TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 6—SCHOOL, HOME, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

6.1—COMMUNICATION GOALS
6.2—RELATIONS WITH SCHOOL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
6.3—PUBLIC GIFTS AND DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOLS
6.4—VOLUNTEERS
6.5—VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS
6.6—FUND RAISING
6.7—COMPLAINTS
6.8—DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATERIALS
6.9—MEDIA RELATIONS AND NEWS RELEASES
6.10—SEX OFFENDERS ON CAMPUS (MEGAN’S LAW)
6.11—PARENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - DISTRICT
6.12—PARENTAL/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - SCHOOL

SCHOOL, HOME, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

6.1—COMMUNICATION GOALS

The single most significant factor in student achievement is the teacher. The teacher’s effectiveness is greatly enhanced when supported by the school community as a whole, the student’s home, and the community at large. The Arkansas General Assembly and the Department of Education have demonstrated their understanding of the importance of involving such groups by repeatedly mandating their inclusion in the educational system and process. Communication with staff, parents, grandparents, legal guardians, business, and community members is fundamental to increasing their concern for, and involvement in, raising student achievement.

Communication should be two-way between the District and the public. The communications program shall strive to:

1.	Increase mutual understanding, trust, and support between the District and parents, business, and the community as a whole;

2.	Keep District staff regularly informed of upcoming District programs and events as well as noteworthy staff and student accomplishments to enable all the staff to help promote positive public relations;

3.	Create and disseminate brochures, flyers, and fact sheets that will help parents and community members better understand school policies and procedures and acquaint them with areas where their volunteer services are most needed;

4.	Inform legislators of the accomplishments of the District’s students and staff, as well as how proposed legislation could affect the district;

5.	Maintain good relations with the news media and provide the media with pertinent news releases; and

6.	Increase the participation of parents, grandparents, legal guardians, business, and community members in school activities and programs.

The Board will appoint committees, when appropriate, to help the District examine issues facing it. Such committees may include members of the public, students, parents, and school employees, as well as members of the Board. Members may serve until the committee makes its non-binding recommendations to the Board. 

Any committee, which includes among its members a member of the School Board, shall operate according to the requirements of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.*

The District’s Board of Directors shall hold a meeting by October 15 of each year to provide a report that systematically explains the District’s policies, programs, and goals to the community. The District’s report shall detail the progress of the District and the District’s schools toward accomplishing program goals, accreditation standards, and proposals to correct any deficiencies. The report shall be made available to the public, including by posting a copy on the District’s website under State-Required Information no later than ten (10) days following the meeting. The meeting shall provide parents and other members of the community the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions concerning the District’s program.

Legal References:	A.C.A. § 6-15-1005(c), (f)(1)(2)
A.C.A. § 6-16-603 (a) (3)
A.C.A. § 6-18-1003(2)
A.C.A. § 6-18-1005(a)(1) 
*A.C.A. § 25-19-106
Standards for Accreditation: 3-B.1, 3-B.2, 3-B.2.1, 5-A.1
Arkansas Department of Education: Regulations Governing Gifted and Talented Program Approval Standards: 4.0; 10.03

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 16, 2018

6.2—RELATIONS WITH SCHOOL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

The Board recognizes and values the many contributions support organizations make to the District’s schools. Parent/teacher organizations and booster clubs work to augment and strengthen the District’s educational and extracurricular objectives through the goods and services they provide.

Groups wishing to be recognized as a support organization must have open membership and have their by-laws approved by the school principal, the Superintendent, and the Board. School personnel shall assist approved booster organizations in their efforts to the extent practicable. Meetings of such organizations, cleared through the principal, shall not be subject to school use fees. School staff members are encouraged to attend and participate.

Fund-raising activities are to be approved in advance by the principal or his/her designee. Prior to the donation of equipment and/or supplies to the school, the organization should seek the advice of the principal to help ensure the compatibility of the donation with present school equipment. All equipment donated to the District becomes the property of the District.

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 16, 2008

6.3—PUBLIC GIFTS AND DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOLS

The District and the Board of Education may receive monetary gifts or donations of goods or services that serve to improve or enhance the goals of the District. Any gifts to the District become the property of the District and are subject to the same regulations as any other District owned property.

