(8) Recommend policy changes, staff training, and strategies on family, student, and community engagement to improve the efficient and equitable delivery of public education services

401.1 The Superintendent shall direct the development and implementation of practices and programs that: (a) welcome parent involvement at both the system wide and local school levels, including local school governance councils; (b) establish a climate that is conducive to open communication, mutual trust, and respect between parents and school district personnel at all levels of the system; (c) enhance parent involvement at all grade levels in every local school; and (d) include parent involvement outcomes in all staff evaluations, as appropriate.

401.2 The Superintendent shall ensure that the practices and programs at the local schools meet the following Standard: (a) Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful; (b) Parenting skills are promoted and supported; (c) Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning; (d) Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought; (e) Parents are full partners in the educational decisions that affect children and families; and (f) Community resources are used to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning.

401.3 The Superintendent shall develop procedures and programs to ensure that appropriate school system personnel receive the training in parent involvement required to implement this section.

401.4 The Superintendent shall develop programs, at local schools, with the support of parent and community organizations, for parents who need support in order to provide effective aid to their children.

401.5 The Superintendent shall ensure that these programs, at a minimum, have the following characteristics: (a) Are comprehensive and coordinated; (b) Are developed consistently with nationally recognized best practices and research on effective parent involvement; (c) Recognize and accommodate the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of local school communities; and (d) Respond to the specific needs of students, their families and their communities.

401.6 The Superintendent shall where appropriate, involve parents in the development of new policy and the practices of the school district, and principals shall, where appropriate, involve parents in the development of new policy and the practices of the local school.

401.7 Reflecting the Board's desire to ensure that there is a home-school association in every school, the Superintendent shall direct principals to (a) Facilitate the establishment of parent-school organizations such as a Parent Teacher Association ( PTA ), Home School Association (HSA), or Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) at the school; (b) Ensure that parents decide what type of organization will be established; and (c) Ensure that a member of the chosen parent-school organization, who is elected by the parents, chairs the school's local school governance council.

401.8 Within the constraints of the budget, the Board shall ensure that the Superintendent and local schools have appropriate resources to implement this section effectively.

This guide provides guidance to support educators in applying best practices, including recommendations and resources regarding family involvement, to secondary transition planning.