Strategies for Engaging Parents in SES

1. 2008 NCLB School Choice Leadership Summit Strategies for Engaging Parents in SES Jessica Taylor- FDOE, Beth Varn- Hernando, Nick Matzirakis- Sunshine, Karyn Lindsay- Florida PIRC of FND, Shawn Williams- Florida PIRC at USF Wednesday, June 25, 2008

2. Strategies for Engaging Parents In SES • Notification Requirements • Outreach Activities • Provider Fairs • Parental Involvement

3. Intent and Spirit of Parent Outreach Districts, schools, and providers must ensure that parents understand their NCLB Choice Options and are able to make informed decisions to best meet the needs of their children.

4. Building Awareness of SES through Notification • Notification officially comes from each district to eligible families. This notification is the first step in increasing parental awareness of the SES program.

5. Notification Requirements NCLB requires districts to notify eligible families regarding SES both prior to and after the start of the school year. This notification must include: • Informational Letter • Application Form • Provider Directory

6. Enrollment- The District’s Responsibility We suggest that providers not enroll students because: • Parents must be notified of all options under NCLB • Parents must be given an unbiased description of all SES providers • There are certain eligibility requirements (SINI school and Free or reduced priced lunch) • Children may only enroll in SES or school CWT, not both

7. SES Enrollment Over the Years

8. Districts’ Parental Outreach Activities • Mailings and Notices • School Staff Training • Informational Meetings • Partnering with Community or Faith-Based Organizations • Mass Media

9. Hernando County2007-2008 • 10 - Title I Schools • 11 - SES Providers • 5,142 Eligible Students • Full-funding for 704 Students • Enrolled over 1,000 Students in SES

10. Hernando County’s Outreach Examples • SES Ambassadors! • Challenged each school to enroll 100 students • SES Flyer in the Free and Reduced Lunch Application

11. Hernando County’s Provider Fair • SES Provider Fair Check List • What works for Hernando County!

12. Provider Fairs: Best Practices for Districts • Advertise fairs well in advance and send reminder notices • Utilize marketing materials printed in various languages • Organize multiple fairs for each location/zone “Dress-up” tables and presentation areas • Restrict providers’ marketing efforts at fairs to designated areas (not outside the school)

13. Provider Fairs: Best Practices for Districts • Provide overview of SES program (presentation style) prior to allowing parents to meet with providers • Utilize a lottery system to designate providers’ table assignments at fairs/events • Combine provider fairs with other school functions such as Open Houses or Orientations • Districts should facilitate SES enrollment (providers should not have forms)

14. Provider Fairs: Best Practices for Providers • Properly train staff members on ethical behavior and best practices for effective marketing • Promote professional standards for staff attending fairs (proper attire and communication skills) • Provide literature in multiple languages (Spanish, Creole, etc.) • “Dress-up” tables and presentation

15. Provider Fairs: Best Practices for Providers • Engage bilingual staff to assist with parents’ language needs • Spend less time “selling” and more time educating A good program will sell itself • Acknowledge parents’ needs during the fairs • Proactively provide answers to common questions about your program (rate per session, number of sessions, tutor qualifications, program locations, subjects offered, etc.)

16. Best Practices for Provider Fairs

17. SES Parent Involvement Requirements • Parents must actively request to have their child participate in SES by completing an enrollment form • Parents must be a part of the development of their child’s SLP • Parents must be notified of their child’s academic progress through SES through Provider’s regular progress reports

18. Why is Family Involvement Important? Research indicates that children experience increased academic success when their families are effectively involved in their education: The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: Families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life….When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. • Henderson, A.T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and • Community Connections on Student Achievement., 7.

19. What Specific Benefits will Children Experience? Enhanced parent involvement can lead to many positive outcomes. Benefits for students include: • Higher grade point averages and scores on standardized tests or rating scales • Enrollment in more challenging academic programs • More classes passed and credits earned • Better attendance • Improved behavior at home and at school • Better social skills and adaptation to school Henderson, A.T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement, 24.

