Administrative Procedure - Parental Involvement

Building Principals shall advocate effective, comprehensive family involvement in education that will promote parents/guardians becoming active partners in education. Building Principals shall, at least once every semester, provide a written report to the Superintendent on parental involvement programs and efforts in their buildings. This administrative procedure identifies opportunities for parental involvement.

The District or school provides notices to parents/guardians on the following topics (list may not be exhaustive):

• Public hearing on holding school or scheduling teachers’ institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on certain holidays. 105 ILCS 5/24-2(b)(2).

• Free and reduced-price food service. 7 C.F.R. §245.5; 23 Ill.Admin.Code §305.10(c).

• Fee waiver. 23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.245.

• Applications of pest control and/or lawn care products. 225 ILCS 235/10.3, 415 ILCS 65/3.

• Instruction on recognizing and avoiding sexual abuse. 105 ILCS 5/27-13.2.

• Parental school visitation rights. 820 ILCS 147/25.

• Child’s placement in English learner programs. 105 ILCS 5/14C-4.

• Major school-sponsored events, including parent-teacher conferences, given to non-custodial parents. 105 ILCS 5/10‑21.8.

• Unexplained absence from school of a student in K-8 (within two hours). 105 ILCS 5/26‑3b.

• Graduation requirements, particularly when a student’s eligibility for graduation may be in question. 23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.440(e).

• A student’s suspension and/or expulsion. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6.

• Electronic audio and/or visual recording devices if located on school buses. 720 ILCS 5/14-3(m).

• Physician who prescribes District’s supply of epinephrine injectors is protected from liability, with limited exceptions. 105 ILCS 5/22-30(c).

• Availability of the District report card. 105 ILCS 5/10-17a(5).

• District’s intent to withdraw from a special education joint agreement, if applicable. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.31, amended by P.A. 101-164.

• See also:

• 6:170-AP2, Notice to Parents Required by Elementary and Secondary Education, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance, and Protection of Pupil Rights Laws

• 7:190-E2, Student Handbook Checklist

• 7:340-AP1, E1, Notice to Parents/Guardians and Students of Their Rights Concerning a Student’s School Records

State laws have created parental involvement opportunities on the following topics:

Students Records

• Parents/guardians have many rights concerning their student’s school records, including the right to access the records (105 ILCS 10/5); the right to challenge the content (105 ILCS 10/7); and a non-custodial parent has the right to receive copies of school correspondence and reports (105 ILCS 5/10-21.8).

Parent-Teacher Advisory Committees

• The School Board establishes a parent-teacher advisory committee(s) on student discipline and behavior interventions for special education students. 105 ILCS 5/10-20.14 and 5/14-8.05(c).

Curriculum Involvement

• The District must involve the parents/guardians of a child with disabilities in their child’s education and placement. 20 U.S.C. §1414 and 1415; 34 C.F.R. §300.322, 501, 503, 504, 507 and 508; 105 ILCS 5/14-1 et seq., 23 Ill.Admin.Code §§226.500, 510, 520, 530 and 610.

• If parent(s)/guardian(s) opts their child(ren) out in writing, the student is not required to take National Sex Education Standards (NSES) classes or courses. 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1a(d), added by P.A. 102-522 , and 110/3, and see also 6:60-AP1, E1, Notice to Parents/Guardians of Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Education; Requests to Examine Materials; Written Objection(s) and/or Opt-outs.

• A parent/guardian has the right to examine instructional materials to be used in National Sex  Education Standards (NSES) classes or courses. 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1a(e), added by P.A. 102-522, and 110/3. See also 2:250-E2, Immediately Available District Public Records and Web-Posted Reports and Records, and 6:60-AP1, E1, Notice to Parents/Guardians of Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Education; Requests to Examine Materials; Written Objection(s) and/or Opt-outs.

• The Board determines the instructional program with involvement of parents/guardians. 23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.410.

• The District may consult with parent/guardian on an individual remediation plan for students demonstrating a proficiency level comparable to the average pupil performance one grade or more below current placement. 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64(b), repealed by P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14; however, there is no penalty for continuing this practice when it is in the best interests of a student.

• The District must notify parents/guardians of graduation requirements and when a student’s eligibility for graduation may be in question. 23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.440(e).

• The Board may use parent/guardian volunteers as: (1) assistants under the immediate supervision of a licensed teacher (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34 amended by P.A. 102-894); (2) supervisors, chaperones, or sponsors for non-academic activities (105 ILCS 5/10‑22.34a; amended by P.A. 102-894); and (3) guest lecturers or resource persons under the immediate supervision of a certificated teacher (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34b, amended by P.A. 102-894).

• Upon a parent/guardian’s request, a student must be released for religious instruction or observance. 105 ILCS 5/26-1(5).

