Dresden Elementary

ESSA Section

Ways in Which Dresden Elementary Staff Accomplish These Activities

1116(b)(1) This Plan has been jointly developed and distributed to parents and family members in a language that can be understood. The Plan is updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

Describe the development of the Plan, including the stakeholders involved, the steps taken to ensure the Plan is understood, and the process for updating the Plan.

The Dresden Elementary Title 1 Schoolwide Parent Involvement Plan has been created through the collaborative efforts of parents and staff. Parents were an integral part in the development of this plan and their feedback and suggestions are utilized in making updates to our Title 1 Schoolwide Parent and Family Engagement Plan. The plan is reviewed in the fall during the annual meeting which is held prior to a PTO meeting.  During the meeting, parents have the opportunity to learn the details of the plan, ask any questions they may have, and offer feedback. Their feedback is incorporated into the plan as appropriate. The plan will be posted on the school website for families unable to attend the annual meeting to review and contact the school should they have any questions or would like to provide feedback. The Home/School Compact is sent home in the “Welcome Back Packet” and then reviewed with parents at fall conferences. 

1116(c)(1) Convene an Annual Title I Parent Meeting at a time convenient to parents to inform parents of the Title I requirements and their right to be involved.

An annual meeting is held which includes information for parents on:

Dresden Elementary holds an Annual Title l Parent Meeting in conjunction with a PTO meeting, which is held in the fall.  This meeting covers the Title 1 Schoolwide Parent and Family Engagement Plan, the Title 1 program, and how parents can assist their children in being academically and socially successful. 

How are parents encouraged to attend?

Parents are notified of this meeting through building newsletters, school messenger, and our principal’s weekly Smore. Childcare is provided.

1116(c)(2) Offer flexible number of meetings at times convenient to parents and provide transportation, childcare, or home visits as it relates to parental involvement.

Meetings are offered at times convenient for parents and if needed, transportation, childcare, and home visits can be arranged:

Dresden Elementary holds flexible meetings throughout the school year. The principal, teachers, and Title 1 team are available to meet face-to-face and/or virtually during fall conferences in November and spring conferences in February, and other dates as requested. Meetings are available during school hours by appointment when requested. Handouts and materials are provided to all that attend. For parents unable to attend, materials will be sent home and/or available upon request. To attract more families to attend meetings, childcare is provided.  

1116(c)(3) Involve parents in an organized, ongoing and timely way in the planning, reviewing, and improvement of Title I programs, including the development, review, and improvement of the Parent and Family Engagement Plan and the School wide Program Plan.

Parents are involved in the development of the School Improvement Plan and Title I Program development in the following ways:

Dresden Elementary includes parents in the planning, review, and involvement of programs. Along with the principal and staff, PTO members work together to help determine needs and strengths of our building. During the annual fall meeting, the Parent and Family Engagement Plan and the Home School Compact are reviewed. Parents can ask questions and offer feedback. Parents are also given the opportunity to give feedback anonymously via the parent survey. Families unable to attend the meeting were able to contact the building principal to discuss information shared at the meeting and provide feedback. A survey was sent to all parents after the science night with The Ann Arbor Hands On Museum to seek feedback on the event and suggestions for future Title 1 nights.

1116(c)(4)(A) Provide parents of Title I children timely information about the Title I Program.

Parents are provided information regarding the school Programs in the following ways:

Parents receive timely information about Dresden’s programs through fall curriculum nights, parent-teacher conferences, Kindergarten Open House, and parent workshops. Other information is distributed by the classroom teacher through email, individual notes sent home, students’ daily agendas, weekly classroom newsletters, weekly principal’s Smore, personal or phone conferences, and PowerSchool Parent Portal (online access to student’s grades and attendance).  General information for the school is available on Dresden’s website https://dresden.uticak12.org/, robocall (automated voicemail recorder sent to all parents by the principal), and the district television station. 

Dresden Elementary sends notes to parents informing them when their child is participating in a tiered intervention with our Literacy Coach or receiving English Language Learner Support from our English Learner staff. Parents are informed when their child is identified as at risk (below grade level based on classroom assessments) and is selected to receive intervention outside of the classroom. This note includes: the service the child is receiving, who is responsible for providing this service and their contact information.

Parents are also contacted by classroom teachers to inform them when their children are eligible to participate in high dosage tutoring or summer programs.

