White Plains Academy
Family Engagement Plan
Mission Statement:
To present a safe and nourishing environment where students are given an opportunity to develop academic skills and social skills necessary to return to the mainstream of education.
NOTE: Parent Representatives vary because our students have been excluded from their home school and are placed at White Plains Academy by an Individualized Education Program (I.E.P.) Team, usually as a result of behavior problems such as habitual violations of school rules, and/or board policies, including zero tolerance along with emotional dysfunction to chronic legal problems, as well as the disciplinary hearing authority. Others have attention disorders, and some see no connection between their academic program and the real weeks to one year, depending on the decision made through the individualized education planning tear or the disciplinary hearing authority.
In order to improve Parent/Family participation, White Plains Academy has adopted the Putnam County Schools Family Engagement Plan.
To increase family involvement as applicable within White Plains Academy staff will implement the following items:
Communication with Parents: The success of WPA students depends on a strong support system, whether it comes from family, school, or the community. In compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, WPA has formed a family engagement committee. WPA based this plan on practical concerns for family needs and best practices in student engagement. Through needs assessments and interest surveys WPA developed a program of activities and services to improve the educational opportunities of our students.
In order to meet the Putnam County policy requirements, the following standards will be met:
Standard 1: Family Involvement is incorporated as a strategy to achieve any goal in the School Improvement Plan.
➢ Behavioral Conferences
➢ List of Family Resources classes and trainings at the beginning of the year to students and their families.
➢ Dry Valley’s SIP is being revised to include a Family Involvement Plan which will have attainable goals.
Standard 2: Everyone who works at the school strongly believes that family involvement is important to student’s success and academic achievement.
➢ Mission statement
➢ Handbook
➢ Rules and Regulations
➢ Family Liaison is Joy Chadwell
➢ Monies are being requested in the new budget to be used for Parent Involvement at WPA
➢ Open parent conferences
➢ Special holiday events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day dinners with parents and family members
➢ Progress Reports
➢ Notes, phone calls, memos, emails are used to maintain communication channels with family members
➢ Students will be included with family members and staff in decision making
Standard 3: School staff use creative ways of reaching out to families who have not been involved in their children’s education.
➢ School Liaison is Joy Chadwell
➢ An on-site Parent Coordinator
➢ Parenting classes and resources offered through the Family Resource Center
➢ Native American Program
➢ Black History Month
➢ Field Trip Chaperones
➢ Student Mentoring
➢ Hearing and Vision Screenings
➢ First Baptist Church Gym for Basketball
➢ Outdoor Activities such as camping, boating, and hiking
➢ Career Day
➢ Serviced Based Learning Program: Jacob’s Ladder the Greenhouse
➢ Community Speakers (Health, drugs, national guard, police, whatever is needed)
➢ Mentoring with Social Workers
➢ Special Education Conferences
➢ WPA will provide families with suggestions and materials to support learning
➢ Will accommodate special needs situations (handicaps, literacy problems, transportation, childcare, etc.)
➢ Provide information on behavior and homework policies
Standard 4: There is a strong partnership among school staff, students, families and community members that increases students’ success and academic achievement.
➢ Database of family and community volunteers
➢ All families will be treated equally
➢ Veterans Day Program
➢ Family Engagement Committee will be represented by community members, teachers, support staff, and parents
➢ Career Day
➢ Community Adopter Breakfast (Rotary Club)
➢ Community Speakers will be invited to discuss issues of concern in the community
➢ Information sent home will be clear and in an understandable language and format
➢ White Plains Academy will have frequent conferences with parents and family members to discuss the progress of the students
Standard 5: The principal and site council provide active leadership in increasing the level and quality of family involvement in children’s education.
➢ Joy Chadwell, WPA School Counselor, will act as the Family Liaison
➢ An on-site Parent Coordinator is available
➢ The school budget is being revised to include funds for the Parent Family Involvement at WPA
➢ Lunch/Breakfast with students and Administrators
➢ Surveys will be conducted at the end of each child’s education with White Plains Academy to determine areas where improvement is needed
Standard 6: The school is responsive to the needs of its families.
➢ Student Handbooks
➢ Family Resource Center at the S.T.A.R. Center
➢ School Calendars
➢ Web Page
➢ Progress Reports
➢ Report Cards
➢ Continued Communication with families regarding students’ needs, progress, and programs
➢ Parent surveys will be conducted to determine areas of interest and to set goals with families on the desired outcome.
Standard 7: School staff, families, and community members work together to plan, put into action, and evaluate family involvement efforts.
➢ Family Engagement Plan for WPA
➢ School Improvement Plan for WPA
Standard 8: Everyone who works at the school draws upon the knowledge and expertise of all families to support the school as a whole.
➢ Where is the evidence that teachers have to be “knowledgeable, friendly, etc.?”
➢ Student Mentoring
➢ Family and Community Volunteers are available through the school’s database In order to meet the Putnam County policy requirements, the following classroom standards will be met:
Standard C-1: Families are seen and treated as partners in their children’s education by teachers and other instructional staff.
➢ Website
➢ Handbook
➢ Service based learning projects to be completed at home
➢ Notes and phone calls to discuss students
➢ Materials are provided to help with homework and support learning
➢ All documentation will be translated as appropriate
➢ Interpreters will be provided as needed
Standard C-2: Each family’s experience, knowledge, and culture are respected and valued by teachers and other instruction staff.
➢ Decision-making groups with parents and students.
➢ Poverty training will be scheduled for all staff at White Plains Academy
➢ Sign-in sheets will be kept as documentation for all training staff receives and attends
Schools Served By White Plains Academy