Transcript Toronto Catholic District School Board

CSAC Chairs and Principals Workshop
Roles and Responsibilities
Theory into Practice: Effective Strategies to Enhance
Parent Engagement
Carla Marchetti
Senior Coordinator
International Languages/
Parent & Community Engagement
October, 2014
 Importance
of Parent Engagement
 Parent Engagement in Policy and Guidelines
 CSAC Chair—Role and Responsibilities
 Principal—Role and Responsibilities
 Agendas
 Theory into Practice
 Resources
 Questions
Why engage parents?
The child's first and most influential
teacher is the parent.
A child's ideas about education and its
significance begin with the parent.
Improving the effectiveness of the home
as a learning environment is critical to
promoting long-term school success.
Three constructs primarily influence parents’
involvement decisions:
a) Parents become involved in schools if they
hold the belief that they should be
involved.
b)
c)
Parents’ sense of efficacy—belief that their
involvement can exert a positive influence
on child’s educational outcomes.
Parents perceive that the child and the
school want them to be involved.

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Voice
Representation
Common Good
Strong, accountable and transparent
governance is the cornerstone of an effective
learning environment where children thrive

Relationship building

Communication

Welcoming, respectful environment
Our Mission: We are an inclusive Catholic learning community
that educates students, staff, parents and trustees to grow in
grace and knowledge and to lead lives rooted in faith, hope and
charity.
Student
Engagement
Parent
Engagement
Student Well
Being and
Achievement
PARISH
SCHOOL
HOME
Living Our Catholic Values
- Parents will be supported in their integral role of nurturing
the relationship between home, school and parish.
Student Achievement and Well-Being
- Students, staff and parents will share a common understanding of
the learning goals and related success criteria by 2015.
Strengthening Public Confidence
- Enhance a variety of communications vehicles to all
stakeholders.
- Communicate TCDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan, goals,
values and achievements.
- Create and implement a proactive community
engagement strategy.
Parents in Partnership….
A PARENT
ENGAGEMENT
POLICY
FOR ONTARIO
SCHOOLS
2010
Parent Voice in Education Project—2005
3 Key Areas for Action
 To empower the parent voice within the
education system
 To create a more welcoming and inclusive
environment for parents
 To recognize the differences among
Ontario’s diverse communities.
Fulfilling the Vision of Parent Engagement—Strategies for Success
1. Positive school climate where parents are heard.
2. Identify and remove barriers and reflect diversity of
communities.
3. Provide parents with knowledge, skills, and tools they need to
support student learning at home and at school.
4. Review and expand communication and outreach strategies
related to supporting learning at home and parent
engagement in schools.
(p.14)
School Actions
• Actively explore and utilize opportunities (such as Parents
Reaching Out (PRO) Grants) to further engage parents at
school and at home to support student achievement.
• Actively support and encourage school council members and
other parents to share their ideas for reducing the student
achievement gap and to help inform school improvement
plans.
(p. 28)
SCHOOL
EFFECTIVENESS
FRAMEWORK
K-12
2013
Home, School and Community Partnerships
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
The School Council has a meaningful role
in supporting learning and achievement for
students
Students, parents and community members are
engaged and welcomed as respected, valued
partners
The school and community build partnerships
to enhance learning opportunities for students
Learning opportunities, resources and supports
are provided to help parents support student
learning and have productive parent-teacherstudent conversations.
The School Council has a meaningful role in supporting
learning and achievement for students.
❖❖ The School Council, in partnership with staff, consults with, listens to and assists the
parent community in becoming familiar with current school and community issues
and information (e.g., opportunity to learn about the School Improvement Plan).
❖❖ The School Council encourages parents’ involvement in their children’s learning at
home and at school.
❖❖ Targets and achievement results are communicated to the school community both
to build public confidence and to engage parents in supporting student learning
and achievement.
❖❖ The School Council promotes increased parent involvement that reflects the diversity
of the school community to support student achievement and well-being.
❖❖ The School Council identifies and works with staff to address barriers to parent and
community engagement.
(Indicator 6.1, p. 38)
Realizing the Promise of Diversity ….
ONTARIO’S
EQUITY AND
INCLUSIVE
EDUCATION
STRATEGY
2009
Focuses on:
• encouraging open dialogue with parents,
community groups, and partners
• developing community partnerships that
reflect the diversity of the broader community
• ensuring that diverse groups are on school
communities
• analyzing current outreach efforts so that all
community groups have access to and can
participate in school-community partnerships
Catholic School Advisory Councils
are mandated by provincial
law and governed by school
board policy.
Under the Education Act:
 Ontario Regulation 612/00-School Councils and
Parent Involvement Committees

