Author: Shade, Chris L

Parental Involvement Research
Extensive research demonstrates a positive relationship between families and schools has many benefits for students, including improved academic achievement. This is true for families of all economic, racial/ethnic, and educational backgrounds and for students at all ages. The benefits for students include:
higher grade point averages and scores on standardized tests or rating scales,
enrollment in more challenging academic programs,
more classes passed and credits earned,
better attendance,
improved behavior at home and at school, and
better social skills and adaptation to school.

Purpose of the Policy
Because school age children spend 70% of their waking hours (including weekends and holidays) outside of school, parental involvement and engagement is essential to the success of children in school. While volunteering at school is beneficial, and attending parent-teacher conferences, school events, and parent involvement activities are important, “the most significant type of involvement is what parents do at home. By monitoring, supporting and advocating, parents can be engaged in ways that ensure that their children have every opportunity for success.” Involvement encompasses: setting goals with children and fostering achievement of those goals, accessing and using children’s academic scores to ensure they’re on track, frequently viewing the parent portal, developing a relationship with children’s teachers and keeping in touch with them often, and advocating for improvements in the school building and with local, state, and federal officials to ensure schools have the resources they need to provide a world class education to every student.”

Cross Oaks Elementary School Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Cross Oaks Elementary
600 Liberty Blvd.
Crossroads, TX 76227
(972) 347-7100

Ways to Be Involved and Engaged in Our Schools
Ready Rosie is an online resource for parents that offer instant, interactive, and consistent parent-child engagement activities aligned to our reading and math curriculum. This program is provided by Denton ISD at no charge to parents whose children attend campuses that receive Title I funds. Ready Rosie is designed to serve children from birth to third grade. If you’ve ever asked, “How can I help my child at home?” these are THE resources for you!
Attend parent-teacher conferences.
Attend school activities with your children.
Volunteer at your children’s schools. Contact your children’s school for more details.
Serve on the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at your children’s school.
Talk to your children about school, and read to your children every day. Start reading to your children when they are very young, even in the years before school. Show them the importance of reading by limiting screen time at home and visiting the library with them.

Development of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy
According to the Every Student Succeeds Act, “Each school served under Title I shall jointly develop with, and distribute to, parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy, agreed on by such parents.” Further, each school shall “involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under Title I, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school parent and family engagement policy.” This brochure is our way of informing parents of our family engagement policy.
Title I Annual Meeting
Each school served under Title I shall “convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under Title I and to explain the requirements of Title I, and the right of the parents to be involved.” Be looking for more info on our Title I Annual Meeting and the programs we offer.
School-Parent Compact
Each school served under Title I shall “jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards.” Compacts are emailed to parents every fall.
Schoolwide Program Plan
Each school served under Title I shall “involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the joint development of the schoolwide program plan.” Parent representatives serve on our Campus Leadership Team (CLT) and assist in the development of the campus improvement plan. With the assistance of parents of students on our campus, our CLT has developed our campus improvement plan, which is approved yearly by the Denton ISD Board of Trustees and is readily available on our school website.

Denton ISD: Empowering lifelong learners to be engaged citizens who positively impact their local and global community.