Source: https://www.tsbtigers.org/information/77-federal-programs.html
Timestamp: 2019-01-22 23:56:28
Document Index: 532323680

Matched Legal Cases: ['§200', '§6311', '§6311', '§1111', '§9528', '§7908', '§9528', '§1118', '§1111', '§1111', '§411', '§6312', '§7012', '§1112', '§11432', '§722']

Federal Programs - Tennessee School for the Blind
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) makes it clear that Congress expects Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and schools receiving federal funds to ensure that parents are actively involved and knowledgeable about their schools and their children’s education. The law requires schools to give parents many different kinds of information and notices in a uniform and understandable format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that the parents can understand. Listed below are some of these required notices that must be made to parents by school districts or individual public schools.
Written complaint procedures: LEAs disseminate free of charge to parents of students, and to appropriate private school officials or representatives, adequate information about the State Educational Agency’s (SEA) written complaint procedures for resolving issues of violation(s) of a Federal statute or regulation that applies to Title I, Part A programs. [34 CFR §200.11(d)]
Teacher qualifications: At the beginning of each school year, a district that receives Title I funds must notify parents that they may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers. If a parent requests the information, it must include at least:
whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas taught;
the baccalaureate degree major of the teacher; and
any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
The information must also disclose whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications. [20 U.S.C. §6311(h)(6)]
Non-highly qualified teachers: A Title I school shall provide each individual parent timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks, by a teacher who is not highly qualified. [20 U.S.C. §6311(h)(6)(B)] [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1111(h)(6)(A) and (h)(6)(B)(ii)]
Public release of student directory information: Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), an LEA must provide notice to parents of the types of student information that it releases publicly. This type of student information, commonly referred to as “directory information,” includes such items as names, addresses and telephone numbers and is information generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The notice must include an explanation of a parent’s right to request that the information not be disclosed without prior written consent.
Additionally, §9528 requires that parents be notified that the school routinely discloses names, addresses and telephone numbers to military recruiters upon request, subject to a parent’s request not to disclose such information without written consent.
Military recruiter access to student information: Districts receiving federal education funds must notify parents of secondary school students that they have a right to request their child’s name, address and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter without their prior written consent. Districts must comply with any such requests. [20 U.S.C. §7908(a)(2)] [ESEA §9528]
Parents shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand. Such policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school. [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1118(b)(1)]
These report cards must be concise and presented in an understandable and uniform format accessible to persons with disabilities and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that parents can understand. In Tennessee, these requirements are met through our State’s report card. [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1111(h)(1) and (h)(2)]
All schools must provide to parents, teachers and principals the individual student interpretive, descriptive and diagnostic reports, which allow specific academic needs to be understood and addressed, and include information on the student’s achievement on academic assessments aligned with State academic achievement standards. [ESEA §1111(b)(3)(C)(xii)]
National Assessment of Education Progress: Districts, schools and students may voluntarily participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Parents of children selected to participate in any NAEP assessment must be informed before the assessment is administered that their child may be excused from participation for any reason, is not required to finish any assessment and is not required to answer any test question. A district must make reasonable efforts to inform parents and the public about their right to access all assessment data (except personally identifiable information), questions and current assessment instruments. [ESEA Title VI, Part C, §411(c)(1); (d)(1)–(2))]
For a child not identified as limited English proficient prior to the beginning of the school year, the district must notify parents within the first two weeks of the child being placed in such a program. [20 U.S.C.§6312(g); §7012(a)–(d)] [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1112(g)(1)–(4)]
if applicable, coordinate with the local education agency with jurisdiction for the school selected, to provide transportation and other necessary services. [42 U.S.C. §11432(e)(3)(C),(E)] [ESEA Title X, Part C, §722(e)(3)(C)(I)–(iv)]
Parent-School Involvement Policy
On July 30, 2010, the Tennessee State Board of Education adopted new standards on parental involvement based on the Parent Teacher Association’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. Compliance with these standards will be evaluated, reported, and recorded on the Tennessee State Report Card. To comply with this initiative, the Tennessee School for the Blind has amended and jointly developed the current parental involvement policy through information gathered during annual meetings with parents to align with these standards. The Parental Involvement Policy will be distributed at various times throughout the year during registration, the Fall Unity Conference, and the Spring Transition Fair. The parental involvement policy is also posted on our website and in the Student and Parent Handbook. We recognize that a child’s education is a responsibility shared by both the parents and school during the duration of a student formal education. Visual impairment brings with it unique educational and vocational challenges, which can best be met by informed parents working with school staff who are informed of educating students with special challenges. Collaboration with the school and parents is essential to support student learning. Programs must reflect the specific needs of students and families in our statewide learning community.
