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Parent-Family Engagement (IFD)

 

Parents and families are vital partners in the education of children; therefore, parental involvement is a priority of the school district. The concept of parent and family engagement shall include programs, services, and/or activities on the school site, as well as contributions of parents outside the normal school setting. Positive, productive, cooperative efforts by educators and parents are designed to impact a student’s success at school. Parents have the right and the responsibility to be involved in the planning, review, evaluation, and improvement of district policy. Parents of students at all schools will be asked to enter into a school-parent compact agreement where responsibilities of all stakeholders are outlined in supporting improved student achievement. The compact describes the school’s responsibility to provide a high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment. It also describes the way in which parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning and ways parents may volunteer and participate in decisions relating to the education of their children. Issues of open communication between parents and teachers are also addressed in the compact. The district has developed the Parent and Family Engagement Policy Section in collaboration with parents. This policy serves as the basis for parent and family engagement. Each school year a meeting of a district parental advisory committee will be convened to review and update this policy. Membership of this advisory committee will consist of representation of parents of students from the various subgroups identified in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and who participate in various programs conducted in the district schools. A district-wide parental and community advisory approach will gauge the extent to which parish parental involvement strategies have been implemented. This approach will also be a means to develop future action plans.

Title I programming facilitates a positive interaction between parents and schools. The goal is for parents to be involved in their child’s education in order to remove barriers to student success, reinforce the efforts of the school, improve attendance, collaborate on school-based interventions, and improve the integration of community-based agencies. Parents are provided a variety of opportunities to know their school, its programs, and the staff. The federal grant also provides for workshops and literature that help support parents in ensuring the success of their children. Emphasis is placed on forming a home-school partnership to benefit the students and all those involved in their welfare. The staff recognizes the parents’ right and responsibility to be involved in the planning, review, evaluation, and improvement of our Title I programs. We, therefore, invite parents to assist in planning activities that will accomplish program objectives.

PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS (IFDA)

To read the Parents' Bill of Rights for Public Schools (Act 466), please use this link https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=920005 to access R.S. 17:354.

PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (IFDA)

Parents have the right to have their children educated in a safe, orderly public school that is conducive to learning. Parents have the right to be informed of board policies and regulations, school rules, and the procedure for addressing grievances. Furthermore, they have the right to participate in educational decisions concerning their children. Louisiana Law (R.S. 17:235.2) further states that parents or legal guardians are responsible for:

  • Ensuring that his or her child attend school every day except for reasons due to illness or other legal exceptions.
  • Ensuring that his or her child arrives at school on time each day and/or for each class.
  • Ensuring that his or her child completes all required homework assignments.  Attending all required parent/legal guardian and teacher or parent/legal guardian and principal conferences.
  • Providing the school with documents verifying residency and school zone as required by law.

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

SMP encourages consistent communications between school and home. At the beginning of the school year, each principal will establish and communicate to families the guidelines for parental communication with teachers. Teacher office hours (preparation period) will also be established at the school level. Phone calls or emails sent outside of this established time will be returned the next school day.

Communication from the school will sometimes come in the form of a text. These messages will contain important information that may pertain to your child. Parents, if you have not received a jtext from the school within the first 2 weeks of school, please call the school to verify that we have the correct phone number to reach you.

BJHS maintains an ad-free website that includes a copy of this handbook and information about our school, including contact information for faculty, staff, and administration: http://www.stmaryk12.net/bjhs.

PARENT-STUDENT PROGRESS CENTER

SMP parents and legal guardians may review their child’s information through the JCampus Student Progress Center. Parents and legal guardians should create an account using this link https://www.stmaryk12.net/Page/8153 to be able access student attendance, grades, and communications from the school or district.