It is a breach of ethical standards and a violation of Arkansas law for any Board member, administrator, or District employee to receive a gift of any kind in return for employment with the District or to influence the award of any contract or transaction with the District. All personnel shall examine the “reasonableness” of any gift or donation against its potential for real or perceived violation of the aforementioned ethical standards before accepting any gift or donation in the name of a school or the District.

The Board reserves the right to not accept any gift or donation that would not contribute to the attainment of District goals or that would obligate the District to unacceptable outlays of District resources. The administration shall present for Board consideration and approval any gifts or donations the administration deems could so obligate the District.

The Board will strive to honor the donor’s intent regarding gifts earmarked for a specific purpose; however, laws and District’s needs change with time and the District reserves the right to adjust the use of any gift to meet current needs of the educational program.

Legal References:	A.C.A. § 6-24-110
			A.C.A. § 6-24-112

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 19, 2017

6.4—VOLUNTEERS

Enlisting the support of volunteers is a way in which the District can expand the scope of resources and knowledge available to enrich the students’ educational experiences, while strengthening the relationship between the school and the community. Volunteers can also perform non-instructional tasks that allow licensed personnel more time to devote to instruction.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining a program to coordinate the services volunteers are willing and able to contribute with the needs of District personnel. The program shall establish guidelines to ensure volunteers are aware of pertinent District policies and rules. Volunteers who violate school policies or rules, or knowingly allow students to violate school rules, may be asked to leave the school campus. The guidelines should also include provision for evaluation of the volunteer program and a method for soliciting suggestions from both the volunteers and staff for its improvement.

A member of the board of directors of the District or the spouse of a member of the board of directors of the District may not be a registered volunteer for the District unless a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors approves a resolution for the board member or board member’s spouse to be a registered volunteer. The resolution approving the board member or board member’s spouse to be a registered volunteer shall be effective for only one (1) school year.

Background Checks for Volunteers

For the purposes of this policy, “clear background check” means that:
•	A background check was performed on the potential school volunteer in accordance with A.C.A. §§ 12-12-1601 et seq.;
•	The potential school volunteer has not committed any of the crimes or offenses contained in A.C.A. §§ 6-17-410, 6-17-411 or 6-17-414 according to both the National and Arkansas background checks; 
•	The potential school volunteer’s name was not found on the Child Abuse Central Registry; and
•	The Arkansas Educator Licensure System does not indicate the potential volunteer to:
o	Have a currently suspended or revoked educator’s license; or
o	Be the recipient of a current Level 3 or Level 4 public notification of ethics violation.

Legal References:	A.C.A. §§ 6-17-301 
A.C.A. § 6-17-410
A.C.A. § 6-17-411
A.C.A. 6-17-414
A.C.A. § 6-17-428
A.C.A. § 6-22-101 et seq.
A.C.A. §§ 12-12-1601 et seq.
A.C.A. § 12-18-402
A.C.A. § 12-18-909(g)(21)
A.C.A. § 21-13-101 et seq.
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing Background Checks
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 17, 2019

6.5—VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS

Parents, grandparents, legal guardians, business, and community members are welcome and encouraged to visit District schools. To minimize the potential for disruption of the learning environment, visitors, for a purpose other than to attend an activity open to the general public, are required to first report to the school’s main office. No one shall be exempt from this requirement. Visitors who are Level 3 or Level 4 sex offenders may only enter a school campus under the provisions listed in Policy 6.10.

Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to participate in regularly scheduled visitation events such as school open houses and parent/teacher conferences. Additional conferences are best when scheduled in advance. Conferences shall be scheduled at a time and place to accommodate those participating in the conference. Visits to individual classrooms during class time are permitted on a limited basis with the principal’s prior approval and the teacher’s knowledge.

Parents wishing to speak to their children during the school day shall register first with the office.

The District has the right to ask disruptive visitors to leave its school campuses. Principals are authorized to seek the assistance of law enforcement officers in removing any disruptive visitors who refuse to leave school property when requested to do so.1

Note:	1 Visitors who are disruptive become “trespassers” as defined in A.C.A. § 6-21-606. As such, they lose their right to be on campus.

Cross References:	For non-adult visits see Policy 4.16—STUDENT VISITORS
For Level 3 and Level 4 sex offenders see Policy 6.10—SEX OFFENDERS ON CAMPUS (MEGAN’S LAW)

Legal References:	A.C.A. § 6-21-606
			A.C.A. § 6-21-607

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 27, 2011

6.6—FUND RAISING

All fundraising activities held in the District or in the name of the District must be pre-approved by the affected school principal. Approval will be predicated on the potential for return relative to the time and energy to be invested in the fundraising. Fundraising that conflicts excessively with and/or detracts from student or teacher instructional time in either the planning or the execution of the activity will not be approved.

