Salt Lake City School District
Board Policy C - 1
Title: Parent and Community Involvement
Index: C = Community Policies
References: Administrative Procedures for Board Policy C-1
Utah Code § 53A-1a-105-108.5
Utah Code § 53A-3-402
Section 1118(a) Federal Elementary and Secondary School Act (NCLB)
Shared Governance Guide
It is the policy of the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education to promote parent, family, and community involvement as beneficial to student success. The board supports and encourages parents and guardians to be actively involved, both at the district and the local school level, cooperating with teachers, staff, and administrators in the education of students. Community participation in school affairs is important if the school system and the community are to maintain mutual confidence and respect while working together to improve the quality of education for students.
The purpose of this policy is to encourage family and community involvement in schools and in decisions impacting education and to require that district employees comply with applicable laws, regulations, and board goals.
Parent and Family Involvement
The board invites and encourages parents and guardians to be actively involved in decisions that impact their children and their children’s schools. Parent and family involvement can occur in a variety of ways. Examples include: supporting progress toward student achievement goals through activities at home, attending school events and conferences, participating in the development and implementation of the School/Parent Compact and participating in formal organizations, such as the School Community Council (SCC) and Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
The board expects each Salt Lake City school to build a school culture that welcomes family and community involvement. Educational programs should be designed to link family members to student achievement goals, engage them in activities supporting those goals, and encourage frequent, appropriate, and varied two-way communication between school and home, so that all families understand what is happening in the classroom and what they need to do to support student learning.
Shared Governance
The board supports Shared Governance as a process for educational decision-making. Shared governance represents the district’s philosophy that education is a shared responsibility of the school district, parents, and community. Under shared governance, parents, district personnel, and community members can actively participate and cooperate in the development, implementation, and review of school plans related to the education of students. Shared governance training is offered prior to the beginning of each school year for SCC chairs and members, and by request throughout the year.
School Community Councils and District Advisory Groups
Within each local school, the school community council, which operates in accordance with state law and the principles of shared governance, provides an important forum for cooperative improvement of educational programs and conditions. District advisory groups may also be established by the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education to allow staff, parents, and other community members, and/or organizations to participate in supporting and improving the district’s educational program. When appropriate, board leadership and the superintendent will consult with representative groups regarding the membership of such committees.
Approval Date: 11/17/09
The Salt Lake City School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, or sex in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding non-discrimination policy: Kathleen Christy, Assistant Superintendent, 440 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, (801)578-8251. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights,
Denver, CO, (303)844-5695.