Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School 

Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy 2025-2026

 

The Title I Program at Ferderbar Elementary School is part of a wide range of educational experiences which assists students in obtaining skills needed to succeed in school and life. We are dedicated to the belief that parent engagement is integral to the SUCCESS of each student. The Title I Program at Ferderbar actively recruits parents as our partners for success. Parents will be involved in the planning, review and improvement of the school's engagement policy. 

We serve to provide a smaller, more intimate educational setting for those families who are invited to participate. This setting is one in which parents, students and teachers can confidently work together toward accomplishing shared goals. Our population is also constantly changing, with families from diverse backgrounds, resulting in the need for the kind of flexible grouping and differentiated instruction which our Title I program provides. Support staff services in the areas of guidance, speech, and special education work together to meet individual academic and behavioral needs in coordination with the classroom teachers and the Title I staff. 

 

1) Parent and Family Involvement in Policy Planning, Review, and Improvement (ESSA, Section 1116(b)(1))

  • Meetings: Parents and family members will be involved in planning, review, and improvement of the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy. Meetings will be held annually consisting of parents, staff, and administrators, to review, revise, and improve the Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

  • Surveys and Feedback: Parents will be invited to provide input through surveys, meetings, and informal discussions regarding the policy and overall engagement practices.

 

2) Annual Meeting for Parents (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(1))
The school will hold an annual meeting to inform parents about their school's participation as a Title I school, and to explain the requirements, the rights of parents and family members to be involved. 

  • Meeting Schedule: An annual meeting will be scheduled for the beginning of the school year, held at a convenient time, with parents invited via flyers, newsletters, school website, and email.

  • Agenda: Information about the Title I program, parents' rights, and how to be involved will be presented and discussed.

 

3) Flexible Meeting Times (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(2))
The school will offer flexible meeting times to ensure maximum participation from parents.

  • Multiple Meeting Options: Meetings will be offered during the day and evening to accommodate different schedules.

  • Virtual Access: Virtual meeting options will be provided for parents who are unable to attend in person.

 

4) Ongoing Parent Involvement in Program Planning (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(3))

Parents will be involved in an organized and ongoing way in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs.

  • Semiannual Parent Meetings: Parents will be invited to semiannual meetings to discuss Title I programs and provide feedback on their effectiveness.

  • Surveys: Feedback from parents will be gathered to guide program improvement.

 

5) Timely Information About the Title I Program (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(4)(A))
Parents will receive timely information about the Title I program and student progress.

  • Emails: Information about Title I activities and program updates will be shared with families as needed.

  • Newsletters: Information about Title I activities and program updates will be shared with families at a minimum quarterly.

  • School Title I Website: Information about Title I activities and program updates will be shared with families as needed.

  • Parent-Teacher Conferences: Parents will receive updates on their child’s progress in Title I programs during scheduled conferences.

 

6) Curriculum and Assessments (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(4)(B))

Parents will be provided with a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at our school, the forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and the achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards

  • Meetings: The school will hold events to explain the curriculum and how assessments measure student progress. These will be introduced at Back to School Night, the Title I Annual Meeting and at parent conferences.

  • Newsletters: Detailed guides and links to resources to explain the curriculum and how assessments measure student progress, as well as state standards achievement levels and how to access school information at the Future Ready PA Index.

  • School Website: Detailed guides and links to resources will be provided to parents to explain academic standards and assessments.

 

7) Opportunities for Regular Meetings (ESSA, Section 1116(c)(4)(C))

If requested by parents, our school will offer opportunities for regular meetings where parents can formulate suggestions and participate in decisions related to their child’s education.

  • Meetings: Parents are invited to schedule meetings to discuss their child’s academic performance and offer suggestions. 

  • Prompt Response: Suggestions from parents will be addressed as quickly as possible by the school staff.

 

8) Involvement in the Schoolwide Program Plan (ESSA, Section 1116(5))
Parents will be involved in the development and review of the Schoolwide Program Plan under Section 1114. If you would like to participate, please contact the building principal, Kristen McCreary, at [email protected] or 215-809-6370. 

  • Schoolwide Plan Steering Committee: Parents will be invited to participate in the joint development of the Schoolwide Program Plan.

  • Review and Feedback: The plan will be reviewed annually with parents, ensuring their input is considered. The plan will be made available to parents and the public in our office and on the school Title I website.

