Activity 6

Goals Addressed: 1. Increase student achievement; 2. Foster collaboration and communication;

3. Strengthen parent and community involvement; 4. Build an infrastructure for professional development.

Performance Objective(s) Addressed:

1. The attendance rate for all SAISD students will improve from 94.1% in 1997-1998 to 95% in 1998-1999.

2. The dropout rate for all SAISD students will decline for each identified group in 1996-1997 and 1998-1999.

3. The percent of students in grades three through eight and grade ten passing the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills Reading Test will increase from 1998 to 1999 for each group of students identified.

4. The percent of students in grades three through eight and grade ten passing the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills Mathematics Test will increase from 1998 to 1999 for each group of students identified.

5. The percent of students in grades four, eight, and ten passing the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills Writing Test will increase from 1998 to 1999 for each group of students identified.

Strategies: 1. We will commit District resources to student learning and achievement.

2. We will strengthen our community of learners through continuous learning.

Activity 6: Expand and strengthen relationships with parents, businesses, higher education, and the community.

Subactivities:

a. Develop and implement District-wide Communications Plan addressing two-way communications, public relations, and public engagement efforts internally and externally.

b. Establish a strong communications system which will effectively inform the community members of the District through a quarterly community newsletter, parent newsletters and calendars, a monthly video program, and the SAISD Home Page via the Internet.

c. Provide, through the Parent Academy and other programs, a comprehensive parenting education program for parents in the District.

d. Continue to provide information and support to parents through the Parent Helpline and training in collaborative problem solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

e. Foster the development of strong school-community-business-higher education collaboratives.

f. Provide academic support services to parents focusing on reinforcement of the instructional program of their children.

g. Expand the SAISD Adult and Community Education Program in collaboration with community agencies.

h. Offer technical assistance to schools on promoting parent, school and community partnerships and integration of these activities into the Campus Improvement Plan.

i. Provide professional development for community liaisons, parents and other community volunteer.

j. Hold quarterly Town Hall meetings, Parent Advisory Council forums, other special focus groups, and public opinion polls to foster the public engagement of students, parents, community members, and patrons of the District.

Resources:

Human - Parent and Community Partnership Network staff, the Parent Advisory Council, Parent Academy participants, PTA groups, Learning Communities' staff, school principals, ESC Region 20, community service agencies, businesses, military installations, colleges and universities, civic groups

Money - $367,121

Materials - Computer and software programs, training materials as appropriate for network's staff development, parent education materials

Person(s) Responsible: Parent and Community Partnership Network Steward

Timeline: August 1998 - July 1999

Formative Evaluation: Data for the formative evaluation of the parent and community involvement programs will include (but are not limited to) feedback from the parents on the parenting education programs, enrollment in the Parent Academy, feedback from community liaisons, reports on the registration and attendance in adult and community education classes, statistical reports on GED test takers, feedback from campus staff and community partners, and an analysis of expenditures.

The Steward of the Parent and Community Partnership Network will collect appropriate information and report to the Superintendent, the school principals, and SALT during the months of September, November, January, and March on the progress of and recommendations for future parent and community involvement programs during the 1998-1999 school year.

Summative Evaluation: Data for the summative evaluation of the parent and community involvement programs will include an analysis of the parents' attitudes toward the parenting education programs and activities, the total number of parents and community members who attended the Parent Academy classes, final count of the number of individuals registered in adult and community education classes and attendance rates, a total count of individuals who enrolled in and completed the GED Test Battery, an analysis of the attitudes of campus staff and community partners toward PCPN programs and services, and a budget analysis. The Steward of the Parent and Community Partnership Network will compile this information and present a summary report to the Superintendent, the school principals, and SALT in May 1999, and make recommendations for the 1999-2000 District Improvement Plan.

Activity 7