Through the annual Unity Conference in the fall, the Transition Fair in the spring, and through statewide Outreach teachers, the Tennessee School for the Blind will provide:
training for parents to support the school in the academic achievement of their child, and
training for parents to support the school in the use of assistive technology devices.
Parents will be invited to a meeting each year during the Unity Conference to discuss pertinent topics concerning parental involvement and partnership with the Tennessee School for the Blind. In conjunction with this meeting, the Tennessee School for the Blind will:
conduct a parent survey at the end of each school year to determine topics to be discussed at this annual meeting,
discuss with parents how the school can provide support to the communities in which the they reside, and
review and revise with them the current parental involvement policy.
Engaging families is essential to improved student learning and achievement. Tennessee School for the Blind fosters and supports active parent/family involvement by implementing innovative methods to enhance and maintain parent contact and involvement, some of which include:
Regular two-way, meaningful and positive communication between home and school. (All information given to parents in print media is provided in Braille, large print, or on audible format upon request).
Tennessee School for the Blind maintains a website, , which contains links to resources, contact information, calendar of school events, announcements, and a photo album of student activities.
Parents receive information regarding school activities, challenges, and successes through newsletters in appropriate format.
Students who possess and demonstrate appropriate skills are given an email account at no charge. Accessible computers are available to students during appropriate school times and in the cottages.
A call from the student’s cottage is made to parents/guardians weekly to relay and gain information and to promote student/family contacts.
TSB conducts annual statewide “Unity Conferences” providing current information, best practices, and adaptive technology updates; parents are strongly encouraged to attend.
Every effort is made to promote parent participation in the IEP team process. If parents are unable to travel to campus, conference calls can be made to link the parent, LEA, and TSB. A visitor housing is available upon request for parents to reserve (space permitting) for school related visits.
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit the school; their support and assistance is sought.
The Student and Family Support Specialist/school counselor works with students and their families to promote good attendance, aid in successful school-to-work transition, and provide parents with community resource information.
Responsible parenting is promoted and supported by TSB.
Parent input is encouraged to promote student learning and achievement.
Parents are partners in the decisions that affect students and families.
The Outreach Program identifies parents of children suspected of needing special education services and are made aware of their rights guaranteed by federal and state statutes.
The school sets expectations and creates a climate of mutual respect conducive to parent/family involvement.
The Tennessee School for the Blind, and the parents of the students participating in activities, services, and programs funded by Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (participating children), agree that this compact outlines how the parents, the entire school staff, and the students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the State’s high standards. This school-parent compact is reviewed each school year.
Tennessee School for the Blind will:
Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the participating children to meet the State’s student academic achievement standards as follows: Tennessee School for the Blind has Highly Qualified teachers who follow the Common Core State Standards. They use current techniques in the Education provided for deaf students.
Hold parent-teacher meetings during which this compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement. Specifically: all children at the Tennessee School for the Blind are under an Individualized Education Program (IEP). IEP Meetings are held annually and at any time requested by any of the IEP team members.
Provide parents with frequent reports on their children’s progress. Specifically, the school will provide reports as follows: parents receive copies of the IEP. Interim reports are sent home every four weeks and a report card is sent every nine weeks.
Provide parents reasonable access to staff. Specifically, staff will be available for consultation with parents as follows: parents are always welcomed and encouraged on TSB’s campus. Parents may come and visit their student and student classes. IEP meetings are held at a convenient time for staff and parents. Parents of residential students are contacted weekly.
Provide parents opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and to observe classroom activities, as follows: parents have the opportunity to volunteer in all the school departments.
To help build and develop a partnership with parents to help their children achieve the State’s high academic standards, Tennessee School for the Blind will:
Work with the LEA in addressing problems, if any, in implementing parental involvement activities in section 1118 of Title I, Part A.
Sign report cards.
Ensure that the student gets to school each day, on time, and ready to learn
Review homework assignments and offer assistance when needed.
Demonstrate interest in the student’s well-being by attending school functions and supporting the student’s school activities.
Make every effort to attend parent teacher conferences.
Volunteering in my child’s classroom when applicable.
In signing a contract, the parent shall agree to maintain within the parent’s best efforts involvement with the parent’s child’s education to the extent required by the contract. If any obstacles or extenuating circumstances hinder and/or prevent me from a full commitment, I will offer an explanation to the appropriate administrator(s) or staff member(s).
Involve parents in the planning, review, and improvement of the school’s parental involvement policy, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way
Involve parents in the joint development of any school wide program plan, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way
Give to my parents or the adult who is responsible for my welfare all notices and information received by me from my school every day
Below is a sample of the Student-Parent-School Agreement you will be given during the enrollment of your child. Outlining the information presented in the school’s policy on Parents-School Involvement, this document will require signatures of all parties involved.