The written school parent involvement plan establishes the school’s expectation for parent involvement and describes how the school will build the school’s and parent’s capacity for strong parental involvement. This plan includes all federal requirements, was developed with and agreed upon with parents, distributed to parents, and is being implemented.

(1) Parents are notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand. 

During the annual, beginning of the year Parent Orientation Night, our plan is explained within a PowerPoint presentation.  Portions of this plan and specific events are also communicated to parents via parent letters, school newsletters, and parent meetings.  The plan is also posted on the school’s website and in the student planner. 

(2) Sevierville Elementary’s parent involvement plan is made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

Parents can view our plan on the school website or have access to it on site. Periodic updates are made as needed to reflect school needs based on data gleaned from our annual Family and Community Engagement survey results. Input from parents through our parent and community group is also encouraged.

(3) Sevierville Elementary has convened an annual parent meeting to inform parents about the school’s parental involvement programs, Section 1118 requirements, and rights of parents to be involved in Title I programs.

Evidence such as agenda/minutes, attendance rosters, and communication is collected for documentation.

(4) Sevierville Elementary offers a flexible number of meetings – mornings or evenings. 

Since a large percentage of our student population qualifies for free- or reduced-lunch, we continually take measures to accommodate families from diverse backgrounds.

• We offer our families during- and after-school opportunities to be involved and engaged in our school operations.
• Sevierville Intermediate School’s administration and teachers schedule conferences in morning, afternoon, and evening hours to accommodate different schedules.
• Parent help seminars are held during our Fall Family Night.

Teachers at Sevierville Elementary School communicate their availability to parents for discussions or phone conferences before school, during their planning time, and after school hours to accommodate different schedules.

(5) Parents, or an adequate representation of parents, are involved in an organized, ongoing, and timely way in the planning, review, and improvement of the school parental involvement plan and joint development of the school wide program plan (TSIPP).

Our Parent Teacher Organization, which is comprised of the Principal, Assistant Principal, grade level representatives, and parent representatives, meets once a month.  This group developed the Parent Involvement Plan based on identified needs, input from families, and results from the annual Parent and Community Engagement Survey. Decisions and actions are communicated through school newsletters and the school’s website.  The Parent Involvement Plan will be distributed at the Fall Family Night.

Sevierville Elementary School’s Prioritization Committee was originally formed to review school assessment data and the content of the current school improvement plan as well as make decisions impacting school priorities for improvement.  Our parent teacher organization is made up of parent representatives who serve on this committee.

(6) The school provides parents with timely information about school programs under NCLB section 1118.

In order to communicate regularly with families:

• Sevierville Elementary School distributes information during the first week of school identifying opportunities for families to volunteer and become involved.
• A school handbook/planner containing important information and school procedures is available to all families through our school website.  A paper copy of this handbook/planner is provided to all families upon enrollment.
• A parent orientation is held to communicate class schedules, attendance, use of assignment books, and expectations for student learning and behavior.  Parents who are unable to attend are provided the opportunity to meet with classroom teachers and principal to discuss these important issues.
• The school sends a school newsletter home each six weeks to inform them of school information.
• Teachers send weekly newsletters to families.
• Students in 2 and 3 use grade-appropriate planners to communicate with families on a daily basis.
• Our principal publishes a school newsletter via our school website every six weeks.  Paper copies are sent home in each child’s grade card. The Sevier County School System’s webmaster uses the district website to communicate with families.  In addition to important school dates, events, and reminders, parents may use the Parent Link section found on our district’s website. This link provides parents with many resources for parental involvement, homework help, parenting tips, etc. Portions of these newsletters are translated for Hispanic speaking parents.
• The Sevier County School System’s webmaster uses the district website to communicate with families. In addition to important school dates, events, and reminders, parents may use the Parent Link Section found on our district’s website. This link provides parents with many resources for parental involvement, homework help, parenting tips, etc.
• Each teacher maintains a webpage which includes important school information and assignments.
• Teachers provide parents with their email addresses in order to provide parents with an easy form of communication.
• Teachers send home progress reports and six-week report cards to inform parents of their child’s academic performance.

(7) Sevierville Elementary provides parents a description and explanation of the curriculum the school uses, forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.

 The following are ways that curriculum and assessment are communicated to our families:

In regard to curriculum:  Teachers send newsletters highlighting current curricular focus to parents.  The curriculum is also discussed with parents at our Fall Family Night,  and at our Parent Orientation Night event.  At the beginning of each school year, each parent receives a copy of the Parents’ Guide to the Curriculum which outlines what their child is expected to know and be able to do at the end of each grade level. 

In regard to assessment:  The principal and teachers review the prior year’s test results.  Brochures and letters are sent home accompanying State Test results as soon as it is feasible.  If parents have questions about the results, they schedule meetings with the principal or teacher. Parents also receive information regarding other assessments such as Discovery Education Benchmarks periodically throughout the year.

(8) Per parent request- opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any suggestions as soon as practically possible. 

When a child is experiencing difficulty, teachers at Sevierville Elementary School conference with parents to discuss how to motivate the child, offer suggestions for remediation/enrichment, and solicit help and support from home.  Similarly, when a parent requests a meeting with teachers, they come together with the administrator to listen to the views and challenges faced by the parent and offer suggestions and/or accommodations to best meet the needs of the student.  The teachers and support staff work together to carry through with recommendations, suggestions, and requests for help made by parents.

