In support of strengthening student academic achievement, Pigeon Forge Intermediate receives Title I, Part A funds and therefore will jointly develop with, agree upon, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written Parent and Family Engagement Policy that contains information required

by section 1116(b) and (c) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 

The policy establishes the school’s expectations for parent and family engagement and describes how the  school will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with the following statutory definition of parent and family engagement:  Parent and Family Engagement means the participation of families in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

• families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
• families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;
• families are full 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; and
• other activities are carried out, such as those described in Section 1116 of the ESSA.

(1) Parents shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand.

At the school’s annual orientation night, the Parent and Family Engagement Plan/Policy is explained and presented through a Google Slides presentation. Portions of this plan and specific events are also communicated to parents through parent letters, school newsletters, and parent meetings. The plan is also posted on the school website and in the student planner. Translated documents are available in Spanish and we have a faculty member who is bi-lingual and regularly translates. 

(2) Such policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

Stakeholders are able to view the Parent and Family Engagement plan and policy, located on the school website, at their convenience. Periodic updates are made as needed to reflect school needs based on data gleaned from our annual Family and Community Engagement survey results. Input from parents through our parent and community group is also encouraged. 

(3) The school will convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school's participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved.

The annual meeting takes place before the school orientation at the start of the school year. Both parents and students are encouraged to participate. Documentation of these meetings includes agendas and attendance records.

(4) The school offers a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide, with funds provided under this part, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement.

Based on our school demographics, PFI makes every effort to accommodate families from diverse backgrounds. We offer our families during and after-school opportunities to be involved and engaged in our school operations. Pigeon Forge Intermediate School’s administration and teachers schedule conferences in morning, afternoon, and evening hours to accommodate differing schedules. Teachers at PFI communicate their availability to parents for discussions or phone conferences before school, during their planning time, and after-school hours.

(5) Parents are involved in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of programs under this part, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school parental involvement policy and the joint development of the schoolwide program plan under section 1114(b)(2), except that if a school has in place a process for involving parents in the joint planning and design of the school's programs, the school may use that process, if such process includes an adequate representation of parents of participating children.

The Stakeholder Committee, consisting of administrators, teachers, staff, parent representatives, and community members, meets regularly throughout the school year. Together, they collaborate to provide input for the Parent Involvement Policy based on identified needs, family feedback, and the results of the annual Parent and Community Engagement Survey. Decisions and actions are shared via the school website and ParentSquare.

(6) The school provides parents of participating children timely information about Title I programs.

To ensure clear and timely communication, PFI provides the following:

• During the first week of school, families receive information about volunteer and involvement opportunities.
• A school handbook/planner containing important information and procedures is available on the school website, and a paper copy is provided to each student upon enrollment.
• Classroom parent meetings are held to discuss class schedules, attendance, assignment books, and expectations for student learning and behavior. For parents unable to attend, alternative meeting dates and times with teachers and administration are offered.
• Students in grades 4-6 use planners to communicate with their families daily.
• The Sevier County School System’s website, managed by the district webmaster, serves as a resource for parents, providing access to important dates, events, reminders, and various resources like parental involvement tips, homework help, and more.
• Teachers provide parents with their email addresses for easy communication and use the Remind App to send text updates.
• Additionally, teachers send home progress reports and six-week report cards to keep parents informed about their child’s academic performance.
• Parents can also monitor their child's grades online through the GradeBook Wizard portal.

(7) The school provides parents of participating children a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.

The following methods are used to communicate curriculum and assessment information to our families:

Curriculum:

• Teachers provide a syllabus for each course, outlining standards, pacing, major projects, and units of study.
• The curriculum is also discussed with parents during fall orientation, grade-level parent meetings, and parent night events throughout the year.
• At the beginning of each school year, parents receive a copy of the Parents’ Guide to the Curriculum, detailing the knowledge and skills their child is expected to acquire by the end of each grade level.

Assessment:

• After assessment results become available, the administration and teachers review the previous year’s test data.
• Brochures and letters accompany state test results, which are sent home promptly. Parents with questions are encouraged to schedule meetings with the administration or teachers.
• Additionally, parents receive updates on other assessments, including MasteryConnect benchmark testing and formative classroom assessments throughout the year.

(8) Per parent request- opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any suggestions as soon as practically possible.

Teachers and parents have an open line of communication regarding educational decisions for students. Conferences are held throughout the year as well as upon request by the teacher or parent. The goal of the conferences is to make educational decisions that are in the best interest of the student. Teachers at PFI contact parents regularly, and are able to communicate clearly regarding the progress and/or concerns they may have. 

(9) A process is in place to submit parent comments on the school wide program (SIP) if it is not satisfactory to the parents when the school makes the plan available to the district/LEA.

