District Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Our Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Our policy:

• Encourages, supports, and values the participation and involvement of parents and families in the educational experiences of their children that improve student academic achievement and school performance.
• Commits to developing family-friendly schools, offices, and programs that welcome parents and families to positive and supportive environments.
• Recognizes students learn best when families and schools work together, developing relationships of shared responsibility and mutual support.
• Assists parents in learning how home environments can support the academic achievement of students.
• Offers strategies such as parenting classes, home visitation opportunities, and adult education programs to support parents.
• Provides special assistance to ensure that non-English speaking parents may participate as full partners in their child’s education.
• Recognizes parents, family, and community members make valuable contributions to the educational process as participants in important school and district decisions.
• Encourages parents, families, and community members to participate on a school committee that meets 3 times a year, to become members of parent organizations (at school and district levels) and to serve as volunteers for classrooms, school, and district-wide activities. (Meetings or events may be held virtually and/or in person.)

Conducts outreach to involve parents, family and community members in the joint development of the District Plan and in the Process of School Review and Improvement

• Collaborate with community stakeholders at all levels of District and School Strategic Planning.
• School-wide planning teams review the school-wide plans and provide input into revisions, additions and deletions for activities and budget.
• Findings from each school’s needs assessment will be utilized.
• Present Title I program/activities and requirements at parent meetings.
• School-wide plans are presented at annual meetings.
• (Meetings may be conducted virtually and/or in person.)

Provide coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective Parent & Family Engagement Activities

• Involve parents and family members in decisions regarding how funds are allotted for Parent & Family Engagement Activities.
• Not less than 1% of the Title I allocation will be reserved for parent and family engagement activities including family literacy and parenting skills.
• Not less than 90% of the funds reserved for parent and family engagement shall be distributed to schools for activities including education workshops and home visits.
• Provide training to school staff, administration, and parents to strengthen parent involvement efforts.
• Provide a school counselor program in coordination with mental health counselors for services such as individual and group counseling, home visits, character. education, and career education programs.
• Provide coordination for effective parent and family engagement though the School’s Improvement Council (SIC).

Build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parent and family involvement

• Involve parents in planning of the Title I Plan.
• Provide parent conference opportunities.
• Provide family nights on literacy, math, assessments, monitoring child’s progress, science, and state academic standards.
• Support and participate in volunteer programs.
• Encourage parents to observe in classrooms.
• Share results from Response to Intervention (RTI) Teams that identify and monitor children at risk.
• Sponsor Parent/Student Orientation Night.
• (Meetings may be conducted virtually and/or in person.)

Coordinate and integrate Parent & Family Engagement Strategies under programs, such as Babynet, Child Find and Parent-Child Home Program

• Developmental screenings are available for children from birth to age 2½ years old. Contact South Carolina Babynet at 1-877-621-0865 for more information or to schedule a screening appointment.
• Developmental screenings are available for children aged 2½ years old through 5 years old, not enrolled in a public school program. Contact Horry County Schools Preschool Assessment Office at 843-488-6220 for more information or to schedule a screening appointment.
• Home visits are available to families with children 16 months to 4 years old to strengthen the family and prepare children to succeed in school by increasing parent-child interactions. Contact the Parent-Child Home Program at 843-222-9959 for more information. Visits may be conducted virtually and/or in person.
• Parents and family members with children participating in these programs will be encouraged to become involved in all parenting activities.
• Horry County Schools provides two comprehensive Family Literacy Programs. The services include Adult Education, Parenting, Interactive Literacy Activities, and Early Childhood.
• Information is provided to parents and family members concerning early interventions for children and family literacy. Contact 488-6230 for more information.