District Engagement Plan*
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​Please read over the form closely, being sure to address all guiding questions. Note the Assurances section allows you to confirm practices that are required but do not need further elaboration within the written portion of your plan. In the response fields, you may include links to additional information that can help support your story as you answer the guiding questions. At the bottom of this form, you will find guidance on the required documentation upload for Federal Monitoring for 2023-24.
1: Jointly Developed Expectations and Objectives

Describe how the LEA works with parents and families to develop and review relevant plans, policies, and strategies related to engagement, including establishing expectations and objectives. 

Guiding Questions
  • 1.1: How does the LEA involve parents in the development and review of the District Engagement Plan, the School Improvement/Title I Schoolwide/Title I Targeted Assistance Plan and, if applicable, the Comprehensive Support and Improvement and the Targeted Support and Improvement plans?
              ​          [ESSA § 1116(a)(2); A.C.A. § 6-15-1702(a)]
  • 1.2: What efforts have been made to ensure adequate representation of parents and families of  participating children in the process (Title I families)?
                        [ESSA § 1116(a)(1)]
  • 1.3: How has the Engagement Coordinator and/or Committee worked with the School Improvement/District Support Committees in order to incorporate the Engagement Plan into the Schoolwide Plan?
                        [ESSA § 1116(a)(2)]
  • 1.4: What expectations and measurable objectives has the LEA established for meaningful family and community engagement?
                        [ESSA § 1116(a)(2)]

The Imboden Area Charter School understands the importance of involving parents, families, and the community as a whole in promoting higher student achievement and general good will between the School and the population that it serves.  Therefore, Imboden Area Charter School will strive to develop and maintain the capacity for meaningful and productive parental, family, and community engagement that will result in partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the school, students, parents, families and the community.  To achieve these goals, the School shall work to: involve parents, families, and the community in the development of the long range planning of the school; the district will file the parent and family engagement plan with DESE by August 1 in Indistar, and place a copy on the district website as a supplement to the student handbook; obtain signatures acknowledging receipt of the district parent and family engagement plan; conduct an annual review of its parent, family, and community engagement policies to examine their affect on promoting higher student achievement; submit to the state comment from parents who deem the schoolwide plan unsatisfactory.  Imboden Area Charter School will work with the Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative's ESOL Coordinator to ensure adequate representation of parents and families of participating children are represented.  Imboden Area Charter School is a schoolwide Title I program, therefore all students are represented equally.  Imboden Area Charter School is also a single school district, thus the school parent engagement plan, and district engagement plan all serve the same population.  All items in the district plan will be incorporated into the schoolwide plan and vice versa.  As part of the school plan, a parent compact will be developed.  This compact will include information, goals, and long term plans for the school and in turn the district.  The district will also develop a survey for stakeholders to complete measuring their satisfaction with parent, family, and community engagement.  It is the goal of Imboden Area Charter School to receive a minimum of 80% of these surveys back with favorable scores.  It is also the goal of the district to have 100% attendance at parent/teacher conferences.

The Imboden Area Charter School is a single school district.  Therefore, all plans and goals of the district are the same as those of the school.  

​​2: Building Staff Capacity

Describe how the district will support all its Title I schools in planning and implementing effective engagement practices.

Guiding Questions
  • 2.1: How will the district provide support and technical assistance to all of its Title I schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family engagement practices? This includes
            ○ jointly-developing school engagement plans
            ○ implementing effective parent and family involvement activities
    ​        ○ jointly-developing school-parent compacts
             ​               [ESSA § 1116(a)(2)(B)]
  • 2.2: How does the LEA build staff capacity to work with parents as equal partners? This may include workshops, conferences, trainings, webinars, and online resources that will be used to ensure ALL school staff are aware of:
            ○ the value and utility of contributions of parents
            ○ how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners
            ○ how to implement and coordinate parent programs
            ○ how to build ties between parents and the school
                          [ESSA § 1116(e)(3)]
  • ​2.3: How will the district ensure information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is provided to parents in a format and in a language that parents can understand (to the extent practicable)?
            ○ How are you ensuring that relevant information is provided in a variety of ways? (For
               example, paper copies made available, as well as social media posts, website links, parent apps,
    ​           etc.?
    ​                      [ESSA § 1116(e)(5)] 

