of meeting the following requirements in Title I and theElementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).Notification to parents of the policy in an understandable format and language. Periodic updates of the Third Grade Guarantee to meet the changing needs of parents and the school. 2. Hold an annual meeting, at a convenient time, for all parents. The purposes of this meeting are to: Inform parents of their school’s participation in the Title I program. Explain the requirements of Title I. Explain the right of parents to be involved.

3. Parental involvement meetings at various times, such as morning or evening. Scheduled Family Events

Westfall Mall and Round Up Family Literacy Night Elementary Extravaganza Middle School Showcase Parent Trainings on Conference Nights

4. Involve parents in an organized, ongoing, and timely way in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs, including the school parental involvement policy and the School-wide Program Plan.

5. Provide the following items to the parents: Timely information about Title I programs Opportunities for regular meetings, if requested by parents, to:

Make suggestions. Receive timely responses to them. Participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children.

6. Develop jointly with the parents or caregivers of participating students a school-parent compact that outlines: The shared responsibility of parents, students, and the entire school staff to

improve students’ academic achievement The shared responsibility between the school and parents to help children

achieve the statewide academic content standards

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The school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that helps children served under Title I meet the Ohio State Standards.

The ways in which parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning, such as monitoring attendance, homework completion, and television watching; volunteering in their children’s classroom; participating, as appropriate, in decisions related to the education of their children and the positive use of their children’s extracurricular time

The importance of ongoing communication between teachers and parents through (at a minimum):

Frequent reports to parents about their children’s progress Reasonable access to staff School messenger School newsletters

Reasonable opportunities to volunteer at the school, participate in their children’s class, and observe classroom activities

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Westfall Local Schools and the parent/guardians of the students participating in activities, services, and programs funded by Title 1, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) agree that this compact outlines how parents/guardians, the entire school staff and students will share the responsibility for improved academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents/guardians will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the State’s high standards.

This compact will be in effect for this school year.

School Responsibilities

Westfall Elementary, Middle, and High School will:

1. Provide high quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the participating children to meet the State’s student academic standards of what students should know and be able to do and provide evidence of your child’s/children’s progress toward meeting those goals.

2. Hold parent/guardian-teacher conferences two times annually during which the compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement. Specifically those conferences will be held in the fall and spring quarters prior to interim progress reports. Report cards will be sent every nine weeks.

3. Parents/guardians may access the staff for consultation by calling the school office. Please allow 48 hours for a response from the teacher. Teacher email can be accessed through the district website.

4. Parents/guardians are offered opportunities to volunteer, participate, and observe classroom activities and assemblies.

5. Parents/guardians can access student progress reports using Progress Book.

6. Parents/guardians will be informed of upcoming events at school via student take-home notices and school website. http//www.westfall.k12.oh.us/ and school messenger.

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School-Parent / Guardian Compact Westfall Elementary School Westfall Middle School Westfall High School 9391 State Route 56 West 19545 Pherson Pike 19463 Pherson Pike Williamsport, Ohio 43164 Williamsport, Ohio 43164 Williamsport, Ohio 43164

740-986-4008 740-986-2941 740-986-8834

Title 1 Federal Program

SAMPLE – Not for UseParent / Guardian Responsibilities

We, as parents/guardians, will support our children’s learning in the following ways:1. Monitor my child’s attendance.

2. Making sure homework is completed while providing a place and time for my student to work.

3. Monitoring the amount of television, video games, and internet use.

4. Volunteering at school.

5. Staying informed about my child’s education and communicating with the school promptly by reading all notices from the school or the school district either received by my child or by mail and responding, as appropriate.

6. Serving to extend possible, on policy advisory groups, such as Title 1, Part A parent/guardian representative on the School Improvement team, the Parent Advisory Council, or other school advisory or policy groups.

Student Responsibilities

We, as students, will share the responsibility to improve our academic achievement and achieve the State’s high standards. Specifically, we will:

1. Do my homework every day and ask for help when I need to.

2. Read at least 30 minutes (or age appropriate time) every day outside of school time.

3. Give to my parents or the adult who is responsible for my welfare, all notices and information received by me from the school every day.

______________________________________ __________________Signature of School Representative Date

______________________________________ __________________Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

______________________________________ __________________Date

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Signature of Student Date

EVALUATION OF THE TITLE I PROGRAM:

Parents of students participating in the Title I program will have the opportunity to evaluate the Title I program. This evaluation will include a section pertaining to the effectiveness of the parental involvement policy, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and barriers to be overcome. The Title I staff, with the help of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), will use this information to evaluate the program and to make changes within the program as needed.

Title1 Plan The Westfall Title 1 Plan was approved by the Board of Education and the Ohio

Department of Education (ODE) for implementation each school year. The Plan is on file in the office. The plan was reviewed by the Title 1 planning committee

(Building Leadership Teams) prior to submission to ODE.

TITLE I COMPLAINT PROCEDUREA parent, student, employee, or district stakeholder who has a complaint regarding the use of federal NCLB funds and is unable to solve the issue, may address the complaint in writing to the district’s superintendent. Disputes addressing the enrollment, transportation (including inter-district disputes), and other barriers to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness are also addressed under this procedure. Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth may initiate the dispute resolution process directly at the school they choose, as well as at the district or district’s homeless liaison’s office. The parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision including the rights of the parent, guardian, or youth to appeal the decision. Students should be provided with all services for which they are eligible while disputes are resolved.

The superintendent will investigate, within one week, the circumstances of the complaint and render a decision, within two weeks, after receipt of the complaint.

The superintendent will notify the complainant of the decision in writing.

The complainant will be allowed one week to react to the decision before it becomes final.

The complainant will either accept or disagree with the decision and will provide such acknowledgment in writing, addressed to the district superintendent.

If the issue is not resolved with the superintendent, the complaint will be forwarded to the district’s Board of Education for further review. The parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the district’s decision including the rights of the parent, guardian, or youth to appeal the decision. Unresolved complaints may be forwarded by the stakeholder to the Ohio Department of Education for review. (Consult Ohio Department of Education Complaint Procedure)

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Complaint Resolution Policy

It is the policy of the ODE to investigate all allegations of noncompliance with state or federal law, rules, or regulations. In order to initiate a complaint with the ODE that a school district or the ODE has violated State law or regulations, or federal law or regulations that apply to any covered federal program, a complainant must submit a written, signed complaint that: 1) describes the pertinent facts; 2) identifies the alleged violations of the law; and, 3) recommends how the complainant would have the ODE resolve the complaint. The complaint must be mailed to the ODE. Complainants include any: public agencies, parents, and other individuals or organizations. The ODE will not accept or investigate allegations of violations from anonymous sources. The ODE will strive to resolve all complaints within 60 days of receipt.

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