ORA Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy
Oaks Road Academy 2023-2024 Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy
Oaks Road Academy is a Title I School. Our school receives funds from the federal government to help students in both remediation and acceleration of learning. Title I money provides both extra teachers to work with children and additional funds to purchase materials, supplies, and training opportunities for staff and parents. Oaks Road believes that the education of students involves the collaboration among the home, school, community, and other support agencies. The comprehensive involvement of parents contributes positively to the school community and to the success of our children. A program of parent involvement activities shall be ongoing and be reviewed annually by parents to ensure their involvement in the planning and implementation of the program at Oaks Road Academy.
Annual Public Meetings
Annual Fall and Spring meetings occur to inform parents. All parents shall be informed about the parental involvement requirements, school performance, and methods for measuring progress, school facilities and the School-wide Title I program. At the end of the school year, input is solicited from parents to plan, evaluate, and improve the program for next year. Meetings are held throughout the year to train and involve parents in the education of their children. Quarterly meetings are held to enable parents to see our focus for learning, quarterly expectations and data review.
Regular Meetings
Parents and students are encouraged to participate in Fall orientation to prepare them for their transition to a new grade level. Teachers and administrators schedule parent/student conference whenever deemed necessary by the school or when requested by the parents. These conferences are held before, during, or after school hours.
Flexible Meetings
Regular and scheduled parent meetings or conferences are held throughout the school year, at various times of the day, to provide continued information, support, and resources for parents. Parents are encouraged to volunteer and attend all school activities.
Involving Parents
Parents are encouraged to participate in Oaks Road's training activities. Training's shall be provided through workshops, family activities, special events, individual parent conferences, educational materials and literature available through school programs and the media center. The school's Student Assistance Team/ Multi-Tiered Support Team and IEP committees work with parents to assure parent training is adequate to assist their child with achievement strategies.
Parent Comments
At each meeting a plus/delta evaluation is conducted in order that improvements may be made. Parents are also given surveys to complete. Parents and others may continuously provide input on any matter concerning our school. An open door policy prevails here at ORA. Parents are always welcome to share suggestions and comments with teachers, Title I staff, and administration.
Parent Compacts
A School/Parent Compact defines goals, expectations and shared responsibilities. Each party of the agreement will receive a signed and dated copy. Compacts will be explained at the Fall Orientation meetings scheduled for each grade level. Parents and students will sign the compacts at the Fall Orientation. New parents and students receive the Compact at enrollment. All parties must review and sign. The Compact will be reviewed during Parent-Teacher Conferences. The Compact is used as part of the collaboration effort between parent and school for the success of the student. It may be used in the Student Assistance Team or for planning strategies for success.
Parent Assistance
State and local expectations are shared with parents at the Parent Information Meeting for grades 1 through 5 in early September. EOG results are shared at the Fall and Spring Title I Annual Meetings. Results are posted on the information board near the office, as well as shared in the school's newsletter and the principal's letter to our parent community. All grades are sent home in interim progress reports, quarterly report cards and special letters, which indicate the child's progress.
Opportunities for LEP and SWD Parents
All parents are encouraged to attend school functions. Translators will be arranged for parents who speak languages other than English. Whenever possible, meetings are scheduled at the parent's convenience. Transportation can be arranged, if necessary.
Parents with Limited English Proficiency, Disabilities, Migratory children
Parents of children with limited English proficiency or disabilities are afforded opportunities to participate fully and freely in all education activities at school. Once the need is identified, assistance shall be provided. Whenever possible, information is sent home in native language. Bilingual staff members, parents, ESL instructors and even students are assigned as liaison between home and school. ORA partners with Interfaith Ministry and District Title I ESL Support Staff to support families. Additionally, ORA is handicapped accessible.
Education of School Personnel
Administration/Cabinet conducts quarterly reviews to ensure timely reporting out of assessment data to the staff. This ensures the staff the tools to identify at-risk students and in turn, share this information with parents. On-going staff development initiatives are continually provided to the staff which focuses on effective communication with parents, establishing a school/family partnership, ways to involve parents, and suggestions for parents to work with children at home.
Information
Classroom teachers and the administration send home notices on a regular basis, such as the ORA Monthly Calendar of Events (Google Calendar and Title I Parent Information Calendar), ClassDojo, Peachjar e-Flyers, weekly information and progress reports, etc. Our school web page, social media accounts and the PowerSchool Parent Portal are also tools for communication. Our ELL tutors and a computerized program have been used to adapt communications for parents whose primary language is not English.
Coordinating and Integrating With Other Programs
Coordination with other programs is evident, starting with the school's Leadership Team (Cabinet). Emphasis shall be placed on collaboration with Cabinet, the AdvancED School Renewal Process, Title I Teachers, 21st Century Learning Communities Program, Summer Camp (Read to Achieve), Grade Level Teachers, and Oaks Road administration. Frequent communication occurs among the Craven County Health and Social Services Departments and Craven County social workers. We also utilize the support of Interfaith Ministry to assist our non-English speaking families.