10.55.722    FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

(1)  The local board of trustees shall implement a comprehensive family and community engagement plan that: 

(a)  is aligned to the district integrated strategic action plan required in ARM 10.55.601;

(b)  includes effective engagement practices that are linked to relational, developmental, collaborative, and interactive learning;

(c)  recognizes that family and school staff have a shared responsibility in the learning of their child(ren) as evidenced by the following core beliefs:

(i)  families have dreams for their children and want the best for them;

(ii)  all families have the capacity to support their children's learning;

(iii)  family and school staff are partners; and

(iv)  the responsibility for cultivating and sustaining an inviting and inclusive climate rests primarily with school staff; and

(d)  meets the following goals:

(i)  families actively participate in the life of the school and are welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class;

(ii)  families and school staff engage in regular, two-way meaningful communication about student learning;

(iii)  families and school staff continuously collaborate to support student learning and healthy development both at home and at school and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively;

(iv)  families and school staff are empowered to advocate for children, to ensure that students are treated equitably and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success;

(v)  families and school staff partner in decisions that affect children and families and together inform and influence policies, practices, and programs;

(vi)  families and school staff collaborate with members of the community to connect students, families, and staff to expand learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation; and

(vii) families and school staff collaborate with members of the community to connect students, families, and staff to post-secondary education opportunities, including workforce training, apprenticeship opportunities, career pathways, and degree programs, and encourage students to explore college and career planning tools (including Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion) and incentives provided by post-secondary institutions. 

History: Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-2-114, 20-2-121, 20-7-101, MCA; IMP, Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-2-121, 20-3-106, 20-7-101, MCA; NEW, 2023 MAR p. 255, Eff. 7/1/23.