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Meeting Date:
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3/30/2017 - 6:30 PM
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Category:
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Report of the Committee on Parent and Community Engagement
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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2. Report and Possible Action on District Family and Community Engagement Activities
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 2 Student, Family and Community Engagement
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Attachments
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Family and Community Engagement Report
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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This report includes an update on all major family- and community-engagement activities for winter 2016-2017.
The District Advisory Council (DAC) met each month of this reporting period to discuss topics such as the change in the school calendar, proposed revisions to the policy governing school governance councils, school budgets, and student clubs and organizations. The DAC has a new format this year in which each month an informational item is shared so that representatives can take that information back to their schools for feedback. Then the following month that informational item becomes the discussion item, and representatives are able to speak on behalf of their schools. We are seeing more participation compared with that of last year, but continue to work on ensuring that all schools have a voice at this table. Our average attendance this year is 76 individuals, compared with 53 individuals at the end of last year.
One of the new initiatives for family engagement this year is the launch of Family Forums. Family Forums are full-day events that encourage learning, discussion, and collaboration between MPS staff and families. These events, which are planned in partnership with family representatives and community partners, have a variety of workshops geared toward both families and staff. October’s forum, which focused on family leadership, had 82 attendees.
In November, we hosted the 14th annual Foro Latino, an event focused on resources and services for Spanish-speaking families of children with special needs. This event brought 416 attendees to South Division High School.
Most recently, in February we hosted a family forum focused on health and wellness at Washington High School in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin with special guest Bucks legend Vin Baker.
Our remaining Family Forums for this year have been selected and are all currently being planned in collaboration with district families and community partners:
• Special Education Forum – March 11, 2017, at Milwaukee Marshall High School, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
• Fatherhood Forum – March 25, 2017, at MACL, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• Bilingual & ESL Forum – May 6, 2017, at Pulaski High School, 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
This year, MPS worked in partnership with the Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) and WI FACETS to put together a six-part institute for families of students with special needs. Each lesson focused on important concepts for families to partner with schools in their students’ learning. More than 30 families participated in this pilot, which was hosted by Milwaukee Marshall High School and Doerfler Elementary School. The final session of this institute, concerning community resources, brought together families that had participated in both sites, as well as other families in the community for a Special Education Resource Fair and Breakfast with Santa. More than 160 parents and children attended this family-friendly event and were able to eat a delicious pancake breakfast, connect with over 25 different resource and service agencies, and take family holiday pictures.
Finally, this month we would like to highlight the valuable partnership with Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services to provide services that support increasing educational attainment of MPS families. We currently have two adult learning labs, one at North Division and the other at South Division, that are open Monday through Friday from 8:00a a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to support families in their educational goals. MPS families have access to several educational services free of charge.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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none
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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Recommendation:
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Your Committee reports having received the foregoing report from the Administration. Although this item has been noticed for possible action, no action is required.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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