Neither an individual school nor the District shall be liable for any contract between clubs or organizations and third parties.

Student participation in any fundraising activity shall:

1)	Be voluntary. Students who choose not to participate shall not forfeit any school privileges. It shall not be considered discriminatory to reward those who participate; and

2)	Not influence or affect the student’s grade.

For purposes of this policy, “Door-to-door sales” means the selling of merchandise outside of the child's home and off the school grounds.

Secondary Schools

Fund raising in the secondary schools may only be done by officially sanctioned student clubs or spirit groups. Student clubs and spirit groups must receive approval from their sponsor and the school principal before starting a fundraising activity.

Door to door fundraising activities are generally discouraged. If approved, students wishing to participate who are under the age of eighteen (18) must return to their sponsor a signed parental notification and permission form.

Elementary Schools (K-6)

Fundraising in the elementary schools may only be done by the school or a school sponsored organization. Door to door fundraising activities are generally discouraged, but there shall be no more than one such activity per school year.

Schools must provide written notification of the following to parents or legal guardians of elementary students who participate in fundraising programs.

1)	Student participation in fundraising programs is voluntary;

2)	Students who do not participate will not forfeit any school privileges;  

3)	Students may not participate in fundraising programs without written parental permission returned to school authorities;
4)	An elementary student who sells fund raising merchandise door to door must be accompanied by a parent or an adult; and

5)	Unless the school provides supervision, parents must accept responsibility for appropriate adult supervision.

Online Fund Raisers1

All school-affiliated online fund raisers must be approved by the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee. The superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, shall act as the point of contact for all school-affiliated online fund raisers. An employee may be disciplined, up to and including termination, if the employee establishes:
a.	A school-affiliated online fund raiser without the permission of the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee; or
b.	The employee as the point of contact for a school-affiliated fund raiser instead of the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee.

For purposes of this policy, a “school-affiliated online fund raiser” includes, but is not limited to, a fund raiser intended to raise funds for a particular teacher’s classroom, grade, student club or organization, or athletic team.

Legal References:	A.C.A. § 6-18-1102
A.C.A. § 6-18-1104

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 19, 2017

6.7—COMPLAINTS

It is a goal of the Board and the District to be responsive to the community it serves and to continuously improve the educational program offered in its schools. The Board or the District welcomes constructive criticism when it is offered with the intent of improving the quality of the system’s educational program or the delivery of the District’s services.

The Board formulates and adopts policies to achieve the District’s vision and elects a Superintendent to implement its policies. The administrative functions of the District are delegated to the Superintendent who is responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the District. Individuals with complaints concerning personnel, curriculum, discipline (including specific discipline policies), coaching, or the day to day management of the schools need to address those complaints according to the following sequence:

1.	Teacher, coach, or other staff member against whom the complaint is directed
2.	Principal
3.	Superintendent

Other than in the few instances where statutorily allowed or required, student discipline and personnel matters may not be discussed in Board meetings. Individuals with complaints regarding such matters need to follow the sequence outlined above.

Unless authorized by the Board as a whole for a specific purpose, no individual Board member has any authority when acting alone. District constituents are reminded that the Board serves as a finder of fact, not unlike a jury, in matters such as student suspensions initiated by the Superintendent, expulsions, and personnel discipline. For this reason, the board may not be involved or informed prior to a board hearing on particular disciplinary matters.

