The Title III, Part A: Strengthening and Increasing Parental Outreach course details how Title III, Part A-funded local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to provide supplemental community participation programs, family literacy services, and parent/family outreach training and activities to English learners (ELs), immigrant students, and their families.

The course outlines best practices for implementing parental and family programs and activities required under Title III, Part A, Section 3115 (d)(6) and (e)(1)(A). LEAs and campuses must incorporate the following:

• Provide community participation programs, family literacy services, parent and family outreach, and training activities to ELs and their families
  • to improve the English language skills of ELs; and
  • to assist parents and families in helping their children improve their academic achievement and in becoming active participants in the education of their children.
     
• Provide enhanced instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youth, which may include
  family literacy, parent and family outreach, and training activities designed to assist parents and families to become active participants in the education of their children.

PDF:  When you see this icon, you can click the link associated with it to download a resource that will be used in the course.

After completing this course, you will be able to

• define the terms:
  • parental outreach,
  • parental involvement, and
  • parental engagement;
• understand the funding requirements for parental outreach;
• design a plan for parental outreach activities; and
• understand the importance of family and community partnerships.

The parental outreach programs and services required under Title III, Part A focus on creating and sustaining relationships with parents that, in turn, will help to develop an open line of communication between parents and school staff and administration. Offering parents a variety of activities to improve English language skills will assist them in helping their children improve academic achievement. In addition, identifying potential parent leaders who can extend their positive commitment to their children's educational experience with other parents can increase overall academic achievement.

Successful parental outreach programs range in benefits from higher student achievement and school readiness to increased high school graduation rates. Research indicates that any kind of increase in parental interest and support of students can help. It also shows that students thrive when schools and parents establish partnerships focused on student achievement, school improvement, shared responsibility, trust building, and respectful home-school relationships (Patrikakou, Weissberg, Redding, & Walberg, 2005).

Public Law 114-195, Section 3115 (d) (6)