PURPOSE: Tulsa Public Schools shall promote parent involvement in all schools and work as equal partners with parents in providing quality learning experiences for every student, every day, without exception, as mandated by Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The Board believes and acknowledges that parent involvement raises the academic achievement level of students. Additionally, parents become empowered, teacher morale improves, and communities grow stronger when parents take an active role in educating their children. Schools shall involve parents in the education of their children at all grade levels. The Superintendent or designee shall provide coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist all schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. Section 1118 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, Part A, Parent Involvement, establishes that to build capacity for parent involvement within schools, a district is to “develop jointly with, agree with, and distribute to parents of participating children a written parent involvement policy.” This policy and subsequent policies regarding building parents' capacity for involvement will be implemented throughout Tulsa Public Schools.
Building Parents Capacity for Involvement
The Board believes that empowering parents to insist on improvement and giving schools extra incentive to do so and by giving parents options regarding their children’s education helps the district to realize its vision to “Destination Excellence” for patrons of the community. As a result of this belief, the Board shall create an environment of supportive and collaborative parent involvement.
- Program Information for Parents: McLain High School for Science and Technology shall provide assistance to parents of all children in understanding such topics as the state’s academic content and achievement standards, the assessments being used, the requirements of Title 1, Part A, Every Child Succeeds Act of 2015 and how to monitor their children’s progress and work with educators to improve their achievement.
- Materials and Training: McLain High School for Science and Technology shall provide materials and training, such as literacy training and training on how to use technology, to help parents work with their children to improve achievement.
- Educate Educators: McLain High School for Science and Technology shall educate teachers, support personnel, principals and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and the school.
- Understandable Communication: McLain High School shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities is sent to the parents of all children in a format, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
- Other Requested Activities: McLain High School shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.
Parent/ Guardian and Community Involvement and Engagement
By 2021, each school community will demonstrate exceptional parent/ guardian involvement engagement and support through 100% membership in its respective parent/ guardian association, and the district will triple its Partner in Education agreements with community, businesses, institutions, organizations and agencies. McLain High School for Science and Technology has implemented the following procedures to increase community involvement.
- Families Alumni and Community members will have access to the McLain Family Success Center
- Maintain the McLain High website to list current events and contact information for all staff.
- School information will be shared with neighborhood associations via email, websites, and the electronic marquee.
- Parents will have access to Parent Portal (PowerSchool) and be encouraged to monitor their student’s progress.
- Staff and students will participate in community-involvement events.
- Membership and participation in PTSA will continue to be encouraged.
- McLain High will continue to work closely with the McLain Alumni .
- Parents will be notified of all parent/teacher conferences as well as other school and community events hosted by the school.
- Volunteer hours are recorded by a volunteer coordinator on staff.
- The school will retain a Parent/Community Liaison to maintain a relationship between the school and community as well as publish a regular newsletter.
- McLain High School for Science and Technology will offer shadowing experiences for prospective students throughout the school year.
- The school will host informational meetings for parents concerning school reform, school policies, and student recognition.
- All teachers will have a webpage that contains current assignments and lesson plans, which will be updated weekly.
- Communication with parents about negative situations, as well as positive news.
Adopted: Reviewed and Revised, September 17, 2020
Legal Reference: ESSA 2015, Oklahoma Edge
