District Parent & Family Engagement Policy

District Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Policy 2-201

Scope:

Parents and guardians shall have the right and opportunity to be informed and to participate in the education of their children in accordance with law.

Such rights include, but are not limited to:

•  The right to be informed of their child’s academic progress and school performance; 

•  The right to meet with teachers and school administrators; 

•  The right to observe classroom instruction consistent with District procedures; 

•  The right to receive information about school programs, curriculum, and standards; and 

•  The right to participate in school activities and advisory processes. 

To the extent that the District receives Title I funds, the District also shall comply with applicable federal engagement for programs receiving federal funding.

1. 1. Definitions: 

•  Annual Parent Notification means the written notice provided by the District to parents and guardians at the beginning of each school year that informs them of their rights and responsibilities, and of District policies and programs, as required by state and federal law. 

•  Family Engagement means active, two-way communication and partnership to support learning, implemented through mutual responsibility. 

•  Parent/Family means biological, custodial, or other guardians maintaining educational decision-making authority under law. 

1. 2. Parent Notification 

Parent notifications shall be provided in a format and language accessible to parents/guardians to the extent required by law. The District shall ensure that information regarding parent rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for engagement is (“Annual Parent Notification”):

•  Distributed to parents/guardians annually; and 

•  Made available through District publications and the District website. 

The District shall also provide parents/guardians with timely and accurate information regarding:

•  Their child’s attendance and progress; 

•  School policies, rules, and procedures; and 

•  Programs, services, and opportunities available to their child. 

1. 3. Family-Engagement in Decision-Making 

The District shall provide opportunities for parents and family members to participate meaningfully in District and school decision‑making processes, including:

•  Providing input on programs and plans affecting students; and 

•  Participating in advisory committees or engagement processes, as applicable. 

State law and LCAP requirements emphasize the importance of seeking parent input in District decision‑making.

Information should be provided in a manner that is accessible to all parents/guardians, including those with limited English proficiency or disabilities, as required by law.

Administrative Regulations

• 1. 1. Annual Notice 

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure coordination of all required parent notifications to avoid duplication and ensure timely distribution.

The annual notice shall include, as applicable, notice of parent/guardian rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (20 U.S.C. 1232h), including the right to inspect instructional materials used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education; the right to inspect, upon request and within a reasonable period of time, any survey created by a third party before it is administered or distributed to students; and any applicable procedures for exercising those rights.

The annual notice also shall advise parents/guardians of the District’s arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of surveys collecting protected information, and shall notify parents/guardians of the approximate dates of, and opportunity to opt their child out of, any survey that collects such information and is funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education, any nonemergency invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, and activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

No student shall be required, as part of any applicable program funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education, to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals protected information identified in 20 U.S.C. 1232h without prior written consent of the parent/guardian, unless otherwise authorized by law.

• 1. 2. Promoting Engagement in Decision-Making 

State law emphasizes the importance of seeking parent input in District decision-making processes. The Superintendent or designee shall provide opportunities, as appropriate, for parent and family input in District and school decision-making processes, which may include:

•  Advisory committees; 

•  Community meetings; and 

•  Engagement activities related to District plans and programs. 

Common engagement opportunities:

•  Annual Engagement & Capacity Building: Host flexible meetings, workshops, and trainings at convenient times to support family involvement. Provide childcare, translation, transportation, and virtual options to reduce barriers. 

•  School-Parent Compacts: Develop collaboratively at each school outlining responsibilities of staff, families, and students in academic achievement. 

•  Transparency: Publish district reports annually, including standardized test results, school climate data (absenteeism, suspension rates), and engagement metrics—presented within LCAP and Dashboard reports. 

•  Family Advisory Structures: Maintain and engage committee structures such as Parent Advisory Committees and DELAC/ELAC in policy development and review processes. 

• 1. 3. Equity & Access Focus: 

The District shall strive to ensure that engagement opportunities are accessible to all families, including:

•  Parents/guardians with limited English proficiency; 

•  Parents/guardians with disabilities; and 

•  Families of diverse backgrounds. 

• 1. 4. Coordination with District Programs 

The Superintendent or designee shall coordinate parent engagement efforts with applicable District programs and plans, which may include:

•  Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) engagement processes; and 

•  Programs funded under state or federal law, as applicable. 

• 1. 5. Documentation and Review 

The Superintendent or designee shall maintain documentation of parent engagement efforts sufficient to demonstrate compliance with applicable legal requirements.

Parent engagement practices may be periodically reviewed and adjusted to improve effectiveness and responsiveness to the needs of families.