(9) A process is in place to submit parent comments on the school wide program (TSIPP) if it is not satisfactory to the parents when the school makes the plan available to the district/LEA.

Parent comments are always welcome at Sevierville Elementary School.  Parent representatives on the Prioritization Team, parents on the TSIPP committees, and parents representing our Parent Teacher Organization provide input.  These groups meet periodically throughout the school year.

(10) Building capacity for involvement- Assistance is provided to parents in understanding topics such as the State’s academic content standards, State student academic achievement standards, State and local academic assessments,  how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve student achievement.  

• Parent training sessions are held by our school during our Fall Family Night.
• Our Principal discusses current changes/results in regard to data and the school’s areas of success and areas of greatest need at monthly (PTO organization) meetings or other times, as needed.
• Our administrator informs families of celebrations, curricular changes/needs, and upcoming assessments through newsletters and the school’s website. 

(11) Building capacity for involvement- Materials and training are provided to help parents work with their children to improve their achievement, such as literacy training and using technology to foster parental involvement.

The following opportunities are presented annually to families:

• Title I parent materials are placed in a “Parent Resource Library.” Parents may check out materials to take home as needed.
• Parent training sessions are held on topics requested by parents or listed as a need on parent surveys.

Parent Involvement activities are held by school representatives during Fall Family Night. Some examples include: Read 180 Boot Camp, Building Reading Skills, Navigating the Sevier County School’s website, Homework Help and various other topics as needed.

(12) Building capacity for involvement- Staff are educated with the assistance of parents in the value and contributions of parents; and in working with parents- how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, build ties between parents and the school. 

In addition to attending staff development opportunities relating to family engagement, the Sevierville Elementary School faculty and staff research and brainstorm on-going ideas on how to increase and promote family participation, collaboration, and contribution.

• Students at SES use grade-appropriate student planners to communicate daily with families.
• Newsletters are sent home weekly and/or monthly from classroom teachers.  Newsletters are sent home every six weeks by the Principal. Email communication is used between parents, administrators, and teachers.
• Conferences between parents/teachers/administrators occur as needed.
• The school website address is communicated to parents in the beginning-of-the-year information packet.  The website includes information on the following:
  • School motto, mission statement, beliefs, and vision
  • Student handbook
  • Celebrations of students, faculty, and staff
  • Sevier County Schools calendar and important dates
  • Roster of faculty and staff with communication links via email
• Grade-level parent meetings are held to communicate class schedules, attendance, use of student planners, and expectations for student learning and behavior.  Parents who are unable to attend are provided with alternate dates and times to meet with classroom teachers.

(13) Building capacity for involvement- Title I-A parental involvement strategies are coordinated and integrated with parent involvement strategies under other programs, such as Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, Parents as Teachers, Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters, State-run preschool programs, and Title III language instructional programs.  

In an effort to smooth the transition from home to school for young children, the following measures are in place:

• Parent Orientation Night is an opportunity to welcome future parents to our building, gather paperwork, communicate needs, and positively begin a relationship with Sevierville Elementary School’s future parents.  Many staff members and parent volunteers are involved in this process.
• Second grade orientation is held to welcome upcoming second graders from Sevierville Primary School to our school in May.
• Our third grade students also visit Sevierville Intermediate School in May to orientate themselves to the new school. These steps serve to ease the transition from SPS to SES and from SES to SIS.

(14) Building capacity for involvement- Ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents in a format and, to the extent practical, in a language the parents understand. 

At Sevierville Elementary School, every effort is made to assist our parents with limited English proficiency.  Many district/school documents are available in both English and Spanish.  Translators are brought in to interpret during meetings.  Faculty and staff are also available to assist parents in reading forms and completing paperwork.  Information disseminated to families is sent in clear, simple English.  Forms are often sent home in English and in Spanish versions where applicable.  “Home School Connection” newsletter, available in both English and Spanish, is linked to the Parent Resource section of our school website, and is also sent home monthly to all families. The school also offers Spanish and English versions of Title 1 pamphlets.

(15) Building capacity for involvement- Provide other reasonable support for parent involvement activities per parent request. (Example:  transportation, childcare)

Every effort is made to assist our parents with limited English proficiency.  Many district/school documents are available in both English and Spanish.  Translators are brought in to interpret during meetings with families with limited English Proficiency as needed.  Faculty, staff, or other volunteers are also available to assist parents in reading forms and completing paperwork.  Information disseminated to families is sent in clear, simple English.  Forms are often sent home in English and in Spanish versions where applicable.  The school staff and the Parent Advisory Council/Parent Teacher Organization also seek to actively involve parents with opportunities to volunteer within the school and provide a mentor to help these parents by providing support or translation.

(16) Accessibility-Local educational agencies and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.

Parent meetings are conducted throughout the school year or on an as needed basis providing parents with information concerning their child’s education, materials to practice and support identified skills relative to their child’s learning,  and tips for parents, while fostering a positive relationship between the home and school environment.  Two-way communication involves a variety of media such as phone calls, emails, and person-to person conferencing.