Parental involvement key to $3.3M for city schools
Title I federal funds demand family, school 'contracts'

By Linda Ebbing Staff Writer

Saturday, January 05, 2008

HAMILTON — Carrie Martini volunteers at Adams Elementary School in Hamilton every day.

"If not, I would just be sitting at home," Martini said. "I like coming in and helping the teachers and being a part of my children's education."

It's not only good for the kids, it's good for the school. Parental involvement is one of the requirements for receiving financial assistance through the Title I program — which provides federal funding to school districts in high poverty areas. Last year, the Title I allocation for the Hamilton City School District was more than $3.3 million, which educators used for reading and math.

Eligibility for Title I funding is contingent upon the development of "compacts," in which families and schools agree to assume mutual responsibility for children's learning.

"The compact defines goals, expectations and shared responsibility of schools, parents and students as equal partners in student learning," said Everett Mann, administrative assistant for business and planning.

In Hamilton, Title I school parents are encouraged to sign a compact at the beginning of each academic year, Mann said.

"The district has always encouraged parent involvement in their child's education and the Title I program has always had strong parent involvement," he said.

Hundreds of research studies on parental involvement in school all have the same conclusion: "When parents get involved in their children's education, good things happen," said Kathy Wagonfield, principal of Monroe Elementary School.

Title I administrators understand the positive effects of parental involvement, and thus incorporate parent compacts and volunteer opportunities into their funding requirements, Wagonfield said.

"This program has gained national esteem for its success in helping at-risk students," she said. "I believe that one reason they are so successful is because they believe in the child in a holistic way that truly links home, school and all family members."


Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.

Find this article at:
http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/01/05/hjn010508parents.html

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