New Teacher Orientation2013

Parental Engagement

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity It’s all about Customer Service Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Today’s Objectives:

New Teachers will create in writing a meaningful communication system to connect with parents within 2 weeks of the start of the school year based on literature provided.

New Teachers will develop in writing a process to ensure parental participation at IEP meetings and other school events based on whole group discussions.

Guiding Principles

A shared belief in collaboration among families

and service providers

A committed effort to

minimize the bureaucracy in

the process

Meaningful Parent Participation

Indicators of SuccessTeams are constitute

d of required members who are

prepared.

The process of

IEP developme

nt is individuali

zed.

The documents reflect the

process used in the developme

nt.

The documents

are dynamic

and responsive to changes

in the child.

The documents belong to the family.

Evaluation and

monitoring are

vehicles for

improvement of

services.

Denver Public Schools Division of Student Services, July 2012

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Free Appropriate Public Education: (FAPE)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)/ No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA)

It’s It’s the LAW

Always participate with parents in a two-way, meaningful communication involving student’s progress, and other school activities including:• Being actively involved• Serving as full partners• Providing effective Home-School

Communication (in parent’s primary language)

• Connecting as a resource contact to incorporate community involvement

KEY POINTS

From: PTA National Standards for Family-School Partnerships: http://pta.org/National_Satndars.pdf

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Wagon Wheel Activity:(Count off A/B and form a circle)

Share with your partner: (2 minutes)What steps do you take to get parents involved in the IEP process?

“A Group”- Record responses from partners on chart paperBoth Groups- Discussion and Reflection

What works?

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity It’s all about Customer Service Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Provide opportunities for ALL parents

Provide parent a copy of parental rights and safeguards

Keep your parents in the loop Reach out to your parents and communicate with them as equal partners

It’s all about Customer Service…

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity It’s all about Customer Service Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Guidelines for Successful Parent Involvement: Working with Parents of

Students with Disabilities

Break into groups of 5

Each group will read and discuss a section of Guidelines for Successful Parent Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities (6 minutes)

One member from each group will share a synopsis of their section and provide a brief description of group feedback/reflections

Parents are the central contributor to their child’s education.

Each parent presents a level of involvement in their child’s education.

Parents are human. Parents from different ethnic and

racial groups may have alternative and important ways of supporting their children.

Parents areParents

Guidelines to handle difficult situations…

An Ear, Not an Answer Stay positive There is an old saying that the best

way to have the last word is to apologize

Verify the parent’s concern Ensure the parent you will check

into the situation, and follow-up with them (National PTA, Building Successful Partnerships, 2000; Countryman & Eggleston, 1994; Shartrand, Weiss, Kreider, & Lopez, 1997;

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, 2002)

Review Objectives It’s the Law What works? Wagon Wheel Activity It’s all about Customer Service Guidelines for Successful Parental

Involvement: Working with Parents of Students with Disabilities, a shared reading group exercise.

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Agenda

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

(National PTA, Building Successful Partnerships, 2000; Countryman & Eggleston, 1994; Shartrand, Weiss, Kreider, & Lopez, 1997; National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, 2002)

Students:* More positive attitudes toward school*Higher achievement, better attendance and more homework completed consistently*Higher graduation rates and enrollment rates in postsecondary education

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Parents:* Greater knowledge of education programs and how schools work* Knowledge of how to be more supportive of their child *Greater confidence about ways to help children learn*More positive views of teachers*Greater empowerment

(National PTA, Building Successful Partnerships, 2000; Countryman & Eggleston, 1994; Shartrand, Weiss, Kreider, & Lopez, 1997; National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, 2002)

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Teachers and Administrators:*Greater teaching effectiveness*Higher expectations of students* Increased ability to understand family views and cultures* Greater appreciation of parent volunteers*Improved morale*Greater sense of community

(National PTA, Building Successful Partnerships, 2000; Countryman & Eggleston, 1994; Shartrand, Weiss, Kreider, & Lopez, 1997; National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, 2002)

Benefits of Strong Parent/School Collaboration

Communities:* Greater strength through collaboration with schools and parents* Greater impact of services through a comprehensive, integration approach* Increased access to services for families*Greater sense of community (National PTA, Building Successful Partnerships, 2000; Countryman & Eggleston, 1994; Shartrand, Weiss,

Kreider, & Lopez, 1997; National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, 2002)

Questions/Comments/Thoughts

IEP Meeting Agenda and Student Directed IEP’s with Jared LeMieux

What’s Next?