Regulation 298(Operation of Schools, General).
Both regulations require that:
◦ school boards and principals solicit views from school
councils and report back to school councils on any
advice received;
◦ school boards and school principals across the province
consult with and respond to their school councils in a
consistent manner.
Purpose (Section 2)
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through the active participation of parents, to
improve pupil achievement and to enhance
the accountability of the education system to
parents.
primary means of achieving its purpose is by
making recommendations in accordance with
this Regulation to the principal of the school
and the board that established the council.
•
•
School Councils exist to advise the principal of the school
and/or the school board on ways to improve student
achievement and well-being
CSACs are to be consulted about:
 Principal & Vice Principal Profiles
 School Code of Conduct
 Appropriate Dress Code
 Fund-raising activities
 Local action plan for student improvement
 Parent Reaching Out Grants
OBLIGATIONS OF CSAC
• Promote Catholic Faith and Gospel Values
• Establish goals, priorities and procedures, consistent with the
Mission and Vision of the Board
• Develop by-laws governing the conduct of its affairs, including
election, vacancies, conflict of interest and conflict resolution
ROLE OF PRINCIPAL
•
Attend all CSAC meetings—may delegate duties to vice-principal
•
Communicate name of CSAC members and date, time, and place of
meetings.
•
In consultation with CSAC Chair, assist in developing agenda
•
Act as a resource person—assist council in obtaining relevant
information including function of council, legislation , regulations,
policies
•
Distribute and post material received from the Ministry that are
identified for distribution to CSAC
•
Consider each recommendation made by CSAC and advise CSAC of
action taken
Sub-Committees
• Standing Committees as outlined in by-laws
Academic Affairs
Communications
Community Relations
Fund Raising
Elections / Bylaws
Finance
• Make recommendations to CSAC
• Must include at least one parent member of the council.
• May include persons that are not CSAC members
• Principal to give notice of dates, times and location of
meetings.
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Call and Chair Council meetings (4 per year).
Prepare the Agenda in consultation with the Principal. Meet with the Executive to finalize
the Agenda.
Ensure council members understand their roles and facilitate conflict resolution on the
school council.
Conduct meetings in an invitational, harmonious manner in the context of Gospel
Values.
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Be entitled to one vote in matters where a vote is taken.
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Participate in information and training programs.
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Act as a link between the council and the community in support of school programs to
improve student achievement. All communication to be vetted through school principal.
ROLE OF CSAC CHAIR
• Make recommendations to the principal and to the Board to
improve student achievement.
• Represent the school community.
• Ensure that the minutes of Council meetings are recorded and
maintained
• activate your school CSAC e-mail account –done at the
local level by the school principal
• adhere to school CSAC by-laws
• promote diverse representation
• as much as possible, facilitate decision-making through
consensus –provide opportunities for all members to
give input—team approach
• making decisions—consensus/voting/motions
• ensure that PIC and PRO funds are expended
Sub-Committees
• Standing Committees as outlined in by-laws
Academic Affairs
Communications
Community Relations
Fund Raising
Elections / Bylaws
Finance
• Make recommendations to CSAC
• Must include at least one parent member of the council.
• May include persons that are not CSAC members
• Principal to give notice of dates, times and location of
meetings.
SETTING AN AGENDA
• set by Chair in consultation with principal
• refer to By-laws in order to determine request for agenda
items to meet the posting timelines (5 to 7 days before
meeting)
• the agenda only becomes binding and is the official agenda for
a meeting, when it is adopted by the full assembly at the
outset of the meeting.
• at the time that an agenda is presented for adoption, it is in
order for any member to move to amend the proposed agenda
by adding any item that the member desires to add, or by
proposing any other change.
SCHOOL NAME
SCHOOL LOGO
Sample Agenda
DATE
LOCATION
TIME
AGENDA ITEMS
OWNER
Welcome, Call to Order, Roll Call, Declaration of Quorum,
Introduction of Guests and Prayer
Chair
Review and approval of Agenda
Chair
Review and approval of previous Minutes
Chair & Secretary
Declaration of conflict of interest
Chair
Report from the Chair
Chair
Financial Report
Treasurer
Old Business and Business Arising from the Minutes
Agenda Items
Deferred or
carried forward
Sub-Committee Reports and Recommendations
Various
Principal’s Report
New Business
Principal (or
Designate)
Various
Announcements & Date, Time & Location of Next Meeting
Chair
Adjournment
Chair
TIME
THEORY INTO PRACTICE
Joe Bria
Principal
St. Philip Neri
TCDSB RESOURCES
Translation and Interpreting—Central Account
Settlement Workers
Student Success, Literacy and Numeracy Resources for Parents
Transition to High School (14 languages)
Welcome to Kindergarten
Parent and Family Literacy Centers
Special Education Advisory Council
Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC)
Toronto Association for Parents in Catholic Education (TAPCE)
PARISH
Preparation for Sacraments
Knights of Columbus
Catholic Women’s Auxiliary
Rosary Apostolates
Catholic Youth Groups
Outreach Programs—Food Drives
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
http://find.gov.on.ca/?searchType=simple&owner=edu&url=&collection=educationtcu&offset=0&lang=en&
type=ANY&q=parents
You want to go where everybody knows
your name and they’re always glad you
came!
“Parents’ engagement in their children’s learning
makes a difference – to their children and to their
children’s achievement and success in a wide
range of educational outcomes. It can make a
difference to educators and to the landscape of
schools as well … a shared world. “ Debbie Pushor
Joyce Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement
Resources
CSAC Grants Guide:
http://www.tcdsb.org/parents/grants%20handout%20(csac%20conference%202010-11).pdf
Fundraising Guidelines (Draft MOE):
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fundraisingGuideline.pdf
Ontario Regulation 612/00:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_000612_e.htm
School Councils: A Members Guide (Revised 2002)
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/council/council02.pdf
TCDSB CSAC Resource Handbook (Draft) http://www.tcdsb.org/csac/docs/Handbook.pdf
Ministry of Education: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/