Federal Programs in Charlotte County
Parent Involvement
The Importance of Parent Involvement
The importance of parent involvement in a child's school success cannot be overemphasized. A growing body of research provides evidence that a parent's involvement in his/her child's education affects the child's academic achievement¹. Other research findings support a direct relationship between parent involvement and children's reading improvement². Furthermore, parent involvement requirements in federal laws such as No Child Left Behind require schools receiving federal funds to strengthen their educational partnerships with parents. Additionally, Florida's legislation on family-school partnership (1002.23 F.S.) requires school districts to provide information to parents that will help parents be more involved with their children's education.
Charlotte County Title 1 schools seek to strengthen their partnership with parents through various opportunities for parent involvement. These include such activities as participating in the Family Reading Experience at the Family Resource Centers, attending family science or math nights, providing input as members of school planning teams or School Advisory Committees, or developing school parent involvement plans.
¹Henderson, A. & Mapp, K. (2002). A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Austin, TX: National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools.
²Lin, Q. (2003). Research Digest: Parent Involvement and Early Literacy. http://gseweb.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/resources/digest/literacy.html
Parents Right to Know (En español)
District Parent Involvement Policy
Each school year Charlotte County is required to develop a Parent Involvement Policy that guides parental involvement activities conducted in the school district.
Summary of the 2009-2010 District Title I Parent Involvement Plan
2009-2010 District Title I Parent Involvement Plan
Charlotte County District's Parental Involvement Policy (2111)
Parent Involvement Policy for Title I (2261.01)
Each Title I school has a school Parent Involvement Plan. The links below will connect you to your Title 1 school's plan for activities designed to increase parental involvement.
Deep Creek Parent Involvement Plan
East Parent Involvement Plan (currently not available)
Kingsway Parent Involvement Plan
Liberty Parent Involvement Plan
Meadow Park Parent Involvement Plan
Myakka River Parent Involvement Plan (currently not available)
Neil Armstrong Parent Involvement Plan
Peace River Parent Involvement Plan
Sallie Jones Parent Invovlement Plan (currently not available)
Vineland Parent Involvement Plan
Parent Information and Resource Centers
There are two PIRCs (Parental Information & Resource Centers) in Florida - The Florida PIRC located at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa and The Florida Parental Information and Resource Center of Family Network on Disabilities of Florida (FND) in Clearwater. A description and contact information for each is listed below.
The Florida PIRC at University of South Florida
Goals
- Provide information, training and support for families through toll-free number, quarterly statewide newsletters, fact sheets, tip sheets, web site, and resource packets.
- Provide technical assistance, information, and in-service to schools interested in enhancing family involvement.
- Maintain a resource library and database including information relevant to families and those who work with families.
- Develop materials and training for educators and family members to improve partnerships between homes and schools.
The Florida PIRC at University of South Florida can be contacted at (813) 558-5096 or www.floridapirc.usf.edu
The Florida State Parental Information and Resource Center of FND
Goals
Promote family involvement in education through partnerships between The Florida Parent Information Resource Center of FND (PIRC) and schools, parents, other organizations, agencies, parent centers, and community-based family partners through technical assistance and in-service training materials and trainings for educators and families.
The Florida State Parental Information and Resource Center of FND can be contacted at (800) 825-5736 or www.fndfl.org/projects/pirc/index.asp
Family Resource Center
One of the opportunities for parents to function as partners with the school in their child's literacy development is through participation in the Family Reading Experience (FRE), formerly called the Book Checkout Program. The Family Reading Experience centers on a twice weekly book checkout activity at Title I family resource centers. A parent involvement paraprofessional operates each center. The atmosphere in the parent center is designed to be parent-friendly and encourage parent-staff and parent-child conversations. Each center is stocked with a wide variety of leveled and chapter books, including books in Spanish at schools serving Hispanic families.
Parents check out books for and with their children, depending on the child's age and learning level. Staff members give parents guidance for reading with their children, including how to help the child use reading strategies. The FRE staff also assists parents in choosing the appropriate book level for their child. As part of the experience, each child selects a "keeper" book that he or she can take home to help build a family home library.
The program has been recognized for helping parents work with their children, having received the Teacher-Parent Engagement Through Partnership award from the MetLife Foundation.