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The Bristol Tennessee City School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Anderson Parental Involvement Plan
2005-2006

Anderson Elementary School agrees to implement the following statutory requirements:
Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful
communication involving student academic learning and other school activites, including ensuring-
that parents play an intergral role in assisting their child’s learning; that parents are encouraged
to be actively involved in their child’s education at school; that parents are full partners in their child’s
education and are included, as appropriate, in decsion-making and on advisory committees to assist in
the education of their child; and the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section
1118 of the ESEA.
The area of parental involvement is very important at Anderson Elementary
School. Although mandated through Title I and other federal programs, the faculty and parents of students at Anderson have also made a commitment to work together in helping the students realize their potential. Anderson's original school-wide Title I plan has continued to shape the goals of our school from year to year. The staff at Anderson believes that with frequent interactions between schools, families, and communities, more students are more likely to receive common messages from various people about the importance of school, of working hard, of thinking creatively, of helping one another, and of staying in school. Anderson’s model of school, family, and community partnerships locates the student at the center. Students are the main actors in their education, development, and success in school. The partnership activities that the staff at Anderson has with parents and guardians are designed to engage, guide, energize, and motivate students to produce their own successes. Anderson is a family-like school that recognizes each child’s individuality and makes each child feel special and included. Anderson staff believes that all families care about their children, want them to succeed, and are eager to obtain better information from schools and communities so as to remain good partners in their children’s education. The Parent Involvement Coordinator at Anderson coordinates, facilitates, and manages the work of the parents. The coordinator communicates with all partners about the work of the parents, keeps the principal and school faculty informed of progress and challenges that families are facing. The coordinator also helps the new faculty and long-term substitutes understand and participate in the program. The coordinator shares information with the School Improvement Team about how school, family, and community partnerships support school goals. The coordinator informs parent organizations about the progress of what and involves them in the plans and activities. Newsletters and other vehicles to inform all families about the plans for school, family, and community partnerships, and how all are welcome to participate are distributed by the coordinator.
At Anderson we believe that school-family-community partnerships grow stronger with increased levels of commitment. The staff works to understand the "C" connection of levels of commitment in developing and continuing school-family-community partnerships. The "C" connection being care: we care about the children and each other at this school. Families feel welcome at the school. Educators feel welcome in the community. Civility/courtesy: We respect each other at this school and recognize our shared responsibilities for children. Teachers and families talk with and listen to each other. Clarity: Anderson staff conducts clear and useful two- way communications about the school programs: children’s progress, talents, and needs: community activities; and other topics important to families, students, the school, and the community.

Cooperation: we assist each other and the students. We work together to improve the school, strengthen families, and ensure student success. We try to solve problems, and we are open to ideas. Families, educators, and community members are comfortable working with each other. Finally, collaboration: we maintain a comprehensive program of school-family-community partnerships. We use an action team approach that enables educators, parents , students, and community members to work together over time to design, implement, and improve different types of involvement with all families and at all grade levels. We work as partners to help students reach important goals. We encourage discussion and debate on important issues. We celebrate progress and continually plan improvements.
Anderson's philosophy to include parents in the educational process of their children is most evident in the funding of a part-time Parent Involvement Coordinator. The coordinator is able to schedule meetings, provide in-service sessions, make home visits, and do other tasks that full-time regular classroom teachers would find hard or impossible given time restraints. Below are some of the strategies that we have found most effective in including parents:
New Families Transitions: Involving families when students move to Anderson: Transitions to new schools often are confusing or cause concern for children and parents. The coordinator visits the home of every new family within their first two weeks of being enrolled at Anderson. The coordinator shares with families the resources available in the community and the procedures of the school. The coordinator also encourages families to become involve in their child’s education by talking about all the different ways that they can participate both in and out of school. The coordinator brings any concerns or questions the family may have back to the teacher(s). Since the start of the new school year Anderson has received 80 new students and lost 75 students.

Home Visits When a teacher has a concern about a child's academic performance,
behavior, or attendance, a referral is made the to the Parent Involvement
Coordinator. The teacher includes the child's name and comments, which explain the situation. The Coordinator has access to phone numbers and addresses through MacSchool. After
scheduling a meeting, the Coordinator makes a home visit and discusses the teacher's concerns with the parent(s). Often, materials, such as supplies, brochures, books, and videos, are taken which are designed to help the parents help their child. Upon returning to school, the Coordinator documents the outcome of the visit and sends a copy to the child's teachers, the principal, resource, and guidance.
Resource Center Anderson has been developing an IMC of educational games and books
for the parents to help their children on different subjects. A variety of
books, magazines, brochures, games and resource kits are available for checkout for both parents and teachers. Anderson has a closed circuit system, which makes it easy to show professional development videos on parent involvement across the building which teachers may watch when convenient to them. Many of the resources in print have been scanned and placed on the server for easy access to teachers anywhere in the building.