Again, Imboden Area Charter School is a single school district with a schoolwide Title I program, therefore all planning and implementation will be provided to all stakeholders.  The Imboden Area Charter School will; ensure that all teachers and administrators meet the professional development requirements by either attending professional development offerings at the Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative, or online via the IDEAS portal; provide the school the support necessary to enable them to plan and implement effective parent, family, and community engagement activities; work cooperatively with parents to develop a school-parent compact; educate school staff, with the assistance of parents, in ways to work and communicate with parents and to know how to implement parent, family, and community engagement programs that will promote positive partnerships between the school and parents, families, and the community; provide a parent-friendly summary of the district plan supplementing the student handbook; require parent signatures as receipt of the district plan; and train volunteers annually to communicate effectively with stakeholders.  School administration will provide staff with continued training in the importance of parent communication and the value of parents as a partner in the educational process of students.  Imboden Area Charter School administration will provide staff with continued training in the importance of parent communication and the value of parents as a partner in the educational process of students.  Imboden Area Charter School administration will utilize funds to procure School Messenger as a means of consistently communicating school news to parents, and teachers will be required to send weekly grade reports along with newsletters detailing upcoming events and ways parents can help their children.  Imboden Area Charter School staff will also utilize the Remind App in order to easily communicate with parents at any time.  This near constant communication demonstrates the value of parents in the educational process and helps to build ties with families by keeping them abreast of all school activities.  While Imboden Area Charter School has never had an ESOL student enrolled, school administration does have access to Transact translated documents and the ESOL coordinator at the Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative.


3: Building Parent Capacity

Describe how the LEA supports parents in helping with their student’s academic success.

Guiding Questions
  • 3.1: How will the LEA provide assistance to parents in understanding the following?
            ○ the challenging State academic standards
            ○ State and local academic assessments
            ○ the requirements of Title I, Part A
            ○ how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of
               their children
                      [ESSA § 1116(e)(1)] 
  • 3.2: What types of materials and training does the LEA provide to help parents work with their children to improve achievement? This may include:
            ○ literacy training
            ○ technology training, including education about copyright piracy and safe practices
            ○ resources that describe or assist with the child’s curriculum
            ○ other activities such as workshops, conferences, online resources like tutorials or webinars, and
    ​           any equipment or other materials, including parent resource centers
                     [ESSA § 1116(e)(2); ESSA § 1116(e)(4)]
  • 3.3: In what ways does the LEA conduct outreach to ALL Title I, Part A parents and family members (with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background)? 
                     [ESSA § 1116(a)(1)] 

Being that Imboden Area Charter School is a schoolwide Title I program, all stakeholders are provided with the same materials and trainings.  The Imboden Area Charter School's District-wide Title I meeting is held annually in September.  At this meeting the following items are addressed; What students will be learning; How students will be assessed; What parents/families should expect for their child's education; and How parents/families can assist and make a difference in their child's education.  Imboden Area Charter School also schedules two parent/teacher conferences per year where parents/families are able to meet, ask questions, and provide feedback.  These conferences are available virtually should a family require it.  Planning meetings are held annually in the spring for eighth grade students who will be attending high school the following fall.  The school counselor meets with the child and his/her parents/family to ensure smooth transition into one of the local high school programs.  Additionally, teachers are available for parent conferences thirty minutes prior to school starting, and for an additional thirty minutes after the end of the instructional day.  

Information that is available to parents/families throughout all of these planned and unplanned meetings is, but not limited to:

  • Students are scored not only on content knowledge, but collaborative skills, communication skills and work ethic.
  • Parents are provided copies of their student's state assessments (or alternate assessments) and guidance on how to read the document, and what that means regarding their child's academic readiness.
  • Materials and resources are available to help both students and their parents to improve a students achievement, school attendance, appropriate use of technology, and responsible parenting.
  • In response to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, IACS has and will continue to provide parents with training in the use of technology should they need it.

Imboden Area Charter School will involve parents through an annual survey conducted in the spring for Title I to improve school and program effectiveness.

Matthew Wells, Director, and Paula Wagner, School Counselor, will be the persons responsible for conducting this survey and collecting results.

