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Leadership * Enrichment * Acceleration * Differentiation

RHS Family Engagement Policy

 

Title I Local Educational Agency Plan – Parent and Family Engagement Policy updated for 2025-2026

Below is the district's Parent and Family Engagement Policy, which has been developed jointly with, agreed upon with, and distributed to the parents and families of participating students. This policy should reflect those requirements of Section 1118 of Title I, Part A.

  1. Rock Hill Schools invites parents and families each year to help develop and update the district's family engagement plan under section 1112 of the ESEA.  A parent committee meets annually to review policies, and parents can join through school newsletters and the district website. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome and considered when possible. Parents can share input by contacting the district or schools.
  1. Rock Hill Schools supports Title I, Part A schools in engaging families to improve student success through the ParentSMART Parent Education Partnership. Parent educators provide home visits to empower parents as their child’s first teacher, offering guidance, resources, and support. Workshops are available at Title I schools and the Family Learning Center at Sylvia Circle, where parent lending libraries are also provided. Additional services at the Family Learning Center include York County First Steps, Family Connections of South Carolina, SC Thrive Benefits Bank, and the ESOL Welcome Center.
  1. Rock Hill Schools strengthens family engagement by providing a Title I Coordinator/Parent Specialist to coordinate with school leaders on workshops and staff development in ELA and Math. Support includes translators for Multilingual Learner families, ParentSMART services, and parent lending libraries at schools and ParentSMART.
  1. Rock Hill Schools collaborates with First Steps and the Early Learning Partnership of York County to support family engagement. Grants from First Steps fund parent educators and resources. All Parent Educators are certified in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, including Teen Parents and Supporting Families of Children with Special Needs.

The ParentSMART Program established the Family Literacy Partnership, initially funded by SC First Steps and now supported by the SC Department of Education’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Family Literacy Grant. This program helps parents complete high school, learn English, gain citizenship, and receive career training while engaging in Early Childhood Education and Interactive Literacy Activities with their children.

Rock Hill Schools partners with Head Start, providing a building for its chapter and organizing transition days for children moving to kindergarten. The ParentSMART Partnership supports ESOL families with translation services during the application process. Open House events help families get familiar with schools, and RHSD offers staff training to Head Start, private schools, and daycares in Rock Hill and nearby areas.

  1. Rock Hill Schools conducts an annual evaluation of its parent and family engagement policy to improve Title I, Part A schools. Parents complete a year-end survey, with translated versions and bilingual support available for English Learners. The district actively provides these services and secures additional assistance as needed.

Survey results are sent to the District Office for analysis and shared with families at open meetings at the start of the school year. Parent feedback is encouraged and essential to the success of the Title I program.

  1. Rock Hill Schools engages parents and families in school review and improvement under section 1116 of the ESEA by sharing progress updates through Schoolwide Planning Team and School Improvement Council meetings, website postings, newsletters, and report cards. Schools also hold meetings and conferences to explain test scores and data. If any schools are in improvement status, this will be communicated through the same channels, with meetings held for feedback and recommendations.

Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s education by volunteering in activities like Family Literacy and Math Nights, Book Fairs, mentoring, PTO meetings, SIC meetings, and Title I events. Regular communication with teachers through folders, phone calls, emails, or conferences is also encouraged. Surveys provide opportunities for parents to give feedback, and communication is shared in multiple formats—digital, printed, and personal—to improve engagement.