Addison Northwest Supervisory Union Policy

SECTION: School-Community Relations CODE: H2

TITLE: PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Policy
It is the policy of the school boards of the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union to encourage and support the involvement of parents in their children’s education.

Background
Research has shown that parent involvement is a key factor in the academic and social success of students. The boards believe it is important that parents are involved in their child's education at home, in school, and within the larger community. Federally funded educational programs such as Title I and other No Child Left Behind (NCLB) strategies and programs mandate or encourage the strengthening of the parent/school/community relationship.

Implementation
The Superintendent shall assure that each school will develop and implement program and procedure to:

• Inform parents about their children's educational programs, instructional methods and objectives, and notify them directly of any significant changes.

• Provide parents with opportunities to become informed about program design, operation and evaluation, and to communicate with educators on these subjects.

• Encourage parents to observe instructional activities, attend program meetings, discuss concerns with educators, participate in program evaluation and improvement efforts, and give recommendations to school staff, administration, and Board members.

• Provide parents with information, opportunities and reasonable support intended to improve their abilities to work with their children at home and in school; to build partnerships between homes and schools; and to develop involvement activities as parents may request.

• Provide professional and non-professional staff members, administrators, School Board members, and school-community partners with training opportunities intended to improve their abilities to build more effective relationships with parents.

Concerns or Complaints

The school boards encourage parents and/or guardians to discuss their concerns or complaints through informal conferences with the teacher and/or principal in an effort to resolve the matter at the lowest possible level. However, if an informal conference fails to achieve resolution of the matter, the individual may initiate the following procedures:

In general, all concerns or complaints shall be in writing and addressed at the level closest to where the complaint originated.

1. A complaint regarding a classroom should be addressed first by the Teacher.
2. A complaint regarding the school should be addressed first by the Principal.
3. A complaint not resolved at the classroom or building level should be addressed to the Superintendent.
4. In the event the Superintendent is unsuccessful in resolving the matter, the complaint will be reviewed by the School Board at its next scheduled meeting. The Board decision in the matter shall be final.

If the complaint alleges improper administration by the District of a state or federal program:

1. A written complaint shall be filed with the Superintendent. The complaint shall provide a specific description of the alleged violation, the date and time and location of the violation and sufficient details to allow the Superintendent to investigate and respond to the complaint.
2. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, within fifteen (15) working days after receiving the complaint,(a) investigate the allegations; (b) meet with the Complainant; (c )take steps to resolve the complaint and (d) notify the Federal Programs Coordinator at the VT Department of Education of the action taken.
3. If the Complainant is dissatisfied with the Superintendent's proposed resolution of the complaint, the Complainant may file a written notice with the Federal Programs Coordinator at the VT Department of Education within fifteen (15 working days following receipt of the Superintendent's proposed resolution of the complaint. The Federal Programs Coordinator will (a) initiate an investigation; (b) determine the facts relating to the complaint and (c) issue a written notice of his/her findings to the Superintendent and the Complainant. If the findings support the Complainant's allegations, the District will be directed to take corrective action.
4. In the event that the complaint alleges a violation of state or federal law, the findings and decisions of the Federal Programs Coordinator at the VT Department of Education may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education whose decision in the matter shall be final.

Date Revised/Adopted: February, 2006; October,2009 (Proposed Revisions)

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §165 (School Quality Standards)

Cross Reference: Visits to Schools (H5)

School Community Relations (H1)