ESSA Title I School-Parent Compact
Educating children is a shared responsibility between the school and the home. When schools and parents work together, we see greater student success. One of the ways to help our students achieve academic success is through effective communication with parents. In a Title I school, the heart of communication begins with a written agreement between both parties called a compact. For Title I schools, this is a legal requirement for the grant, but it can be much more when the compact is communicated and becomes part of the school culture. Does your Title I school have a compact that is developed with parents and evaluated annually? If not the CSS Title I School-Parent Compact webinar can guide you through the process.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the online course: ESSA Title 1: School Parent Compact now.
What is a School-Parent Compact?
The School-Parent Compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved academic achievement and the strategies by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high standards. The school-parent compact is jointly developed with parents. (ESSA, Section 1116 Part (d))
Effective Compacts:
- link to goals of the campus improvement plan for student achievement.
- focus on student learning skills.
- share strategies that staff, parents and students can use to improve student learning.
- explain how teachers and parents will communicate about student progress.
What must a school-parent compact include?
According to federal law, all school-parent compacts shall:
- describe the school’s responsibilities to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive, effective environment.
- include ways parents and families can support their child’s learning.
- Explain how to volunteer in the classroom or school and/or participate in decision-making
- be written and communicated in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
- be evaluated annually for effectiveness.
What are the steps to developing a school-parent compact?
Step 1: Gather what you need (last year’s compact, ESC 16 toolkit, CNA for current year, compact checklist, meeting documents
Step 2: Build your team (parents/guardians, campus leaders, teachers)
Step 3: As a team, list the high impact strategies teachers and families can use to meet the objective. Include how student progress will be communicated.
Step 4: Write the compact with key requirements of role of school, role of home, and role of students (provided in the ESC 16 template).
Step 5: Distribute the compact. Translate according to your translation policy.
- Elementary Title I campuses must discuss the compact at a parent-teacher conference.
- Other methods of distribution include putting the compact in the student handbook, in the enrollment packet, or posted on the website (posing on web is required for Title I schools).
Step 6: Annually evaluate and revise compact. – An annual evaluation is required along with your Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy. Surveying parents is recommended.
Ensure that you are documenting the work and process. These, along with the Campus Improvement Plan, are subject to Title I random validations. Your documentation should include:
- Invitations/Flyers to meeting to evaluation and develop the PFE Engagement Policy and the Title I School-Parent Compact
- Agenda
- Sign-in Sheet (includes role of each participant)
- Minutes
- End-product (Final Written Compact – translated according to your translation policy. Campuses with bilingual programs must translate in target language.)
For a complete resource on the compact, please review the School-Parent Compact Toolkit found on the Region 16 ESC Title I Initiative website.
The CSS team assists clients by training administrators and other key staff on best practices to meet documentation requirements for Title I PFE random validations.
Where can I find resources to help my team with writing a school-parent compact?
The Title I, Part A Parent & Family Engagement Statewide Initiative is managed by the Region 16 Education Service Center. It offers multiple resources for Parents, Teachers, PFE Liaisons, and Administrators.
Resources in the School-Parent Compact Toolkit include a checklist, sample compact, a template, and many other resources.
Click here for the most recent PFE Compliance Calendar to keep you up-to-date on all required submissions and activities.
Additionally, Region 16 hosts the Statewide Parental Involvement Conference each year and provides additional training opportunities around the state. For details, check out the Title I, Part A Parent & Family Engagement Statewide Initiative resource page here.
The more you can make the compact visible and familiar to teachers and parents; the more the content will become part of your school culture.
Need help?
Please contact Charter School Success:
Sharon Benka – sbenka@charterschoolsuccess.com