Title I School-Parent Compact

Title I School-Parent Compact

October 27, 2023 | Grants Management

You’ve probably heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” The same is true about educating a child.  When schools and parents work together, we see greater student success. Parents and schools agree that we want our students to be successful.  One of the ways to help our students achieve academic success is through effective communication with parents. When successful communication occurs, parents will become more engaged and involved in their child’s learning. Under Title I, one requirement that provides for highly effective communication is the school-parent compact that is developed in collaboration with parents.

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))

Remember, if you are an elementary school, the compact MUST be shared in individual parent-teacher conferences.

Click here to register for the ESSA Title 1: School Parent Compact Online Course.

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.
  • describe opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in the classroom.

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.
  • address the importance of on-going communication.
  • 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: Motivate and Designate
  • Step 2: Gather and Align
  • Step 3: Design and Develop
  • Step 4: Promote, Engage, and Implement
  • Step 5: Celebrate, Review, and Revise

Ensure that you are documenting the work and process. 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)

For more information on these five steps, 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 2023-2024 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. 

Need help?

Please contact Charter School Success:

Have questions?