Parents are integral partners in the processes of planning and implementing curriculum.
Staff communication with parents draws upon parents’ knowledge of their child’s development and respects their parenting strengths, values, cultures and childrearing approach
The family partnership agreement process provides opportunities for families to set goals (that can be related to family literacy, or parenting education) and to design an individualized approach.
Establishing a process through which parents and staff jointly determine the activities to be developed leads to more meaningful parent involvement
Supporting family members in their parenting roles includes encouraging parents to use home materials and family routines and conversations to support their child’s school readiness success.(anchor link to 1304.40(e)(3)
1304.21(a)(2) -- Parents must be:
(i) -- Invited to
become integrally involved in the development of the program's
curriculum and approach to child development and education;
(ii) -- Provided opportunities to increase their
child observation skills and to share assessments with staff that
will help plan the learning experiences; and
(iii) -- Encouraged to participate in
staff-parent conferences and home visits to discuss their child's
development and education
1304.24(a)(1) -- Grantee and delegate agencies must work collaboratively with parents (see 45 CFR 1304.40(f) for issues related to parent education) by:
(ii) -- Sharing staff
observations of their child and discussing and anticipating with
parents their child's behavior and development, including
separation and attachment issues;
(iv) -- Discussing how to strengthen nurturing,
supportive environments and relationships in the home and at the
program;
1304.40(a)(2) -- As part of this ongoing partnership, grantee and delegate agencies must offer parents opportunities to develop and implement individualized family
partnership agreements that describe family goals, responsibilities, timetables and strategies for achieving these goals as well as progress in achieving them. In home-based program options, this agreement must include the above information as well as the specific roles of parents in home visits and group socialization activities (see 45 CFR 1306.33(b)).
1304.40(d)(1) -- In addition to involving parents in program policy-making and operations (see 45 CFR 1304.50), grantee and delegate agencies must provide parent involvement and education activities that are responsive to the ongoing and expressed needs of the parents, both as individuals and as members of a group. Other community agencies should be encouraged to assist in the planning and implementation of such programs.
1304.40(e)(3) -- Grantee and delegate agencies must provide opportunities for parents to enhance their parenting skills, knowledge, and understanding of the educational and developmental needs and activities of their children and to share concerns about their children with program staff (see 45 CFR 1304.21 for additional requirements related to parent involvement).
1304.40(e)(4) -- Grantee and delegate agencies must provide, either directly or through referrals to other local agencies, opportunities for children and families to participate in family literacy services by:
(i) -- Increasing family access to materials, services, and activities essential to family literacy development; and
(ii) -- Assisting parents as
adult learners to recognize and address their own literacy goals.