 

9) Parent Comments on Schoolwide Plan (ESSA, Section 1116)
Parents will have the opportunity to submit comments on the Schoolwide Plan if they find it unsatisfactory.

  • Comment Submission: Parents will be invited to submit comments on the plan during meetings or in writing, which will be forwarded to the Local Education Agency (LEA) if necessary.

 

10) School-Parent Compact (ESSA, Section 1116(d))

A school-parent compact will be developed with parents and family members, outlining the shared responsibility for student achievement.

  • Compact Review: Compact will be reviewed at the start of each school year at the Title I Annual Meeting, during parent-teacher conferences and at the Title I Spring Meeting.

  • Responsibilities Defined: The compact will clearly define the school’s responsibilities, the student’s responsibilities, and how parents can support their child's learning and meet the requirements of (ESSA, Section 1116(d)).

 

11) Assistance in Understanding Academic Standards (ESSA, Section 1116(6)(e)(1))
Parents will receive assistance in understanding academic standards, assessments, and ways to monitor their child’s progress.

  • Parent Meetings/Workshops: The school will offer meetings and workshops explaining the academic standards and assessments including Back to School Night, the Title I Annual Meeting and at conferences.

  • Progress Reports: Parents will receive regular reports on their child’s progress and strategies for supporting their learning at home.

  • LinkIt!: Parents may monitor student progress at any time through a digital student portal.

  • Newsletters/Websites: Detailed guides to explain the curriculum and how assessments measure student progress, as well as state standards achievement levels and how to access school information through LinkIt.

 

12) Materials and Training for Parents (ESSA, Section 1116(6)(e)(1))
Parents will be provided with training and materials to help improve their child’s achievement.

  • Parent Training: The school will offer literacy, math and technology training, as well as guidance on supporting homework and learning at home.

  • Educational Materials: At training, parents will be provided with materials to use at home to support academic growth.

  • Parent Resource Center (PRC): Our school has a PRC to support family engagement. The center offers educational materials, access to technology, and information on school programs. Families are welcome to visit during school hours or by appointment to access resources and support student learning at home.

 

13) Educating Staff About Parent Involvement (ESSA, Section 1116(6)(e)(3))
Our school  will educate teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and family members, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents and family members as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and family members and the school.

  • Professional Development: Using the SPAC videos teachers and staff will receive training on effective communication with parents and the importance of parent involvement.

  • Family Engagement Strategies: The school will implement strategies to encourage meaningful involvement from families.

 

14) Coordination with Other Programs (ESSA, Section 1116(6)(e)(4))
The school will coordinate parent involvement programs with other federal, state, and local initiatives.

  • Partnerships with Community Organizations: The school will collaborate with local preschool programs, community centers, and other organizations to support early parent engagement.

  • Integrated Programs: Parent involvement activities will be coordinated with other state and federal programs.

  • School Transition Plan: Our school implements strategies to facilitate effective transitions for students transitioning from early childhood/preschool to kindergarten, and from elementary school to middle school.

 

15) Communication in a Language Families Understand (ESSA, Section 1116(6)(e)(5))
The school will ensure that all communications are provided in a format and language that families can understand.

  • Multilingual Materials: Communications will be available in English and other languages commonly spoken or preferred by the school community.

  • Translation Services: The school will offer translation services for meetings, important documents, websites and newsletters.

 

16) Informed Participation (ESSA, Section 1116(7)(f))

The school will provide opportunities for informed participation, including for parents with limited English proficiency, disabilities, or migratory status.

  • Accessible Meetings: Meetings will be held in accessible formats and locations for all parents, including those with disabilities.

  • Inclusive Services: The school will provide services such as sign language interpreters or language translation as needed. 

  • Websites/Newsletters: Communications will be available to family members in their preferred language and with ADA accessibility. 

 

17) Distribution and Accessibility of the Policy (ESSA, Section 1116)
The policy will be made available to all parents in a clear and accessible format.

  • Annual Distribution: The Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be distributed to all families at the beginning of the school year and will be available on the school website.

  • Ongoing Accessibility: The policy will be available in the school office and upon request.

 

 

 

This Parent & Family Engagement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I, Part A programs, as evidenced by parent meetings held on October 8, 2025 and October 14, 2025