Welcome to the Clifton Cougar Title I Web Pages.

 A brief description of what we do in Title I may be summed up in this excerpt below from the External Funding Department of Houston I.S.D:

• providing opportunities for all children to acquire the knowledge and skills specified in challenging state content and performance standards;

• supplementing academic, health, and social services;

• promoting school wide reform;

• increasing staff development opportunities;

• distributing resources to the campuses where needs are the greatest;

• affording parents meaningful opportunities to participate in their children's education;

• aligning the schools' instructional efforts with those of the state and school district.

 Welcome, I am Robert C. Jackson, Coordinator for Title I at Clifton Middle School. I believe many people in the community have questions about just what is Title I and how does it function in the learning community? I will attempt to communicate just that through these web pages. (Please note * these pages are a new addition to the Clifton web site and will progressively change)  Go Cougars!!!

Contact Information

(713) 613-2516 extension 336

Email: rjackso1@houstonisd.org

CLIFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

October 8, 2007

 If students are to be successful, their parents or guardians must be actively involved in their education. Clifton Middle School developed this policy to describe how we involve parents in the development of policy and the School-Parent Compact; to help parents to help their children achieve in school; and to make sure parents with limited English proficiency or disabilities can participate in their children’s education. This policy was developed with the assistance and approval of the parents of children participating in the Title I program as well as teachers, administration, and community members.

 Policy Involvement.  Each year, we invite the parents of all children who participate in the Title I program to a series of meetings. Meetings are held on several different days and times, and parents have a choice of which to attend. At the meetings we discuss Title I, Part A Law, its requirements, and the rights and benefits to parents of children involved. We explain how parents can be involved in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I Programs, including contributing to this parental involvement policy. Other opportunities on campus are the Ice Cream Social, Open House, Family Math Night, Family Reading Night, Family Social Studies Night, Family Language Arts Night, Family Science Night, Cougar Fest, Band Concert, Choir Concert, and drama events, speech and debate competitions.

 Program Involvement.  At these meetings, or at other times throughout the year, we give parents of participating children timely information about our Title I programs, including tutoring, counseling, adult computer classes, adult classes, extended day, and Saturday Academies.

 We describe and explain curriculum, explain our expectations for students, and explain how we measure student performance. We explain how each individual child and our school as a whole are doing on state tests such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), and other measures of performance such as Stanford 10, Aprenda, the Reading Proficiency Tests in English, and the State-Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA).

 We offer opportunities through meetings, questionnaires, and surveys to respond to parent suggestions, have parents make suggestions and share experiences with other parents, and participate in decisions concerning the services offered to students and parents.

 If the School wide Program is unsatisfactory to the parents, the school submits parents’ comments to the Department of External Funding and revises the plan as advised by the District, campus committee, and/or other designees as determined by the Title I, Part A Program in the Houston Independent School District.

School-Parent Compact.  The School-Parent Compact was developed jointly with parents of participating Title I students and explains how parents, school staff, and the student will all share responsibility for each student’s academic success. Our compact is attached. The NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND Law requires that each compact must be developed with campus-level parental input.

 Building Capacity for Involvement.  It is part of Clifton Middle School’s role to teach parents how to help their children learn. One way this is done is by explaining education laws. Parents are given information about the National Education Goals, Title I requirements, Texas content and performance standards such as the TEKS and TAKS.

 Parent Training and Involvement.  Presentations are done to help parents know if a child is doing well, how parents can work with educators to help their children, and how to be involved in decision-making about the education of their children. Materials and training are provided to help parents help their children, such as Family Math Night, Family Reading Night, Family Social Studies Night, Family Language Arts Night, Family Science Night, counselor training for parents, PTA-related activities, Go College Center, information about help from specific outside agencies.

 Training is also provided to teachers and other staff members. School staff members are taught the importance of involving parents, parents as partners, programs for parents, and building ties between home and school.

 Accessibility.  Participation and involvement of all parents is important. Information related to student achievement, school performance, school and parent programs, meetings and other opportunities for participation is sent home in the home language whenever possible. Some of the standard information sent home in Spanish includes this policy, School-Parent compact, announcements, report cards, school profiles, tutorial schedule, and student test results.

 We ensure the ability of parents with disabilities to participate by providing handicapped access to all buildings, classrooms, and meeting places within our building.

 Interpreters for the deaf and other modifications are provided as needed.

 Date Updated: September 21, 2007

 Date Issued: October 8, 2007

  STUDENT-TEACHER-PARENT COMPACT

Date:  October 08, 2007

PARENT/GUARDIAN AGREEMENT

I want my child to achieve; therefore, I will encourage him/her by doing the following:

• See that my child is punctual and attends school daily.

• Support the school in its efforts to maintain proper discipline.

• Establish a time for homework and review it regularly.

• Provide a quiet, well-lighted place for study.

• Encourage my child’s efforts and be available for questions

• Stay aware of what my child is learning.

• Provide a library card for my child.

• Read with my child and let my child see me read.

STUDENT AGREEMENT

It is important that I work to the best of my ability; therefore, I shall strive to do the following:

• Attend school regularly

• Come to school each day with pens, pencils, paper, and other necessary tools for learning.

• Complete and return homework assignments

• Observe regular study hours.

• Conform to rules of student conduct.

TEACHER AGREEMENT

It is important that students achieve, therefore, I shall strive to do the following:

• Provide homework assignments to students.

• Provide necessary assistance to parents so that they can help with assignments.

• Encourage students and parents by providing information about student progress.

• Use special activities in the classroom to make learning enjoyable.

PRINCIPAL AGREEMENT

• Provide an environment that allows for positive communication between the teacher, parent, and student.

• Encourage teachers to regularly provide homework assignments that will reinforce classroom instruction.

• Ensure a highly qualified staff for all children in the school