POPS Program Each year, a PTA parent volunteer serves as a Volunteer Coordinator at
Anderson. This person and the Parent Involvement Coordinator of Anderson
coordinates the volunteer program, POPS "Parents of Positive Students." The coordinator arranges for parents to help volunteer at school or home. Every classroom teacher has a tote bag, which he/she places projects that can be worked on from home or school. The volunteer collects the totes and completes the work and returns the tote to the teacher.

Tutoring Services Parents, college students, high school students and community people volunteer to tutor students of all ages. Volunteers spend time helping to reinforce skills taught be the teacher or just lend an ear for students to practice their reading.
Accelerated Reading Teachers frequently use this practices to involve families in reading. Parents are asked to read to or listen to their child read for at least 20 minutes every day.
Workshops In 2005-2006 a five week parenting workshop titled "Guiding Good Choices" will be offered to Anderson parents hosted by the Weed and Seed organization. Several times a year, we sponsor workshops after school and on Saturdays designed to help parents and their children. Often, we ask someone from the community such as a pediatrician, officer, or others to
come speak to our parents. Sometimes, we conduct the workshops ourselves. We always offer
refreshments and door prizes for incentives.

Newsletters Several teachers at Anderson Elementary will send home a weekly newsletter during the year 2005-2006. This newsletter highlights dates and important events. Anderson Elementary will be sending home a newsletter for the year 2005-2006. The newsletter will inform parents of child-rearing techniques and give tips for a successful school year.
Communication Every teacher has an Anderson email address for parents to contact them. Parents and teachers use this communication for homework, notes, and general
information. Parent /Teacher Conference are held twice a year or anytime a parent request.
The parent involvement coordinator is available for visits or conference all
year. There will be a Title I annual meeting that may be combined with our Schoolwide Open House. At this meeting parents will receive a written explanation of the requirements of Title I and the right of parents to be involved in their child's education. Parents will also be notified in the student handbook of : Opportunities for meetings in the morning, afternoon or evening for
the parent's convenience. Opportunities to serve as a volunteer in the classroom, as a
representative on schoolwide committees. Parents are provided a description and explanation of the curriculum
in use at the school, forms of academic assessment used to measure student progess, and the
proficiency levels students are expected to meet. Parents are encourage to give input about the parent
handbook and website. Parents review the school-parent compact on an annual basis
and revisions are made at the time of printing.
On-Going Review After each six weeks, the Parent Involvement Coordinator gives each
teacher a form which helps track problems arising in Math or Reading. If
a child's grades drop in either of these subjects (or the child receives an
"F"), then a phone call, postcard, or visit is made in hopes of getting the
student's grades back up. The coordinator will also contact the parents
of students with failing grades at mid-term. The teachers will contact the
coordinator with the interim grades and concerns. The parent involvement coordinator
also contacts the parents anytime a teacher makes a request concerning grades of a student.
Web Site Anderson's web site showcases student work, provides contact
information, tips, etc. to families in our community and extended relatives
around the country. The parent may report absences on the Anderson Web site.

Surveys The Communication Committee distributes surveys to parents and faculty. The
information was analyzed to determine areas of strength and focus the staff on areas that
need improvement. (NSSE Survey, BTCS School Safety Survey). Based on the parent survey:
3.86% of parents believe that their opinions are considered when important decisions are made;
4.02% of parents believe that there are effective procedures in place to support their communication
with teachers; 4.04% of parents believe that Anderson uses technology to provide parents with
important information about our school; and 4.17% of parents believe that Anderson provides
sufficient opportunities for parent involvement. The entire survey and results are attached for preview.
Preschool Anderson Elementary houses 6 preschool programs in the year of 2005-2006. Once a month
a preschool advisory board meets to discuss preschool curriculum, equipment, budget and needs of
the families attending preschool. The council consists of parent involvement coordinator, teachers,
Weed and Seed co-director and director, PTA president and school principal.