1116(c)(4)(B) Provide parents of Title I children a description and explanation of the curriculum used at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure progress, and the achievement levels students are expected to meet.

Parents are provided information about the school’s curriculum, assessments, and proficiency level expectations in the following ways:

Teachers describe and explain the curriculum used at Dresden during curriculum night/open house and Kindergarten open house. During these events, teachers provide and explain the Core Curriculum Standards/Grade Level Content Expectations for their grade level.  The teachers share assessments used in their classroom at curriculum night and notify parents through classroom newsletters and student daily agendas when the assessments take place. In the fall, parents receive a School-Parent Compact which outlines academic expectations. The district and school send information to the parents regarding when the M-STEP, WIDA, and NWEA assessments take place. Letters are sent explaining their students M-STEP, WIDA, and NWEA results in detail. The principal shares a Smore to share important information regarding assessment dates. Classroom teachers inform parents of student proficiency levels and where the student should be upon exiting the current grade during parent-teacher conferences. Ongoing contact through email and phone calls is provided to those students who fall below proficiency levels.

1116(c)(4)(C) Provide parents of participating Title I students opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions, to participate in decision-making as it relates to their child’s education, and to respond to any suggestions as soon as possible.

Parents have opportunities to share suggestions, participate in decision making, and respond to any suggestions in the following ways:

At Dresden, parents can contact the principal, teachers, and support staff by telephone, e-mail, or schedule a meeting before/during/after school to discuss their children. Conferences are scheduled in the fall, (November) for every student and again in the spring (February) for those students that need additional support. Throughout the year, additional conferences are available upon parent request. Yearly, electronic surveys are sent to parents to seek their input, as well.

1116(c)(5) Ensure that if the Schoolwide Program Plan is not satisfactory to parents of participating students, submit any parent comments on the Plan when the school makes the Plan available to the Local Educational Agency (LEA).

If parents are not satisfied with the School Improvement Plan or Programs, they have opportunities to make comments by:

In addition to the annual survey, parents can contact the principal with any suggestions they may have for improvements of programs. Parents can address concerns during PTO meetings. Parents may ask questions and discuss concerns with the classroom teacher, Title I literacy and math coaches and/or the principal. Contact can occur through many venues including emails, phone calls, Google calls, TEAMS meetings, parent/teacher conferences, pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, and informal discussion settings. We use the feedback to review and make revisions at that time, and if necessary, for the following school year. 

The School-Parent Compact Must:

1116(d) Jointly, with parents, develop a School-Parent Compact that outlines how the entire school staff, parents, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement.

Yes

No

1116(d) Clearly explain district and school goals for students to meet the challenging State academic standards.

Yes

No

1116(d) & 1116(d)(1) Describe ways that teachers are responsible for supporting students’ learning and providing high quality curriculum and instruction.

Yes

No

1116(d) & 1116(d)(1) Describe specific ways parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning.

Yes

No

1116(d) Describe specific ways students will be responsible for their learning.

Yes

No

1116(d) & 1116(d)(2)(C) Describe school activities to build partnerships with parents, including chances for parents to volunteer, take part in, and observe classroom activities, and communicate with teachers.

Yes

No

1116(d) & 1116(f) Describe how parents and family members are involved in developing and revising the compact.

Yes

No

1116(d)(1) & 1116(d)(2) (A-C) Ensure regular two-way meaningful communication between family members and school staff throughout the school year, so that parents are kept up to date on their students’ progress and get regular tips on home learning.

Yes

No

1116(f) Communicate information using family friendly language and format.

Yes

No

ESSA Section

Ways in Which School Staff Accomplish These Activities

1116(e)(1) Shall provide assistance to parents of students served by the school in understanding the State’s academic content standards, the State and Local assessments, and how to monitor their child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children.

How does the staff provide assistance to parents to help them understand the content standards, assessments, how to monitor their child’s progress, and how to work with educators to improve the achievement of their children?  What training is provided to families?

The Utica Community School District sends a parent report with individual M-Step, WIDA and NWEA scores.  We have conferences available in November for all students and February upon request.  Dresden provides Title I nights for parents where grade level content expectations are explained. In addition, Title I Parent nights and frequent classroom/schoolwide newsletters provide training for families to monitor their child’s learning at home and ways to stay connected. Literacy and math coaches and the EL Teacher are available during conferences to discuss local and district assessments. During the Kindergarten Open House, new kindergarten parents are introduced to kindergarten academic expectations.