20. How do Providers and Districts Benefit from Engaging Parents? If you effectively engage families, your students will demonstrate greater academic gains and success. Students will be more likely to arrive to tutoring sessions on time, regularly, and prepared to learn.

21. First Steps to Engaging Parents • Know your audience! • As mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, students that receive SES must qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Many of these families face challenges that may prevent them from becoming involved in their child’s tutoring sessions.

22. Barriers SES Parents May Face • Lack of transportation • Difficult work schedules • Cultural differences • Lack of financial resources • Limited educational background

23. Barriers SES Parents May Face • Negative experiences when parents were in school • Limited proficiency in the English language • Limited literacy levels • Potentially poor perception of SES due to past experiences • Little understanding of the SES programs and potential benefits for their child

24. How Can Tutors Engage Parents? Two-way Communication • Parents must receive frequent, consistent, and regularly scheduled communication from tutors about their child’s progress • progress reports • phone calls • home visits • conferences • Contact parents to report on the negative AND the positive • Make positive comments about the child every time you speak to the parent

25. Two-way Communication • Contact parents early to discuss problems • Collaborate with parents to determine how you can work as a team to solve the problem. • Show parents you care about their child! • Listen to parents about their child’s needs—they are the first experts! • Consistently communicate with your students’ teachers • Teachers and providers must work together with parents to encourage success.

26. More Ideas for Engaging Parents • Find out from parents about a child’s interests and talents • Use this information to plan your tutoring sessions. • Maintain regular communication with parents via audiotape or written journals • Share students’ work with families • Be persistent in reaching parents • It may take several phone calls or letters to reach a parent. • Don’t give up! Parents will eventually see how much you care. • Survey parents to determine their needs and what times they are available for conferences

27. More Ideas for Engaging Parents • Encourage regular attendance • Follow up with children’s families after they have missed tutoring sessions. • Follow up with children’s school teacher or site facilitator. • Be creative and flexible with scheduling conferences (Offer multiple times and locations) • Invite parents to attend a tutoring session • Encourage parents to read at home with their child • Help children make take-home learning games to bring home and share with their families • Celebrate and share every success experienced by each child with his or her family!

28. Ways Providers Can Engage Parents • Involve parents in organizing and planning for your programs • Encourage and respect parental input/feedback during the SLP development • Survey parents to assess their needs and expectations • Speak positively about parents and family involvement with your tutors • Ensure that your tutors are working to engage families in SES

29. Ways Providers Can Engage Parents • Surpass “requirements” and aim for excellence by offering: parent conferences, phone calls home, newsletters, attendance at school advisory, etc. • Provide parents with strategies and activities to do at home with children • Invite parents to schedule an observation of a tutoring session (5-10 minutes)

30. Parent/Family Involvement Resources • Title I Parent Involvement: http://www.fldoe.org/flbpso/pi.asp • USDE After school Training Toolkit: http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits • On the Road to Reading - A Guide for Community Partners: Involving Families in Tutoring Programs: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/RoadtoRead/part4.html • Working Together: School-Family-Community Partnerships : A Toolkit for New Mexico School Communities • http://www.cesdp.nmhu.edu/toolkit/index.html • Dr. Ruby Payne : http://www.ahaprocess.com

31. Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) • Florida PIRC of Family Network on Disabilities of Florida (FND) Please visit their Web site at: http://www.fndfl.org/projects/pirc/index.asp • Florida PIRC at University of South Florida (USF) Please visit their Web site at: http://www.floridapirc.usf.edu

32. Contact InformationJessica TaylorProgram SpecialistBureau of Student AssistanceFlorida Department of Education, Suite 316Phone: 850.245.0479 E-mail: jessica.taylor@fldoe.orgWebsite: www.fldoe.org/flbpso