Title I Family Involvement

What is Family Involvement?

Over the years, research has shown that family involvement can take on a variety of forms. Families attend conferences, volunteer during school events, and assist with homework. There are many additional ways in which schools and families can work together to support student achievement.

To learn more about the different ways in which families and schools may consider partnering together, visit the following websites:

The Impacts of Family Involvement

Research confirms that the more families are actively engaged in their student’s education there is higher academic performance, improved levels of attendance, and improved behavior. Family involvement is crucial for student’s academic success and learning truly begins at home.

FCPS Title I Family Involvement Policy

How Can Parents Help?

Title I School-wide Programs

Targeted Assistance Schools (TAS)

Family Involvement Requirements in Schools Receiving Title I Funding

The Title I grant falls under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 2001. Schools receiving Title I funding must meet specific family involvement requirements throughout the school year. For more information, visit the United States Education Department webpage.

Family Involvement requirements include:

Develop a Parent Involvement Policy with parents and distribute this policy to all parents.
Parents might receive a copy of the school’s policy at the beginning of the year in a weekly home-school communication folder or in the school newsletter.
Conduct a meeting each school year to inform parents of the policy, Title I, and their right to be involved.
Schools often hold this meeting at the beginning of the school year as part of the Back-to-School Night, a Parent Coffee, or during a PTA presentation.
Offer parent involvement meetings at a variety of times.
Include parents in the planning and improvement of school programs.
Parents have a unique perspective that can be very helpful in further developing school programs. Contact your school principal about participating in the parent-teacher organization/association, becoming a District Advisory Council representative, or learning about your school’s School Improvement committee.
Develop with parents a Home-School Compact that describes what the school, family, and students will do to support student success.
Distribute the Home-School Compact.
This document is often sent home at the beginning of the school year. Many of the FCPS schools receiving Title I funding have posted the Home-School Compact and the Parent Involvement Policy on their school webpage.
Help parents understand the academic standards (Virginia Standards of Learning and FCPS Programs of Studies) and assessments.
Provide materials and training for families to support student learning and increase family involvement.
Provide materials for families in other languages, whenever possible.

Family Involvement in FCPS

Family and School Partnerships:

An office within Fairfax County Public Schools that offers wonderful resources for parents and schools and their efforts to support student achievement.

Family Involvement Ideas Notebook

Parents are more motivated to support their children's learning when they:

Receive clear invitations and support from school staff to be engaged in their child's education

Are clear about what they can do to support their child's learning

In 2005, the FCPS Title I District Advisory Council (DAC) representatives collected descriptions of various family involvement events and activities from their schools. These descriptions became the Family Involvement Ideas Notebook.

Each school year, Title I office staff request examples of new family involvement practices for submission. We encourage families to look at the different examples of powerful family involvement ideas and to share them with their school community.

Family/Parent Centers:

Many of the schools receiving Title I funding currently have a school-based Parent or Family Center on campus.

These centers provide school information, tips for supporting learning, as well as school district and community resources for families. Parent Centers often offer coffees or workshops to support family involvement and advocacy.

To learn more about parent and family centers, visit the Family & School Partnerships office “Parent Center” webpage.

Family Literacy:

Families play a critical role in literacy development. Many of the schools receiving Title I funding hold events throughout the school year to support family involvement in reading and writing. Some host coffees and workshops, while others may conduct family literacy events.

One frequently used resource for these events is Partners In Print. During Partners In Print (PIP) evening events, families participate in various literacy activities together and parents learn strategies for supporting literacy at home. Over the years, PIP events have focused on supporting students in pre-Kindergarten through second grade. Recently, as many as 20 schools receiving Title I funding also held PIP events for families with students in grades 3 – 6.

National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS):

There are currently twelve schools participating in the NNPS initiative in FCPS. NNPS provides a framework for further developing family, school, and community partnerships. Schools develop a one year action plan directly connecting student achievement goals to family and community involvement practices.

Schools join NNPS and use the NNPS model to plan strong, comprehensive family involvement programs. The Title I Family Involvement Resource Teacher supports these schools in implementing this framework and evaluating their efforts throughout the school year. When schools reflect on their efforts, they discover ways to improve their family involvement practices.
(FCPS NNPS Parent Brochure in different languages)

NNPS Promising Partnership Practices – FCPS Schools’ Published Activities

Lynbrook Elementary School: Family Leadership Program http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/ppp/2010/pdf/59.pdf

Braddock Elementary School: Braddock’s Boutique
http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/ppp/2011/pdf/72.pdf

Crestwood Elementary School: Family Team Building Night http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/ppp/2011/pdf/41.pdf

Groveton Elementary School: Summer Reading Van http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/ppp/2011/pdf/13.pdf

Parents Matter Newsletters:

A Title I newsletter for families is published twice each school year with tips for parents for supporting student success, as well as information about ways in which schools are engaging families and their local community. Click here to view past editions.