1116(e)(2) Shall provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement.

Staff will provide parents with appropriate materials and offer training in our school to enable them to support their child’s academic progress. These include:

During our Title I night, Curriculum Night/Open House, and Kindergarten Open House our parents are given training and materials. Title I students also bring home materials borrowed or to keep that are bought with Title I funds. The ELL district night also gives informational materials to parents.  Weekly district UCS update emails, building newsletters, classroom newsletters, digital literacy newsletters and building/district websites provide important materials and training for parents.

1116(e)(3) Shall educate staff in the value and utility of parents’ contributions, in how to reach out to, and communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, to coordinate and implement parental involvement programs, and to build relationships between the parents and the school.

On-going professional development for staff on effective ways to increase parental involvement occurs annually. They include:

Principal offers professional development for staff on effectively communicating with parents and shares peer reviewed articles. Professional videos are shared at staff meetings. MISD flyers that provide opportunities for relevant professional development are shared with staff.

1116(e)(4) Shall coordinate and integrate parental involvement Programs and activities with other Federal, State, and local Programs, including public preschool Programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.

Coordination with other Programs for parental involvement includes:

Dresden Elementary collaborates with the Early Childhood Special Education program to transition students from a preschool setting to our building. We also involve our MISD hearing-impaired program and MISD Great Start preschool programs in our communication of all events at the school. Our district offers ELL informational nights for parents to learn about opportunities and programs their children participate in at school, along with ways to support their children’s learning. Our special education team invites families to review and update their child’s Individualized Educational Plan and supports they receive at school.

1116(e)(5) Shall ensure information is shared with parents in a language and format they can understand.

Information is shared with parents in a language and format they can understand. Examples include:

We provide translated documents in multiple languages for our families. We provide both written (hard copy) and digital information as needed. We provide, through the Macomb Intermediate School District, interpreters for deaf parents. Family liaisons are available to interpret for select languages. In addition, we use Language Line Solutions interpreters for translations. All information shared is reader friendly and written in a format that is easy to understand and free of acronyms. The principal’s parent Smore can be translated into various languages.

Gray Area - Recommended Best Practice, but Not Required

1116(e)(6) May involve parents in the development of training for teachers,  principals, and other educators

ESSA Section

Ways in Which School Staff Accomplish These Activities

to improve the effectiveness of such training.

1116(e)(7) May provide necessary literacy training from funds received under this part if the LEA has exhausted all other reasonably-available sources of funding for such  training.

1116(e)(8) May pay  reasonable and necessary expenses associated with local parental involvement activities, including  transportation and childcare costs, to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions.

1116(e)(9) May train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents.

1116(e)(10) May arrange school meetings at a variety of times, or conduct in-home conferences between teachers or other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend such conferences at school, in order to maximize parental  involvement and participation. 

1116(e)(11) May adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement.

1116(e)(12) May establish a district wide parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental involvement in Programs supported under this Section.

1116(e)(13) May develop appropriate roles for community-based  organizations and businesses in parental involvement activities.

ESSA Section

Ways in Which School Staff Accomplish These Activities

1116(e)(14) Shall provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.

Parents are provided with other reasonable support such

as: How does the school collect this information?

Dresden makes every effort to support our parents and make sure their needs are met. Teachers provide ways for parents to contact them when needed. Annual surveys are electronically sent to all families. We support families by providing essential items for school such as backpacks, coats, hats, gloves, and basic school supplies. Some students receive food for the weekend as part of the Blessings in a Backpack program. Breakfast and lunch are provided to all students Monday – Friday, free of charge.

1116(f) Shall provide full opportunities for participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children.

Staff provide opportunities for full parent participation:

Dresden is handicapped accessible. We provide flexible meeting times and vary our PTO and other programs times and days. We have phone conferences, videoconferences, and translators when requested and/or needed. We also provide, through the MISD, interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing parents. In addition, we use Language Line Solutions interpreters for translations. We provide translated documents in multiple languages for our families. UCS District website can be accessed in multiple languages. The principal’s parent Smore can be translated into various languages.