|
|
|
|
|
Meeting Date:
|
5/9/2017 - 6:00 PM
|
|
Category:
|
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
|
|
Type:
|
Info
|
|
Subject:
|
1. Report and Possible Action on District Family and Community Engagement Activities
|
|
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
|
Goal 2 Student, Family and Community Engagement
|
|
Attachments
|
|
|
File Attachment:
|
|
|
Background:
|
This report includes an update on all major family-and-community engagement activities for March and April 2017.
The District Advisory Council (DAC) met each month of this reporting period to discuss topics such as students, clubs and activities, parent-teacher conferences, student assessments, and the equity policy. 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 last year, but continue to work on ensuring that all every schools has a voice at this table. Our average attendance this year is 74 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, which 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. March’s forum, which focused on celebrating abilities for our families of students with special needs, had 107 attendees in addition to nearly 100 representatives from community organizations, staff, and volunteers.
In March we also hosted a Fatherhood Forum, which focused on providing resources, inspiration, and networking opportunities for the men in our students’ lives. We had 122 attendees for this inaugural event.
Our remaining Family Forums for this year have been selected and are currently being planned in collaboration with district families and community partners:
• Bilingual & ESL Forum – May 6, 2017, at Pulaski High School, 8:00am-2:00pm
Since the 2015-2016 school year, MPS has worked in partnership with Scholastic and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County to bring the My Very Own Library program to students and families. This year, 14 schools have this program, which is dedicated to putting books into the hands of children in need. Throughout the year, all students in these schools are able to participate in three separate book fairs where they can choose, for themselves, brand new books to build their own home libraries. Along with these book fairs, schools receive support to host family events to share this program with families and to encourage reading at home.
As MPS continues to work to increase family and community engagement, we must have a focus on equity in our approach. This means identifying those sub-populations within families that need extra, targeted outreach and engagement opportunities. One of these groups comprises our fathers and other men who support the success of MPS students. As we look forward to next year, MPS is forming a stronger connection with the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative to continue to increase support for the men in our students’ lives.
At the school level, parent coordinators have received multiple professional development sessions on how to engage fathers and to create spaces for positive male role models in their schools. This professional development will continue next year in the hopes that all schools at least have a “donuts with dads”-type event, but will also leverage those events into creating spaces in which our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and mentors may connect with each other and take active roles in supporting students’ success and schools’ improvement.
|
|
Fiscal Impact Statement:
|
none
|
|
Implementation and Assessment Plan
:
|
|
|
Recommendation:
|
|
|
Approvals:
|
|
Recommended By:
|
|
Signed By:
|
|
|
Danielle J. Costello - Family and Community Engagement Specialist
|
|
|
Signed By:
|
|
|
Kellie J Sigh - Director
|
|
|
Signed By:
|
|
|
Gina Spang - Chief of Staff
|
|
|
Signed By:
|
|
|
Dr. Darienne Driver - Superintendent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|