Imboden Area Charter School will provide any and all reasonable support for parent and family engagment.  Imboden Area Charter School works diligently to consider implementing supports for any suggestions or recommendations shared by parents and school staff during the annual Title I review in May to more actively involve parents in their child's education.

Parents/families are taught through newsletters, phone calls, Remind App messages, and parent/teacher meetings how to monitor their child's progress.  Teachers send a grade report home for each child weekly.  Parents/families are able to review the child's grades frequently to monitor the child's progress in meeting goals.  Also, during parent/teacher meetings, IACS staff details how children's learning levels are established, and what all of the numbers mean.  Parents are thusly easily able to see what level their child is working at in literacy and mathematics at any time.  Students performing below grade level are also referred for additional afterschool tutoring which is discussed and approved by parents.


4: Coordination

Describe how the LEA will coordinate with other organizations, businesses, and community partners to provide additional supports, services, and resources to families that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.

Guiding Questions 
  • 4.1: How does the district coordinate and integrate programs and activities with other Federal, State, and local programs? Some examples include:
            ○ public preschool programs such as Head Start
            ○ organizations/activities to help students transition to elementary, middle, high, and
               postsecondary schools or careers
            ○ wraparound services that allow families to send their children to school ready and able to focus
    ​           on learning
                       [ESSA § 1116(e)(4)]

The Imboden Area Charter School will have a coordinated program where the engagement activities of the School enhance the involvement strategies of other programs such as Head Start, HIPPY, Parents as Partners, Parents as Teachers, ABC, ABC for School Success, area Pre-K programs, and Even Start.  Imboden Area Charter School has a parent center in the school library with various materials available.  Parent center items include student practice materials, literature on behavioral intervention, diet and fitness information, and open access to laptops with internet services.  IACS in partnership with the school's Parent Teacher Organization will provide a backpack program to all students where non-perishable food items are sent home prior to all extended breaks during the school year.

​5: Evaluation and Reservation

Describe how the LEA evaluates the content and effectiveness of its Engagement Program in improving the academic quality of all schools. Describe how the LEA reserves and uses Title I funds for parent and family engagement programs and activities.
​
Guiding Questions 
  • 5.1: How does the LEA review and approve the Engagement Plan for each school?
            ○ Describe the process used to ensure each school plan is in full compliance with applicable codes.
                       [ADE Rules Governing Parental Involvement Section 4.03]
  • 5.2: What process does the LEA utilize to conduct an evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the Engagement Program?
            ○ Who is responsible?
            ○ When will it be conducted?
            ○ How will parent input be solicited?
            ○ How will it be disseminated?
            ○ Ensure the evaluation of the Engagement Program in Title I schools includes:
                    ■ barriers to greater participation by parents (with particular attention to parents who are
                       economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have
    ​                   limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background)
                    ■ the needs of parents and family members to assist with their children’s learning, including
    ​                   engaging with school personnel and teachers
                    ■ strategies to support successful school and family interactions
                                [ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(D)(i-iii); A.C.A. § 6-15-1702(b)(9)]
  • 5.3: How does the LEA use the findings from the evaluation to develop strategies for more effective engagement and to revise, if necessary, parent and family engagement policies in order to improve the academic quality of all schools?
            ○ How will the findings of the evaluation be shared with families and the community?
                       [ESSA § 1116(a)(2)(E)]
  • 5.4: If The LEA is required to set aside funds for parent and family engagement (as part of receiving a Title I, Part A allocation greater than $500,000),
            ○ How is the LEA spending those funds?
            ○ How is the LEA determining the priority of how funds are spent?
            ○ Who is involved in determining that?
                       [ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(A)]
  • 5.5: How does the LEA/school provide opportunities for parents and family members to be involved in providing input into how the funds are used? How will the district share the budget for engagement activities and programs with parents and family members?
                       [ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(B); ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(C); ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(D)(i-v)]

The Imboden Area Charter School receives an allocation of less than $500,00 under Title I, Part A, therefore there are no requirements for the district's allocations.  Parents and families will be involved in the decisions regarding how funds reserved for parent and family engagement are allotted for parental involvement activities.  All funded activities and strategies will be consistent with the district parent and family engagement policy.

