Topeka Public Schools Teaching and Learning

The TPS Family Engagement Program is designed to including the following:

1. The School District must offer programs and activities to involve parents and family members and seek meaningful consultation with parents.
   • Develop with parents a written parent and family engagement policy
   • Build schools' capacity to engage families
   • Evaluate its family engagement policy and practices, with meaningful input from families
   • Involve families in the activities of Title I schools
   • Reserve at least 1% of its Title I funds to support parent and family engagement activities; involve parents in deciding how to use these funds.
2. Title I schools must:
   • Develop with parents a written policy, agreed on by parents, that describes how the school will carry out its required family engagement activities
   • Hold an annual meeting for families to explain the program and the rights of parents to be involved and offer other meetings, at flexible times
   • Involve parents in the planning, review and improvement of the Title I program
   • Develop a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, students, and school staff will share the responsibility for improving student achievement, and that describes how parents and teachers will communicate.
3. The school district and Title schools must build capacity for involvement:
   • Offer assistance to parents in understanding the education system and the state standards, and how to support their children's achievement
   • Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children
   • Educate teachers and other school staff, including school leaders, in how to engage families effectively
   • Coordinate with other federal and state programs, including preschool programs
   • Give parents information in a format and language they can understand
   • Provide reasonable support that parents may request.