The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed in 1965 to education to ensure equitable access to educational resources and opportunities for all students. This act was reauthorized in December 2015 and is now referred to as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

In August 2017 the USDOE approved New Jersey's ESSA State Plan.  This plan focuses on equity for all students, support for the schools that need it most, and the promise that all children attend a school that provides the support and skills they need to thrive.   The NJDOE administers funds under ESSA through a consolidated grant application process to local education agencies (LEA). The Woodstown Pilesgrove Regionals School District is a participating LEA working on behalf of both public and non-public students residing within our community.  

POLICY INVOLVEMENT

Information sessions:

• Convene an annual meeting, as part of their back-to-school night, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school's participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved;
• Offer a flexible number of meetings and/or opportunities to provide feedback on various aspects of the program;
• Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under this part, including development/enhancements to the school parental involvement policy;

Provide parents of participating children:

• Timely information about programs under this part;
• A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; and
• If requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible;

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

As a component of the school-level parental involvement policy, each school shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement.

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INVOLVEMENT

To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, we will increase parent involvement by:

• Providing parents with information on state standards, assessments, requirements of Title I, monitoring their child’s progress, and working with educators. Information will be provided during an annual fall meeting, through progress notices, at parent-teacher conferences, in the district newsletter, and on the district website.
• Providing materials, resources and training to help parents work with their children to improve academic achievement. Resources will be provided in classroom newsletters and communications, as well as parent/teacher conferences. Parent trainings and family education nights will be planned each year based on the school needs assessment and may include a Family Literacy Night, Math Night, etc.
• Communicating regularly with parents in clear and understandable terms. This will include opportunities for parents to participate in decision-making roles, volunteer opportunities, meetings, classroom newsletters, and an annual parent survey, parent-school compacts, and parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher meetings will be scheduled at varied times to accommodate parent needs.
• Coordinating parent involvement activities with other initiatives including ECC, afterschool programs, etc.

ACCESSIBILITY

In carrying out the parental involvement requirements of this part, districts and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with children with limited English proficiency, parents with children with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports required in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents can understand.

PARENT NOTIFICATION

Here is a link to our Title I Parent Involvement Policy:

Policy 2415.04

ESSA Letter

ESL Program Placement Letter

IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the main federal statute that authorizes federal aid for the education of children with disabilities.  States that receive federal funds are required to provide a free, appropriate public education to all children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.  The current version of the act was passed in 2004; however, continues to be based on the law first created in 1975 known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.