The Imboden Area Charter School will conduct an annual evaluation to identify potential barriers, needs, and strategies that might impact the parent and family engagement plan.  Findings from this evaluation will be used to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental involvement.  This plan will be updated and approved annually by August 1st.  This evaluation will be headed by the school Director, Matthew Wells and reviewed by all staff.  Surveys will be sent out to all stakeholders coinciding with third quarter parent/teacher conferences in late March.  Surveys will solicit parent/stakeholder input on potential barriers to quality engagement.  The school administration and staff will disseminate the data from these surveys and suggest changes to better suit the needs of stakeholders.

Again, Imboden Area Charter School is a single school district therefore there is only one Engagement plan applicable.


Assurances
​Please read the following statements closely. By checking these boxes, the LEA understands the legal requirements and will meet them accordingly.
Please read the following statements closely. 
  • A.1: LEA understands that by August 1st annually, it must review and update accordingly the District Engagement Plan. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)(1-2)]
  • A.2: LEA understands that the District Engagement Plan should be sent to the State for review in Indistar no later than August 1st. If the plan is returned for revisions, those revisions should be made and the plan sent for an additional review within two weeks. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)]
  • A.3: LEA understands that the District Engagement Plan must be made available to families and the local community on the district website under State Required Information no later than August 1st; if revisions are necessary, the final accepted copy should take its place once available. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)]
  • A.4: LEA understands that a parent-friendly summary/explanation of the Engagement Plan should be included in the current student handbook. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a); ADE Rules Governing Parental Involvement Section 3.02]
  • A.5: LEA understands its obligation for ensuring professional development requirements related to parent and family engagement are met and that records are maintained accordingly. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1703(a); A.C.A. § 6-17-709]
  • A.6: LEA understands its obligation to train all volunteers at least annually and be able to provide proof of that training, if requested. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1703(b)]
  • A.7: LEA understands its obligation to obtain signatures for each parent acknowledging receipt of the District’s Engagement Plan summary/explanation. [A.C.A. § 6-15-1704(a)(3)(B)]
  • A.8: LEA understands its obligation to reserve at least 1 percent of its Title I, Part A allocation for engagement purposes should such total allocation amount to $500,000 or more. Nothing limits LEAs from reserving more than 1 percent of its allocation for engagement purposes. [ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(A)]
  • A.9: LEA understands that all Title I, Part A funded engagement activities and strategies should remain consistent with all information set forth in this parent and family engagement plan. [ESSA § 1116(a)(3)(D)]
  • A.10: LEA understands its obligation to submit to the State any comments from parents who deem the schoolwide plan unsatisfactory. These comments can be sent to ade.engagementmatters@ade.arkansas.gov [ESSA § 1116(b)(4)]
  • A.11: LEA understands its obligation to provide other reasonable support for engagement activities to ensure the effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. [ESSA § 1116(e)(14)]
  • A.12: LEA understands that if it has 20 or more children of military families enrolled or has a total enrollment of 3,000 students overall that it must appoint a district military education coordinator, and the district military education coordinator shall be included in the establishment and adoption of a public school district’s and public school’s parent and family engagement plan. [A.C.A. § 6-28-116(2)(A)(3)(B]

(Please Note:  This form will not save unless the following box has been checked.)

By checking this box, the LEA understands the legal requirements and will meet them accordingly.
LEA Information
District/LEA Name: Imboden Area Charter
District Engagement Coordinator’s Name: Matthew Wells
Plan Revision/Submission Date: August 14, 2023
District Level Reviewer Name, Title: Matthew Wells, Director
Committee Members, Role
(Select "Repeat" to open more entry fields to add additional team members)
First Name Last Name Role (Teacher, Staff, Parent, Student, or Community Member)
Matthew Wells Director
Elizabeth Scales Teacher
Lisa Lewallen Community Member
George Morris Parent
Chacey Earls Student
​(Find additional guidance on the DESE Parent and Family Engagement Requirements webpage. For any questions about completing this form or meeting legal compliance, please contact the DESE Engagement Unit at ade.engagementmatters@ade.arkansas.gov or 501-371-8051.)
Parent and Family Engagement: Required Uploads for 2023-24
​​​Monitoring is the regular and systematic examination of a state’s administration and implementation of a federal education grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. The monitoring process is designed to assess the degree to which program requirements are being fulfilled. Note: the following boxes are just a portion of the full Federal Monitoring tool. The full list of evidences you should maintain can be found here: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/federal-programs

