Cactus Elementary is committed to the goal of providing quality education for every child on our campus. To this end, we want to establish partnerships with parents and the community. Everyone gains if school and home work together to promote high achievement for our children. Neither home nor school can do the job alone. Parents play an extremely important role as the children’s’ first teachers. Their support for their children and the school is critical to their children’s’ success at every step along the way.

Goals for the children of Cactus Elementary will be available to all parents, with the expectation that all students will work toward these goals. We recognize that some students may need the extra assistance available through the Title I program, as well as other programs to reach these goals. Cactus Elementary intends to include parents in all aspects of the campuses Title I program. The goal is a school-home partnership that will encourage all students on the campus to succeed.

Since Title I is a schoolwide project at this campus, the Campus Council will act as the advisory committee for developing our campus parental involvement policy. This committee is made up of parents, community members, business representatives, and school personnel.

At the fall and spring annual meetings for parents, parents will be given information about Title I. They will be given copies of the campus’s current parental involvement policy and will be offered a chance to become involved in revising and updating the policy as needed. Parents may volunteer to serve on the Campus Council.

The meetings will be held once a month for the convenience of parents. Written notices, telephone calls and/or media attention will be directed at attracting as many parents as possible.

In accordance with Title I regulations, our campus must develop a school-parent compact with the parents of students participating in the program. This compact will enable the school and parents to share the responsibility for student performance and success.

The compact must explain that students, parents and staff will share responsibility for promoting student achievement. The Campus Council will be consulted in the design and implementation of the compact.

All parents of students participating in the Title I program will be given a copy of the compact detailing the responsibilities that teachers, parents and students have in helping students accomplish their goals. Students’ responsibilities will vary by grade level.

Parent/student signatures will not be required; however, parents are encouraged to discuss the contents of the compact with their children.

The community will be consulted in the design, development and implementation of the Title I program. Parent and student needs will be assessed through surveys and other measures targeted at creating a successful school environment.

Cactus Elementary will welcome and promote parental suggestions.

Parents will be welcomed through various avenues of communication throughout the school year. Newsletters, conferences, personal contacts, phone calls and/or written notices will be utilized to establish and maintain an open line of communication. Parents are encouraged to take the initiative in calling their child(ren)’s teacher when they are concerned about a problem. They may also call the school office and ask for a translator. As much as possible, notices sent home will have the information in both English and Spanish. School personnel will practice positive, effective home-school communications.

The Cactus Elementary Campus Council will be involved in the process of school review and improvement. Parents of children in the Title I program will be part of this group. The aim will be to evaluate the school, collecting information in a variety of ways.

There will be an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the Title I parental involvement program, and parents will be asked for their input. The evaluation will include an assessment of how much involvement is increasing and what barriers to parental participation still need to be overcome. The campus will revise its parent involvement on the basis of this annual review.

This commitment to family involvement has been approved by the school board of Dumas ISD. The policy will be coordinated by Title I supervisory staff and teachers throughout the campus.