Complaints that are related to district use or administration of federal funds generated through specific programs identified by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and authorized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act1 may be taken directly from a patron or by referral from DESE. If taken directly from a patron, the complaint may be submitted by either a signed statement or by a certified, recorded deposition or statement in which the complainant is identified. The complaints shall be addressed in the following manner.:
1.	The complaint shall be referred to the federal programs director, who shall assemble a team of at least two people to investigate the complaint.
2.	Throughout the investigation, sufficient notes and records will be taken and maintained to substantiate the position of the findings of the investigation.
3.	The team will interview the complainant and others as necessary to enable the team to make a determination of the validity of the complaint. The team may consult with individuals with knowledge or expertise in the matter which is the subject of the complaint, including legal counsel.
4.	The investigation of complaints referred by the DESE shall be completed within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the complaint, unless a longer time period has been approved by the DESE.3
5.	The investigation of complaints made directly to the district shall be completed within forty (40) calendar days unless there are extenuating circumstances; in such a case, a preliminary report shall be made within forty (40) calendar days of receipt of the complaint, which shall include an explanation of the unusual circumstances requiring additional time to complete the investigation.4
6.	The report of the conclusions of the investigation shall be given to the complainant. It shall contain: 
a.	A summary of the allegations of the complaint;
b.	A summary of the investigative actions taken by the team;
c.	A summary of the findings concerning each alleged violation or implied violation; and
d.	A statement of corrective actions needed to resolve the issues involved in each allegation and finding of the complaint.

Notes:	1 The DESE Rules Governing Federal Program Complaint Resolution 1.03 specifies the specific federal programs that are covered by this policy. Be sure the necessary staff are aware of the possible triggers for a complaint and of the existence of the documents offered by the DESE to deal with the resolution of the complaints.

2 You may change this to reflect the title of the person you wish to be responsible for conducting the investigation.

3 The DESE Rules Governing Federal Program Complaint Resolution establishes the thirty (30) day limit for complaints that are referred to the district by DESE

4 The forty (40) day time limit is equivalent to the thirty (30) days allowed for complaints referred by the DESE because the DESE has up to ten (10) days to make the referral. 

Legal Reference:	DESE Rules Governing Federal Program Complaint Resolution

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 17, 2019

6.8—DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATERIALS

The District shall devise and maintain a system for distributing District communications and other printed materials between the Administration and the schools. Use of the system by employees or employee organizations shall be with prior approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Distribution of printed materials, flyers, photographs, or other visual or auditory materials not originating within District schools to students or staff shall have prior approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 16, 2008

6.9—MEDIA RELATIONS AND NEWS RELEASES

It is important that the District maintain good relations with the media. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall devise and implement a plan for the release of pertinent information to the media regarding educational programs, awards, or other student and staff achievements, and special events. The plan shall not require schools to clear the release of public service announcements through the District Administration prior to their release, but may require schools to obtain the approval of the Superintendent prior to the release of any statistical type data.

The District shall attempt, within reason, to accommodate media requests for interviews and shall endeavor to be fair and impartial in its treatment of media representatives.

The release of information to the media shall be done in a timely manner, either by written releases or by telephone interviews, to keep patrons abreast of newsworthy District achievements and shall strive to be factual and objective with personal opinions duly noted.

The Board encourages students and staff to participate in academic competitions and programs. Awards earned in such endeavors shall be communicated to the media. Award recipients may also be recognized at Board meetings.

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 16, 2008

6.10—SEX OFFENDERS ON CAMPUS (MEGAN’S LAW)
 
The Salem School District shall work with area law enforcement in a manner consistent with applicable state law and Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules to communicate the presence of a sexual offender. When necessary, law enforcement may contact building principals to provide information concerning registered sex offenders. The decision regarding the school principals to be notified rests solely with law enforcement officials; law enforcement officials use a rating system to determine who needs to be notified, which is according to the sex offender’s dangerousness to the community.

In turn, building principals should notify any employee who is regularly in a position to observe unauthorized persons on or near the school’s property in the ordinary course of their employment. Employees notified could include any of the following: aides, bus drivers, coaches, maintenance staff, professional support staff, school level administrative staff, security personnel, teachers’ assistants, and teachers.

It is important that school personnel who receive sex offender notifications understand that they are receiving the sex offender notifications in their official capacity and are not to disseminate information about an offender to anyone outside the school. If school personnel are asked about notification information by an organization using school facilities, the organization should be referred to the area law enforcement agency that issued the notice.

Persons not to be notified, except at the specific discretion of area law enforcement officials, include: members of parent-teacher organizations, other schools, organizations using school facilities, students, parents or guardians of students, and the press. District personnel may inform the press about procedures that have been put in place and other general topics, but may not reveal the name or any other specifics regarding an offender.

A parent or guardian who is a Level 1 or Level 2 sex offender shall be allowed to enter the school campus to attend parent-teacher conferences or any other activity that is appropriate for a parent, guardian, or community member.

