(a) The LEA, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents and guardians of children enrolled in the schools within the school district. The plan shall be submitted to the commissioner of education as part of the district’s school improvement plans and shall be consistent with the Tennessee parent/family involvement policy of the state board of education. The plan shall include:
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-2-305
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) A plan for parent participation in the schools which is designed to improve parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, attendance, discipline, and planning for higher education opportunities for students; and(2) Procedures by which parents may learn about the course of study for their children and have access to all learning materials.(b) The policy adopted by the LEA pursuant to this section may also include the following components:
(1) A plan by which parents will be made aware of the district’s parental involvement policy and this section, including:
(A) Rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1232 et seq.), relating to access to children’s official records; and(B) Information through which parents may access LEA policies and curriculum;(2) Efforts to encourage the development of parenting skills;(3) The communication to parents of techniques designed to assist the child’s learning experience in the home;(4) Efforts to encourage access to community and support services for children and families;(5) The promotion of communication between the school and parents concerning school programs and the academic progress of the parents’ children;(6) Identifying opportunities for parents to participate in and support classroom instruction in the school, including:
(A) Organizing fundraising initiatives;(B) Volunteering as a field trip chaperone;(C) Assisting in the library, computer lab or on the playground;(D) Offering after school clubs; and(E) Recycling clothes;(7) Efforts to support parents as shared decision-makers and to encourage membership on school advisory committees;(8) The recognition of the diversity of parents and the development of guidelines that promote widespread parental participation and involvement in the school at various levels;(9) The development of preparation programs and specialized courses for certified employees and administrators that promote parental involvement; and(10) The development of strategies and programmatic structures at schools to encourage and enable parents to participate actively in their children’s education.(c) For the purposes of this section, “parent” means the parent, guardian, person who has custody of the child or individual who has caregiving authority under § 49-6-3001.
