In a 2009 legislative session Senate Bill No. 293 was enacted which required the Tennessee Department of Education to develop parental involvement standards in public schools. Each school district and school will be required to report compliance on these standards. The compliance for the standards will be on the Tennessee Report Card beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. In the spring of 2011 a survey from the State Department will be sent to each school district to obtain the compliance information.
General Expectations for All Schools
The Knox County Board of Education understands the value and importance of parental engagement at the school and the system level. The Knox County Schools System (KCS) is governed by the statutory definition of parent and family involvement as cited in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. To ensure common language and understanding, the term Family Engagement, will be used in Knox County Schools for the purposes of this policy and all activities conducted under this policy. This policy was developed with families, and families will be part of all subsequent review of this policy.
Parents, family and community members are key stakeholders and who have many opportunities for meaningful engagement and to help all students acquire the knowledge and skills to become productive, responsible citizens. This engagement should be structured to build family educational efficacy and to develop and foster focused district-family-community partnerships. Family and community engagement is essential at many levels. Parents, community members, and community groups work with teachers, school administration, and district administration to support and advance the education process, as well as to help all students acquire the knowledge and skills to become responsible, successful, and productive members of the community and future workforce.
The district and each school shall implement programs, activities, and procedures that support the six Tennessee Standards for Family School Partnerships. All Knox County staff and faculty are expected to know, understand and implement these standards collaboratively with families and parents.
Tennessee Standards for Family-School Partnerships
Standard 1: Welcoming all Families into the School Community
Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class and school.
Standard 2: Communicating Effectively
Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.
Standard 3: Supporting Student Success
Families and school staff continuously work together to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
Standard 4: Speaking up for Every Child
Families are informed and enabled to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
Standard 5: Sharing Power
Families and school staff are equal partners with equal representation in decisions that affect students and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.
Standard 6: Collaborating with Community
Families and school staff work together with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.