Level 3 and Level 4 sex offenders may only enter the school campus in the following instances:
1.	The offender is a student attending school in the district;
2.	To attend a graduation or baccalaureate ceremony
3.	It is a non-student contact day according to the school calendar or no school-sponsored event is taking place on campus;
4.	The offender is a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the district and goes directly to the school office to have school personnel deliver medicine, food, or personal items for the student;
5.	The offender is a parent or guardian of a student and enters the school campus where the student is enrolled to attend a scheduled parent-teacher conference and the offender is escorted to and from the conference by a designated school official or employee.
A Level 3, but not a Level 4, sex offender may attend a school sponsored event for which an admission fee is charged or tickets are sold or distributed if the sex offender:
•	Is the parent or guardian of or is related by blood or marriage within the fourth (4th) degree of consanguinity1 to a student enrolled in the public school;2 and
•	Notifies the administration of the school in writing at least twenty-four (24) hours before the start of the event that he or she will be attending the event.

A Level 3, but not a Level 4, sex offender may attend a school sponsored event for which an admission fee is charged or tickets are sold or distributed if the sex offender:
•	Is the parent, guardian, great-grandparent, or is related by blood or marriage within the second (2nd) degree of consanguinity1 to a student enrolled in the public school;2 and
•	Notifies the administration of the school in writing at least twenty-four (24) hours before the start of the event that he or she will be attending the event.

Copies of the notification from law enforcement should be kept in a secure place accessible to teachers and staff, but should not be posted on school bulletin boards or made available to students or members of the community at large.

Note:	1The method to determine the degree of consanguinity may be found in A.C.A. § 28-9-212 and a consanguinity diagram has been posted at http://arsba.org/policy-resources.
	
2 Our interpretation is that for a Level 3 sex offender to be admitted to a ticketed event that the Level 3 sex offender must be related to a student enrolled in the public school where the event is being hosted rather than related to a student enrolled in the visiting school.

Legal References:	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Guidelines for “Megan’s Law”
A.C.A. § 5-14-132
A.C.A. § 12-12-913 (g)(3)
A.C.A. § 28-9-212

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 17, 2019

6.11—PARENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - DISTRICT

The Salem School District understands the importance of involving parents, families, and the community as a whole in promoting higher student achievement and general good will between the district and those it serves. Therefore, the district shall strive to develop and maintain the capacity for meaningful and productive parent, family, and community engagement that will result in partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the school, students, parents, families, and the community. To achieve such ends, the district shall work to:
1.	Involve parents, families, and the community in the development of the long range planning of the district;
2.	Give the schools in the district the support necessary to enable them to plan and implement effective parent, family, and community engagement activities;
3.	Have a coordinated engagement program where the engagement activities of the district enhance the involvement strategies of other programs such as Head Start, HIPPY, Parents as Partners, Parents as Teachers, ABC, ABC for School Success, area Pre-K programs, and Even Start;
4.	Explain to parents, families, and the community the State’s academic and achievement standards, State and local student assessments and how the district’s curriculum is aligned with the state’s academic standards and assessments and how parents, families, and the community can work with the district to improve students’ academic achievement;
5.	Provide parents and families with the materials and training they need to be better able to help their child achieve. The district may use parent resource centers or other community based organizations to foster parental involvement and provide literacy and technology training to parents.
6.	Educate district staff, with the assistance of parents, in ways to work and communicate with parents and to know how to implement parent, family, and community engagement programs that will promote positive partnerships between the school and parents, families, and the community;
7.	Keep parents, families, and the community informed about parent, family, and community engagement programs, meetings, and other activities they could be involved in. Such communication shall be, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents and families can understand;
8.	Find ways to eliminate barriers that work to keep parents and families from being involved in their child’s education. This may include providing transportation and child care to enable parents to participate, arranging meetings at a variety of times, and being creative with parent/teacher conferences;
9.	Find and modify other successful parent, family, and community engagement programs to suit the needs of our district;
10.	Train parents, families, and the community to enhance and promote the involvement of other parents, families, and members of the community;
11.	Provide reasonable support for other parent, family, and community engagement activities as parents, families, and the community may reasonably request.

To ensure the continued improvement of the district’s parent, family, and community engagement program, the district will conduct an annual review of its parental involvement policies to examine their affect on promoting higher student achievement. The review shall be done by a committee consisting of parents and other community members, certified and classified staff, and member(s) of the administration.

This policy shall be part of the school’s Title I plan and shall be distributed to parents of the district’s students and provided, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand. 

