Parent & Family Engagement (PFE) Program

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What is it?

It is the goal of the schools in Galena Park Independent School District to develop strong partnerships with parents and other family members of our students.  Parents, other family members, and schools, working in an equal and respectful partnership, will increase student achievement and develop positive attitudes about self and school, which will enable our students’ development from early childhood into college, a career, or the military.  Galena Park ISD is committed to providing outreach to all parents and family members, that encourages meaningful involvement in their child(ren)’s education and social-emotional development. We accomplish this partly through our participation in the Title I, Part A State Program. This program provides funding for low socioeconomic schools. In return, we are committed to meeting the expectations laid out for us by the Texas Education Agency and the United States Department of Education.

Expectations & Objectives

The key factor in the family-school partnership is the relationship among the teacher, student, and parent/family members.  Teachers are professionals who manage a variety of instructional resources.  Parents/family members are the child’s first teachers and play an integral role in their children’s education. Organizational support from the school board, district administrators, parent facilitators, counselors, social services workers, and building principals enable teachers and parent/family members to effectively develop the partnerships.  Students are the true beneficiaries of a close family-school partnership. Full realization of the partnership will be achieved through ongoing commitment and active participation by parents, other family members, schools, as well as school and district staff. We believe that if a child’s parents are more involved in school experiences, the student will have higher grades, improved behavior, better attendance, higher social skills, and adaptation.

Galena Park ISD will:

• • Develop a process that continuously assesses, plans and implements strategies that build the partnership:

• 1. • A district-wide committee of parents, teachers and administrators will review the annual school evaluations of the content and effectiveness of parent and family involvement activities in increasing participation of parent/family members and whether there are barriers to greater participation.  The evaluation will be conducted through a written/electronic survey in English and Spanish each year.  The committee will use the results of the survey to offer revision suggestions for the district parent and family engagement policy if necessary.
     • A parent and family engagement coordinator will assist parent facilitators on each campus with the parent and family engagement efforts by providing technical assistance and other support necessary to assist schools in planning and implementing effective programs.  The parent and family engagement facilitator will work in collaboration with his/her site-based decision-making committees, other school staff, parents, other family members and community resources.
     • The parent facilitators, counselors and social services workers, PTA representatives, faculty, and staff on each campus will provide direct services to families to reduce barriers to student learning. The services include parenting education, counseling, referrals, advocacy, and relationship building to encourage positive attitudes toward education and to promote the concept of parents/parent figures as the child’s first teacher, and to promote a meaningful, two-way communication between the home and the school. Effective two-way communication between school and home results in a higher completion rate on homework, and better attention during instructional tasks.

• • Develop Home-School Compacts to strengthen communication between home and school:

• 1. • The home-school compacts are to be developed jointly with students and parents. 
     • The compacts are to be reviewed and revised on an annual basis to meet the changing needs of students, parents and the schools.

• • Develop opportunities for the full participation of all parents and family members including those who lack language skills, those who are disabled, or those who are economically disadvantaged.

• • Distribute this Parent and Family Engagement Policy to parents and the community by:

• 1. • posting it to our district website and keeping it up-to-date.
     • sending a printed copy home with every student.
     • distributing printed copies at all the schools’ annual meetings.

• • Provide the qualifications of a child’s teacher when this information is requested by the child’s parent.

• • Provide staff development to teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, principals, and other school leaders that addresses:

• 1. • The value and utility of contributions of parents/families,
     • how to reach out to communicate with parents as equal partners,
     • implement and coordinate parent programs,
     • build ties between parents and the school, and
     • include input from parents in developing the staff development piece.

• Conduct an annual evaluation that will:

• • • identify barriers to greater participation by different groups,
    • identify strategies to support successful school and family                             interactions,

• • • be used to design effective strategies for more effective parent and family engagement, and
    • be used to revise, as necessary, the district PFE policy.

• Schedule trainings and meetings for parents.