This is what was reported in 2007-08 for Education Yes, Strand 4:
Strand IV - School and Community Relations
The school staff maintains purposeful, active, positive relationships with families of its students and with the community in which it operates to support student learning.
Standard 1 - Parent/Family Involvement
Schools actively and continuously involve parents and families in student learning and other school activities.
Key Characteristics
Benchmark A: Communication
School/parent/family communications are two-way, ongoing and meaningful.
IV.1.A.2 Diversity: The school places particular value on the diversity of its population. It demonstrates this belief through the diversity of its communication systems taking into account language, culture, economic status, and belief systems. Staff members are constantly looking for ways to bridge the gap between the culture at home and the school in order to develop meaningful conversations.
Response:
Implemented
Evidence:
* District forms are translated in many instances
* Bilingual staff and bilingual parents are available for students for instructional purposes--and, when needed, for parents to facilitate communication
* Childcare provided for evening meetings by the King PTO and KingCare
* Attention is paid to scheduling meetings during family friendly times--and to providing information/material in an alternative way for families who were not able to attend
* A supportive and interactive relationship with the social worker, staff and families at Green Baxter Court exists--to support and facilitate learning for children and families living at
Green Baxter Court
* On-going Equity Team training from 2006-08 with Pacific Educational Group helps
to identify and find solutions to issues connected to diversity and understanding of culture
* Equity presentations for MLK staff by MLK Equity team during 2008
* School calendar reflects respect to major cultural/religious days for all groups
* School communication is written in plain English with attention to avoiding jargon as much as possible
* Building encouragement of after-school programming including
language classes sponsored by the Rec and Ed department
* Insuring equal access to school programming (including before and after school child care) by providing scholarships in a variety of ways
* Annual PTO International Night
* Disability Awareness Day, 2008
* MLK School News Blog:
http://karrskingblog.blogspot.com/
* PTO After-school Writing Workshops 2007, 2008
Benchmark B: Engagement
Schools have a systematic approach that encompasses a variety of meaningful activities/actions that engage parents/families as partners in helping students and schools succeed.
IV.1.B.2 Extended Learning Opportunities: The school is seen as a "learning organization" and the parents are an integral part of this philosophy. Numerous extended learning opportunities are provided to parents in order to enhance their own education, as well as to reinforce and support their children learning at home.
Response:
Implemented
Evidence:
* Annual Curriculum Night
* Annual grade level Open House/Music Night
* Annual observance of NAAPID parent involvement day
* Annual percentage rate of parent teacher conferences above 99%
* Parent education activites, 2006-08
* Parent Writing Workshops from Eastern Michigan Writing Project, 2007-08
* School Improvement discussions and implementation of activities in support of greater family education and activities in 2007-08
* Staff volunteering at Green Baxter Court after school hours
* List of PTO chairs for school events, including PTO liaison to Green Baxter Court and PTO Academic chairperson
* Newsletter and eNotes announcements about upcoming events
* PTO sponsored groups including Science Olympiad, Academic Games, 4th grade writing program with 826michigan.org, Legotrons, Science Night, Book Fair, March is Reading Month activities
* Annual 5th grade Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama
* Annual 5K Walk by PTO
IV.1.B.3 Decision-Making: The school believes that parents and families are partners in helping students and the school succeed. In this role, they serve an important function as participants in the decision-making process. Particular efforts are made by the school to assure that the demographics of parents in leadership roles represent the diversity of the school population.
Response:
Exemplary
Evidence:
* Three parents on School Improvement Team
* Parents of diverse perspectives are solicited for participation and input around school improvement and climate needs
* PTO Executive Board maintains a list of all event chairs, which includes families of diverse backgrounds
* PTO includes a parent as Academic Chair
* A wide variety of parents participate and give input as part of the PTO
* Diverse perspectives are sought for district initiatives including strategic planning
* District Parent Advisory Committee
Standard 2 - Community Involvement
The community-at-large is supportive and involved in student learning and other school activities.
Key Characteristics
Benchmark A: Communication
Communications within the community are welcoming, visible, purposeful and take into account diverse populations.
IV.2.A.2 Diversity: In order to benefit the diverse student body represented at the school, the school reaches out to community organizations that reflect this diversity. The voice of community organizations are represented in the school.
Response:
Implemented
Evidence:
* School calendar takes into account cultural/religious days of significance for all groups
* Communication and support of Green Baxter Court
* Community resources utilized to support International Night
* Occasional use of bilingual staff to support enrollment, parent teacher conferences and parent communication
* Translated enrollment forms
* Childcare provided for many evening parent events
* Use of Trans-Act translation software when needed at building and district level
* Annual PTO Welcome Night
* Annual observance of National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID)
* School assemblies showing people of diverse backgrounds
* Annual PTO International Night
* PTO After-school writing workshop
* Disability Awareness Workshop
* Leslie Science Center activities
* University Musical Society actvities
Benchmark B: Engagement
The school and community work collaboratively and share resources in order to strengthen student, family, and community learning.
IV.2.B.3 Community Agencies: Community agencies play a key role at the school in providing services to students and families. They work collaboratively and share resources with the school to strengthen the comprehensive network of support.
Response:
Exemplary
Evidence:
* Referrals and follow-up records to a variety of community agencies including Community Action Network, Green Baxter Court housing, Judson Center, Family Independence Agency, Washtenaw County Health, Salvation Army
* Disability Awareness Day, 2007, 2008
* School personnel works closely with social worker from Green Baxter Court to help address needs that come up for 94+% of economically disadvantaged students attending school
* Vision/hearing screenings provided annually
* Community dental service information forwarded annually Green Baxter Court
* List of community agencies available through principal, social worker, resource room teacher * School/district works closely with homeless shelters to comply with requirements of homeless education act