Notes:	If any school in your district receives Title I aid, Federal law requires you to have a district policy covering parent, family, and community engagement for the parents of students served under the program. Because your district is required to “develop jointly with, agree on, and distribute to parents of participating children a written parent, family, and community engagement policy,” this model policy is designed to be a starting point to be used in the development of your final policy. 20 U.S.C. § 6318 requires the basics of the introduction and the last two paragraphs as well as items-#1 – 7 and #11. Items #8 – 10 are recommended options in the Federal law, but are not mandatory. A.C.A. §§ 6-15-1702, 1703, and 1704 require each district to develop a parental involvement plan (rather than a policy) in collaboration with parents. The statutes are very detailed, and full of “shalls” going far beyond the requirements of this policy required by 20 U.S.C. § 6318. Be sure to have the statutes and associated rules handy when working out the details of your district’s parent, family, and community engagement plan.

	The US Department of Education has correctly opined that this policy (and policy 6.12) are of no use unless accompanied by an implementation plan. Consequently, the DESE’s School Improvement office requires districts to have such a plan.  

A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)(3) requires each school to place a parent-friendly summary of the parent, family, and community engagement plan as a supplement to the student handbook. The parent has to sign a receipt acknowledging receipt of the summary and return the signed form to the school where the student is enrolled.

Legal References:	20 U.S.C. § 6318
A.C.A. § 6-15-1702
A.C.A. § 6-15-1703
A.C.A. § 6-15-1704
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing Parental Involvement Plans and Family and Community Engagement

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 17, 2019

6.12—PARENTAL/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - SCHOOL

Salem Schools understand the importance of involving parents and the community as a whole in promoting higher student achievement and general good will between the school and those it serves. Therefore, Salem Schools shall strive to develop and maintain the capacity for meaningful and productive parental and community involvement that will result in partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the school, students, parents, and the community. To achieve such ends, the school shall work to:

1.	Involve parents and the community in the development and improvement of Title I programs for the school;

2.	Have a coordinated involvement program where the involvement activities of the school enhance the involvement strategies of other programs such as Head Start, HIPPY, Parents as Partners, Parents as Teachers, ABC, ABC for School Success, area Pre-K programs, and Even Start;

3.	Explain to parents and the community the State’s content and achievement standards, State and local student assessments and how the school’s curriculum is aligned with the assessments and how parents can work with the school to improve their child’s academic achievement;

4.	Provide parents with the materials and training they need to be better able to help their child achieve. The school may use parent resource centers or other community based organizations to foster parental involvement and provide literacy and technology training to parents.

5.	Educate school staff, with the assistance of parents, in ways to work and communicate with parents and to know how to implement parent involvement programs that will promote positive partnerships between the school and parents;

6.	Keep parents informed about parental involvement programs, meetings, and other activities they could be involved in. Such communication shall be, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand;

7.	Explore ways to eliminate barriers that work to keep parents from being involved in their child’s education.

8.	Find and modify other successful parent and community involvement programs to suit the needs of our school;

9.	Train parents to enhance and promote the involvement of other parents;

10.	Provide reasonable support for other parental involvement activities as parents may reasonably request.

To help promote an understanding of each party’s role in improving student learning, Salem Schools shall develop a compact that outlines the responsibilities of parents, students, and the school staff in raising student academic achievement and in building the partnerships that will enable students to meet the State’s academic standards.

Salem Schools shall convene an annual meeting, or several meetings at varying times if necessary to adequately reach parents of participating students, to inform parents of the school’s participation in Title I, its requirements regarding parental involvement, and the parent’s right to be involved in the education of their child.

Salem Schools shall, at least annually, involve parents in reviewing the school’s Title I program and parental involvement policy in order to help ensure their continued improvement.

This policy shall be part of the school’s Title I plan and shall be distributed to parents of the district’s students and provided, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.

A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)(3) requires each school to place a parent-friendly summary of the parent involvement plan as a supplement to the student handbook. The parent has to sign a receipt acknowledging receipt of the summary and return the signed form to the school where the student is enrolled.

Legal References:	20 U.S.C. § 6318
A.C.A. § 6-15-1702
A.C.A. § 6-15-1703
A.C.A. § 6-15-1704
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing Parental Involvement Plans and Family and Community Engagement

Date Adopted:  June 16, 2008
Last Revised:  June 17, 2019