Machine-extracted text of a publicly
posted document, provided for reference and search. The original document at
the link above is authoritative.
CABE-RECOMMENDED POLICY REPLACEMENT
1110.1P
COMMUNITY/BOARD OPERATIONS
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Considerable evidence indicates that meaningful involvement of parents, guardians, and
other caregivers in the schooling of children improves the quality of education
significantly. The Board of Education believes that closer connections of parents and
others responsible for the home care of the children with our schools can result in
enhanced academic performance, improved behavior, and reduced absenteeism.
Therefore, all parents, guardians, and caregivers of students enrolled in our school
district are encouraged to take an active role in the education of their children.
Further, the Board of Education believes that the administration should take steps to
facilitate a broad variety of opportunities for parents to connect frequently with the
schools in which their children are enrolled, and with the overall system. Each option
should:
● encourage strong home-based partnerships;
● provide for consistent and effective communication between the parents,
guardians, and caregivers, and school officials;
● offer parents, guardians, and caregivers ways to assist and encourage their
children to do their best;
● offer ways parents, guardians, and caregivers can support classroom learning
activities; and
● provide opportunities for parents, guardians, and caregivers to have a voice in
the planning and decision-making at both the school and district level.
In order to afford all parents, and caregivers opportunities for involvement in the
educational process, activities and the scheduling of those activities must take into
account the needs of working parents, guardians, and caregivers.
Some mechanisms that have been shown to be successful in fostering home-school
connections are parent newsletters, open houses, parenting education workshops,
parent-teacher organizations, parent forums, parent participation on school governing
councils, parent participation on district and/or building committees and task forces, and
classroom volunteerism.
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Page 1 of 3
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-221 Boards of Education to prescribe rules, policies, and
procedures as amended by P.A. 97-290.
Definition: “Community” and “community members” are defined as all of Colchester’s
residents, businesses, organizations, and places of worship. “Families” are defined as “a
child’s primary caregiver(s).”
The Colchester Board of Education believes schools, families, and community members
are partners in the education of all children. This partnership is a major factor in
improving school effectiveness, quality of education, and academic success. Therefore,
the Colchester Public Schools will create and sustain an environment in which parents
and other adults are valued as key influences in children's lives and are essential
partners in the education of children. Administrators, teachers, families, and community
members must work together to increase educational opportunities and to ensure the
success of all students.
Families play a vital role in the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of their
children; therefore, all educators and families must make family involvement in
education a priority. The Colchester Board of Education is committed to providing
parent education and the tools and resources that will assist families in supporting
classroom learning and their children's achievement. The Colchester Public Schools will
help parents understand Connecticut’s academic standards, local and state assessments,
and the monitoring of their child's progress.
Families are full partners in the decisions that affect their children. Parents and
educators have a mutual responsibility to make informed decisions about the education
of their students. Families are empowered to advocate for students to ensure they are
treated fairly and have equal access to learning opportunities. Colchester Public Schools
shall actively enlist parents and community members representative of the Colchester
community to participate in decision-making at both the district and the school level.
The Colchester Board of Education commits to the establishment of regular, timely,
two-way, and meaningful communication between all schools and all families, respecting
the diversity and differing needs of families. In addition, the Board of Education will
communicate regularly with community members and solicit feedback in a variety of
ways.
The Board of Education believes that volunteers are essential to the success of our
schools. Collaboration among school, families, and community will be developed and
fostered in order to enhance student learning and improve schools. The Colchester
Public Schools will actively solicit parents and community members to serve in a variety
of roles, who will be received as an integral part of the school community.
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Page 2 of 3
Colchester Public Schools shall provide information and training to all school staff on the
contribution families and community members can make to the educational process.
The Colchester Board of Education commits to providing support, coordination, and
training for school staff, parents, and community members to implement and sustain
this involvement.
This policy will be reviewed with families, community members, and school personnel
annually; feedback from all partners will be solicited to evaluate its content and
effectiveness. In addition, the Colchester Board of Education will involve families and
community members in the development and implementation of a Title I plan and the
process of school review and improvement to meet federal and state laws.
Policy Adopted: December 11, 2007
Revised: July 13, 2021
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Page 3 of 3