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Parent Involvement Policy

Cragin Elementary School is strongly committed to parent and community involvement at every level of the school program. Working with parents and community members, Cragin has, and will continue to explore and implement new ways that parents and community members can be integrated meaningfully in the activities, programs and leadership of the school. The purpose of the Cragin Parent Involvement Program is to maximize the input and resources of the Cragin community to ensure that students are fully supported in every area of their lives so that they are able to learn and achieve to their maximum potential.

Ø      The Cragin Elementary Parent Involvement Policy is a living document developed by the Cragin Site Council.  It will be revised annually and published bilingually in the school’s handbook which is distributed to all students/families.

Ø      Development and implementation of the Parent Policy is a function of the Cragin Site Council, overseen by our Community Representative.

Ø      The goal of the Cragin Parent Involvement Program is that all Cragin parents will be directly involved with the school, contributing a minimum of 20 hours during the school year, to support academic achievement of their child and the school program. This could include participating in parent-teacher conferences, developing Parent/Student/Teacher Compacts, volunteering in the classroom, attending parent classes, serving as a leader or member of one of the Site Council’s subcommittees, being a member of PTA, or tutoring and reading with their child after school.

Ø      All parents are welcome at the monthly Site Council meetings, and have the right to express their views during the “Call to the audience”, as well as to request the addition of agenda items to be discussed by the Site Council. All school programs are discussed openly and honestly. Meetings are held monthly and agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance. Upcoming meetings are published in the monthly school newsletter.  In addition, parent volunteers who form part of the school and district leadership councils will serve as representatives for all parents on an ongoing basis.

Ø      Meetings will be held for parents featuring a variety of formats and contexts to meet the needs that parents have for understanding how best to support their child.  This will include such things as parenting classes, workshops on improving literacy skills, literacy nights, family nights, and student recognition. 

Ø      Parents will contribute to the school’s Accountability Plan and the elaboration of school policies via their representatives on Site Council as well as through direct contributions, drop-in participants at the Site Council meetings, participants in workshops and parent meetings, members of ad hoc committees, and  through written responses to articles in the school newsletter.

Ø      Parents will receive information on all levels of school activities and management, and the progress of their child.  This will take the following forms:

·         A summary of the Site Council meetings will be posted.

·         Monthly newsletters will contain descriptions and updates of key issues facing the school community.

·         Teachers will meet with parents as needed to review student progress/test scores and create/review Parent Compacts.

·         Home visits will be made to address student and/or family needs.

·         School events that attract large numbers of parents will be used to make announcements regarding the Site Council and other leadership bodies.

·         Workshops and parent classes will inservice parents on such things as parenting techniques, reading skills, and English to help parents become more effective in helping their children.

·         Leadership training will be provided as needed.

Translation/interpretation is provided for parents as needed.