​As part of federal monitoring, the following items are required to be uploaded into Indistar in the 2023-2024 Engagement folder by October 1, 2023:
The Engagement Plan was developed jointly with parents, agreed upon, and disseminated to parents. ESSA §1116(a)(2)(A) and (b)(1)

Evidence that the LEA involves parents in the development of the District Engagement Plan (Provide each of the following two items.)
- One example of a Committee meeting sign-in sheet that clearly identify parents in attendance and minutes from that committee meeting
- One example of other communications such as emails or open-response surveys regarding topics related to the Engagement Plan that verify parent input

(The following information should be located on the District website.) Evidence of how the Engagement Plan is disseminated to families and the community
- Required: posted to district website by August 1st
- Required: parent-friendly summary as supplement in student handbooks

LEA ensures the Title I school Engagement Plan has been implemented and that each Title I school has carried out requirements to build parent capacity. ESSA §1116 (e)(1-5,14)

[Upload the below documentation for one Title I school. LEA should maintain documentation for EACH Title I school at the local level to be available for upload into Indistar at the request of the SEA.]

Evidence that the Title I school provides assistance to parents in understanding challenging state academic standards, assessments, and how to monitor students' progress (Provide each of the following two items.)
- Title I meeting agenda/minutes/slide deck
- One example of parent/teacher conference documentation showing how teachers work with families on these topics

Evidence that the Title I school provides materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve student achievement. (Provide at least two examples.)
- Photos of parent resource centers or links to digital resource centers
- Resources posted to the website, LMS, social media, etc.
- Recordings or agendas from workshops to address literacy or math strategies
- Tutorials/videos posted on website and/or social media
- Materials sent home to assist parents with curriculum, assessments, or other concepts that assist with student achievement

LEA should use the annual evaluation findings to help improve the Engagement efforts. ESSA §1116 (a)(2)(E)

Evidence the LEA has used the findings from the annual evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental engagement and to revise, if necessary, the Engagement policies (Provide at least one example.)
- Survey results with meeting minutes
- Focus group notes/minutes/reports
- Written reports citing data indicating how the LEA will respond with policies, plans, and/or practices

At the beginning of each school year, the LEA notifies the parents of each student about the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. ESSA §1112(e)(1)(A-B)

LEA must upload a completed Copy of the Annual Parent Notice: Right to Request Teacher Qualifications into Indistar to the 2023-2024 Engagement folder by October 1, 2023 verifying that parents were informed and received timely notification if their student has been assigned to or taught four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.

*Search TransAct ParentNotices for document “TPQ-01” for editable template in 10 languages, if needed.
References
​State​FederalFind additional guidance on the DESE Parent and Family Engagement Requirements webpage. For any questions about completing this form or meeting legal compliance, please contact the DESE Engagement Unit at ade.engagementmatters@ade.arkansas.gov or 501-371-8051.
​

​DESE Reviewer Responses

Section 1 - Jointly Developed Expectations and Outcomes
Changes Required
Compliance is Met
Comments:

12/4/2023 FScott

All requirements were addressed therefore compliance is met. 


12/1/2023 FScott

Your plan is being returned to you as "revise and submit." The primary reason is because the district needs to confirm that this plan is an updated version for the 2023-2024 school year. The Plan Revision/ Submission Date in the LEA Information section reflects a 7/2/2022 date

If you have any questions about the feedback I have provided, please do not hesitate to contact me at freddie.scottn@ade.arkansas.gov or 501-683.6286.


Section 2 - Building Staff Capacity through Training and Technical Assistance
Changes Required
Compliance is Met
​Comments:

12/4/2023 FScott

All requirements were addressed therefore compliance is met. 

​Section 3 - Building Parent Capacity
Changes Required
Compliance is Met
​Comments:

12/4/2023 FScott

All requirements were addressed therefore compliance is met. 

Section 4 - Coordination
Changes Required
Compliance is Met
​Comments:

12/4/2023 FScott

All requirements were addressed therefore compliance is met. 

​Section 5 - Evaluation and Reservation
Changes Required
Compliance is Met
​Comments:

12/4/2023 FScott

All requirements were addressed therefore compliance is met. 

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