August 11, 2016( )Action Required
(X)Informational
BULLETIN NO. 033-16 TITLE I/LAP & CONSOLIDATED PROGRAM REVIEW
TO:Educational Service District Superintendents
School District Superintendents
School District Title I, Part A Directors
FROM:Randy I. Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
RE:2016–17 Parent and Family Engagement Requirements for Title I, Part A Districts and Schools
CONTACT:Paula Moore, Director
Title I/LAP and Consolidated Program Review
360-725-6100,
Agency TTY:360-664-3631
This bulletin is to inform you of the 2016–17 parent and family engagement requirements for Title I, Part A districts and schools. This bulletin references the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As your district implements these requirements, please be aware of the resources on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) website ( There you will find guides, translated materials, and clear checklists.
Under Title I, Part A, parent and family engagement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, meaningful communication involving student academic learning, and other school activities, including making sureparents and families:
- Play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
- Participate and are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.
- Become partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.
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August 11, 2016
The activities described in Section 1118 of ESEA, are done to promote collaboration between districts, schools,parents, and families in helping students achieve high academic standards.[ESEA Section 9101(32)]
District Level Required Allocation
Most districts receiving Title I, Part A funds must set aside an amount for parent and family engagement. These set-aside funds for parent and family engagement [as prescribed by ESEA as reauthorized by No Child Left Behind (NCLB)] must be used to conduct programs and activities to involve parents and families in the planning and implementation of the Title I, Part A program, including promoting family literacy and parenting skills.
For districts receiving an allocation of $500,000 or greater, the district must set-aside one percent of their district’s allocation. For the 2016–17 school year, a minimum of not less than 95 percent of the district’s one percent set-aside must be distributed to Title I, Part A schools for the purpose of parent-related activities. The school staff and parents and families may voluntarily decide that some or the entire amount of the set-aside be administered by the district. A district receiving less than $500,000 is not required to set aside funds for parent involvement. However, the district is still required to provide and promote parent activities and involvement opportunities. [ESEA Title I, Part A Section 1118(a)]
District and SchoolWritten Policy Requirements
Parents and families of children receiving Title I, Part A services must be involved in the development of the district parent and family engagement policy. The policy must include how decisions regarding set-aside funds are allotted for parent and family engagement activities, and how parents and families will be included in the annual evaluation of the policy.
Each district and school that receives Title I, Part A funds must:
- Develop awritten parent and family engagement policy.
- Notify parents and familiesof the policy in an understandable and uniform format and to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents and families can understand.
- Make the policy available to the local community and update periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and families, and the school.
If the district or school has a parent and family engagement policy that applies to all parents and families, the district or school may amend the policy to meet Title I, Part A parent and family engagement requirements.
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August 11, 2016
Additionally, if the policy under ESEA Title I, Part A Section 1112 (Local Educational Agency Plans) is not satisfactory to the parents and families of Title I, Part A students, districtsand schools must note any parent and family comments and recommendationsin therespective policy.
For a complete list of required district and school components click on the following link:
District and School Requirements and Responsibilities for Building Capacity
In carrying out Title I, Part A parent and family engagement requirements, districts and schools, to the extent practicable, must provide full opportunities for the participation of parents and families with limited English proficiency, parents and families with disabilities, and parents and families of migratory children. Providing information and school reports required under Section 1111 in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents and familiescan understand, must be included in these opportunities.
Additionally, to ensure effective involvement of parents and families, and to support a partnership among the school, parents and families, and the community, each district and school assisted by Title I, Part A fundsmust: [ESEA Title I, Part A Section 1118(e)]
- Provide assistance to parents of children served by the school or district, as appropriate, in understanding topics such as:
- The state’s academic content standards and state academic achievement standards.
- State and local assessments.
- The requirements of Title I, Part A.
- How to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children.
- Provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parent and family engagement.
- Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents and families, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and families. Topics that need to be addressed include:
- How to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents and families as equal partners.
- How to implement and coordinate parent and family programs.
- How to build ties between parents and families,and schools.
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August 11, 2016
- Coordinate and integrate, to the extent feasible and appropriate, parent and family engagement programs and activities with Head Start, the Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, public preschool, and other programs. Conduct activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents and families in more fully participating in the education of their children.
- Ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents and families of participating children in a format and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
- Provide reasonable support for parent and family engagement activities that parents and families may request.
Districts and schools can find more information on required and allowable activities to build capacity on parent and family engagement on our webpage at
Key Title I, Part A Parent Notice Requirements
As part of the Title I, Part A provisions to support the parent and family engagement requirements, each year districts and schools receiving Title I, Part A funds must providecertainstatutory and regulatory requirements for notice or information to parents and families, and students participating in Title I, Part A programs.
For more information regarding Title I, Part AParent Notification Requirements for districts and schools go to:
Federal Programs Citizen Complaint Procedures
Districtsand schools must disseminate to parents and families of students, and to appropriate private school officials or representatives, adequate information about OSPI’s written complaint procedures for resolving issues of violation(s) of a federal statute or regulation that applies to Title I, Part A programs. [Chapter 392-168 WAC Special Services Programs-Citizen Complaint Procedures for Certain Categorical Federal Programs].To view OSPI’s citizen complaint procedures, go to
If you have any questions regarding this bulletin please contact the Title I/LAP and Consolidated Program Review office at 360-725-6100 or email . The agency TTY number is 360-664-3631.
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This bulletin is also available on OSPI’s website at:
K–12 EDUCATION
Gil Mendoza, Ed.D.
Deputy Superintendent
SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Gayle Pauley
Assistant Superintendent
Paula Moore, Director
Title I/LAP and CPR
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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at (360) 725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200.