Parent feedback is always welcome at Pigeon Forge Intermediate School. Parent representatives from the Parent Teacher Organization provide input. Members meet periodically throughout the school year. Family and community members can submit comments via a link on the school-wide program on the district’s website.

(10) A parent school compact is jointly developed with parents and describes the responsibilities of each stakeholder as required by ESSA Sec. 1116.

When schools, families, and communities collaborate to support learning, children tend to perform better academically, stay in school longer, and enjoy their school experience more. Title I, Part A promotes meaningful family engagement at every level, including the development and implementation of district and school plans, as well as district and school improvement efforts. Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) outlines the core requirements for involving parents and family members in their children's education under Title I, Part A. In alignment with Section 1116, PFI will work to ensure that school-level parent and family engagement policies meet these requirements, including the incorporation of a school-parent compact as mandated by Section 1116 of ESSA.

(11) Building capacity for involvement- Assistance is provided to parents in understanding topics such as the State’s academic content standards, State student academic achievement standards, State and local academic assessments, and how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve student achievement.

Our school holds parent training sessions during parent/teacher conferences as part of our parent involvement plan. Special education teachers, interventionists, ELL teachers, and special area instructors provide valuable insights into various programs and offer parents resources on academic and social topics.

At Parent Teacher Organization meetings, the administration discusses data trends, highlighting successes and areas needing improvement. Families are also informed about celebrations, curriculum changes, needs, and upcoming assessments through GradeBook Wizard, ParentSquare messages, informational newsletters and flyers sent home throughout the year, and updates on the school website.

(12) Building capacity for involvement- Materials and training are provided to help parents work with their children to improve their achievement, such as literacy training and using technology to foster parent and family engagement.

Families are offered the following annual opportunities:

• Title I parent materials are made available in the "Parent Resource Center."
• Teachers hold parent training sessions at various times throughout the day on topics requested by parents or identified as needs in parent surveys.
• Parent involvement activities are organized by school representatives during after-school hours. Examples include Math Night, Intervention Night, Multicultural Night, Technology Night, Fine Arts Festival, and Literacy Night.

(13) Building capacity for involvement- Staff are educated, with the assistance of parents, in the value and contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, build ties between parents and the school.

In addition to participating in staff development opportunities focused on family engagement, PFI faculty and staff continually explore new strategies to enhance family participation, collaboration, and involvement. Here are some examples:

• Students in grades 4-6 use planners to maintain daily communication with their families.
• Newsletters and informational flyers are regularly sent home from both classroom teachers and administrators. Email communication is utilized between parents, teachers, and administrators, and conferences involving parents, teachers, students, and administrators are arranged as needed.
• The school website address is shared with parents in the beginning-of-the-year information packet. The website provides details on the following:
  • School motto, mission statement, beliefs, and vision
  • Student handbook
  • Celebrations of students, faculty, and staff
  • School calendar and important dates
  • Faculty and staff directory with email contact links

(14) Building capacity for involvement- To the extent feasible and appropriate, Title I-A parent and family engagement programs are coordinated and integrated with parent involvement activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, , the Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, and public preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.

PFI does not have Head Start, pre-K, or kindergarten students in our building.

(15) Building capacity for involvement- Provide other reasonable support for Parent and Family Engagement activities per parent request. (Example:  transportation, childcare)

PFI organizes parent involvement activities during parent/teacher conferences. Recognizing that many of our parents work multiple jobs and may struggle with childcare and transportation, we plan activities simultaneously to encourage attendance. To support parents with limited English proficiency, we provide translators and translated documents. Translators are available during school hours, conferences, and parent meetings. Faculty and staff are also on hand to assist parents with reading forms and completing paperwork. All forms are sent home in both English and Spanish. While we do not offer childcare, children are welcome to attend events and meetings. The school staff and the Parent Teacher Organization actively encourage parent participation by offering volunteer opportunities and providing additional support, including translation assistance.

(16) Accessibility-Local educational agencies and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.

At PFI, we make every effort to support families with limited English proficiency. Many district and school documents are available in both English and Spanish. Translators are provided during meetings to assist with communication, and faculty and staff are available to help parents read and complete forms. Additionally, we have a faculty member who is fluent in Spanish. Forms are sent home in both languages, and the "Home School Connections" newsletter, available in both Spanish and English, is distributed monthly to all families.

(17) The school will actively involve the families of children served in Title I, Part A schools in decisions about how the funds reserved for parent and family engagement are spent.

PFI will actively involve parents in the planning and decision making about how the funds reserved for parent and family engagement will be spent through open two-way communication between parents and the school. All parents are invited and encouraged to provide feedback and make suggestions to the Schoolwide Plan Draft, Proposed Budget “Wish List”, Proposed Parent Involvement Policy, Action Plan Draft, School Parent Compact Draft and School Parent Compact using the feedback form, attendance at Title I meetings or events or through ParentSquare communication.