In October 2003, the New Braunfels ISD Parent Advisory Committee was established with the goal of building a family support system for student success. Principals were asked to appoint one representative to serve on this district-wide group. The 14-member group includes parents from a variety of backgrounds with students in a number of instructional and extra-curricular programs. At least three parents represent children who are served by Title I programs. All meetings are open to the public.
The committee meets at least four times during the school calendar year.
Parent involvement is paramount in the New Braunfels ISD as it partners with parents to enhance the academic and social success of all students. At the district level, parents are represented on the District-wide Education Improvement Council. All campuses in the NBISD have groups with parent representation including, but not limited to, Campus Improvement Committees (CIC) and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA). These committees work to build parent-school district partnerships to benefit children in the district. They allow opportunities for parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions regarding the education of their children. The schools will respond to any suggestions as soon as practically possible via contact between the school administration and the requesting committee liaison.
The “Parent Involvement Policy” was initially created in 2004 and distributed to all NBISD parents at that time. The Policy is now reviewed annually, with the approved Policy then posted on the District Website and printed copies provided upon request.
The committee originally set four goals and those goals continue to be approved by the committee for the 2017-2018 school year:
- Increase by 10 percent the number of parents/guardians attending parent/teacher conferences. This shall be monitored by each campus principal and data provided to the committee for review.
- Increase by 10 percent the number of parents involved with learning activities at school. (Based on teacher and administration responses feedback.)
- District publications and handouts will be sent home in both English and in Spanish.
- Each campus will create an open-door statement that informs parents of office procedures to be included in registration packets and/or handbooks.
In addition, NBISD will continue to support/conduct the following:
An annual Title I, Part A meeting will be conducted at each Title I campus to discuss the Title I school-wide programs. The meeting will be held at a convenient time and location. English to Spanish language translation will available. Notice of the meeting will be posted.
Each campus should establish a two-way communication process with parents and families regarding the academic progress of all students. This shall include the performance of the child on the State assessments in at least math, language arts, and reading. This process could include: progress reports, report cards, telephone calls, notes, newsletters, campus and teacher websites.
Parents shall be provided with printed information annually as to the campus’ Title I school-wide programs. The printed information shall be provided in English and Spanish. The campus websites shall also contain this information for parent review.
Parents will be provided with information regarding the school’s curriculum, including the types of academic assessment used to measure student progress and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
Each campus shall also have information available to parents regarding grade level testing materials and objectives. Parents may request information regarding the qualifications of their child’s teacher. The information requested may include whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction; whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualifications or licensing criteria have been waived; and the baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
Each campus shall provide parents with timely notice when their child has been assigned or has been taught for four (4) or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified within the meaning of the term in section 200.56 of the Title I Final Regulations (67 Fed. Reg. 71710, December 2, 2002.) This notice shall be in written and electronic format and shall be provided in both English and Spanish.