• The District must post the school report card on its website and, upon request, send it to parents/guardians. If the District does not maintain a website, the report card must be sent to parents/guardians without request. The District must send a written notice home to parents/guardians stating: (1) that the report card is available on the website; (2) the website address; (3) that a printed copy will be sent upon request; and (4) the telephone number to call to request a printed copy. 105 ILCS 5/10-17a.

Conferences and Hearings

• The District must notify parents/guardians and consult with them and keep them involved with the education and placement of their child with disabilities. 20 U.S.C. §1414 and 1415; 34 C.F.R. §300.322, 501, 503, 504, 507 and 508; 105 ILCS 5/14-1 et seq., 23 Ill.Admin.Code §§226.500, 510, 520, 530 and 610.

• If applicable, the District must notify all parents/guardians of students with disabilities residing in the District of its intent to withdraw from the special education joint agreement and hold a public hearing to review the District’s plan for educating students after the withdrawal. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.31, amended by P.A. 101-164.

• Parents/guardians have the right to an unpaid leave from work to attend educational or behavioral conferences. 820 ILCS 147/1 et seq.

• The District may use two days for parent-teacher conferences and may add more days to the teacher work year subject to collective bargaining. 105 ILCS 5/3-11.

• A non-custodial parent receives notices of parent-teacher conferences. 105 ILCS 5/10-21.8.

• A hearing with the parents/guardians must precede a student’s expulsion. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6(a).

Report on Parental Involvement

• Parental involvement must be included in the school report card. 105 ILCS 5/10-17a.

The following Board policies provide opportunities for parental involvement:

School Board

2:150      Committees

2:260      Uniform Grievance Procedure

Operational Services

4:10        Fiscal and Business Management

4:110      Transportation

4:130      Free and Reduced-Price Food Services

4:140      Waiver of Student Fees

4:160      Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds

4:170      Safety

Personnel

5:230      Maintaining Student Discipline

Instruction

6:60        Curriculum Content

6:120      Education of Children with Disabilities

6:140      Education of Homeless Children

6:145      Migrant Students

6:150      Home and Hospital Instruction

6:160      English Learners

6:170      Title I Programs

6:180      Extended Instructional Programs

6:190      Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities

6:235      Access to Electronic Networks

6:270      Guidance and Counseling Program

6:280      Grading and Promotion

6:300      Graduation Requirements

6:310      High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering      Students

6:340      Student Testing and Assessment Program

Students

7:15        Student and Family Privacy Rights

7:20        Harassment of Students Prohibited

7:30        Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer

7:40        Nonpublic School Students, Including Parochial and Home-Schooled Students

7:50        School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools

7:60        Residence

7:70        Attendance and Truancy

7:80        Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance

7:90        Release During School Hours

7:100      Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students

7:165      School Uniforms

7:170      Vandalism

7:180      Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment

7:185      Teen Dating Violence Prohibited

7:190      Student Behavior

7:200      Suspension Procedures

7:210      Expulsion Procedures

7:220      Bus Conduct

7:230      Misconduct by Students with Disabilities

7:240      Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities

7:250      Student Support Services

7:260      Exemption from Physical Education

7:270      Administering Medicines to Students

7:275      Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment

7:280      Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease

7:285      Food Allergy Management Program

7:290      Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention

7:300      Extracurricular Athletics

7:305      Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries

7:340      Student Records

Community Relations

8:30        Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

8:90        Parent Organizations and Booster Clubs

8:95        Parental Involvement

School-level parental involvement programs include:

Keeping parents/guardians thoroughly informed about their child’s school and programs.

• Develop and distribute a comprehensive student handbook.

• Distribute information to parents/guardians on their school visitation rights.

• Promote open houses.

• Promote parent/guardian-teacher conferences.

• Provide progress reporting and report cards and keep parents/guardians informed when their child is not adequately progressing and there is a likelihood of retention.

• Publish newsletters.

• Sponsor financial information nights.

Encouraging involvement in their child’s school and education.

• Support and encourage parents/guardians volunteer opportunities.

• Work with the PTO to promote parents/guardians volunteer opportunities.

• Develop and use outreach programs to community groups and organizations.

Establishing effective two-way communication between all parents/guardians and District personnel.

• Monthly Building Principal coffees.

• Work with PTO leadership to ensure parental input.

• Train personnel to collaborate with families of diverse backgrounds, including backgrounds that might impede parental/guardian participation, e.g., illiteracy or language difficulty.

Seeking the advice of parents/guardians on school governance issues and methods to fulfill the District’s educational mission.

• Work with PTA leadership to ensure parental input.

• Establish a school-community advisory committee to identify, consider, and discuss educational problems and issues.

Informing parents/guardians how they can assist their children’s learning

• Provide information to parents/guardians about activities they can do at home.

• Provide programs on how to establish a home environment that supports learning and appropriate behavior.

• Implement a homework-hotline.

Reviewed: December 13, 2004; November 14, 2011, March 21, 2022, May 2023

Approved: January 24, 2005

Revisions: November 28, 2011, April 18, 2022