parents included in edu. intervention
 

This is a NC Bill - I hope GC folk in NC will encourage representatives to support this effort.

Parents Must Be Included in Education Intervention
Parents Must Be Included

Take Action!
Amend the Personal Education Plan Statute

House Bill 804
An Act to Amend the Personal Education Plan Statute
TO BE HEARD BY HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - 11 am in 643 LOB

Contact your representatives & tell them
"PARENTS MUST BE INCLUDED!"

North Carolina General Statute 115C-105.41 requires schools to identify students who are at risk of academic failure. A personal education plan for academic improvement, including focused intervention, must be developed for these students. This individualized intervention is particularly effective at improving achievement for new English-language learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities.

The problem is that in most North Carolina schools, personal education plans are not being adequately or equitably implemented. To address this problem, Rep. Trisha Cotham, D-Mecklenburg, recently introduced a bill that attempts to close gaping loopholes in the original statute.

House Bill 804 will make important clarifications and changes to North Carolina's Personal Education Plan statute.

* The amendment explicitly states that at the beginning of each year, teachers must create plans for any student who appears to be at-risk of academic failure.
* The bill would make an important change by requiring schools to notify parents that their student has been identified as at-risk of academic failure and that a plan is going to be created.
* The current statue encourages schools to consult with parents but stops short of requiring it. HB 804 would require schools to include parents in the implementation and review process.

HB 804 will be heard Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Contact your representatives & tell them
"PARENTS MUST BE INCLUDED!"


Talking Points

* Currently, schools can wait until end of the year assessments to identify students as at-risk of academic failure. Students should be identified as as early as possible. Identification should not rely solely on state assessments, but should include other factors like grades or behavior.
* Parental involvement is the key to improving educational outcomes for North Carolina's students.
* Experts believe that the lack of participation by low-income parents in their children's schools is a key reason that poorly performing schools in low-income neighborhoods seldom experience dramatic improvements.
* Parents possess information that is crucial for effective academic intervention.
* By requiring schools to include parents in personal education plans, lawmakers would provide an opportunity for schools to share ideas and strategies with parents.
* Effective personal education plans that encourage school/parent partnerships can be a successful tool in closing the Achievement Gap in North Carolina.



House Education Committee Members
Chairman Rep. Bell 919-733-5863 Larry.Bell@ncleg.net
Chairman Rep. Lucas 919-733-5775 Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Cotham 919-715-0706 Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Fisher 919-715-2013 Susan.Fisher@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Love 919-715-3026 Jimmy.Love@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Parmon 919-733-5829 Earline.Parmon@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Womble 919-733-5777 Larry.Womble@ncleg.net
Members Rep. Adams, Rep. M. Alexander, Rep. Avila, Rep. Blackwell, Rep. Blackwood, Rep. Bordsen, Rep. Brown, Rep. Bryant, Rep. Burris-Floyd, Rep. Carney, Rep. Cleveland, Rep. Dickson, Rep. Dockham, Rep. Dollar, Rep. England, Rep. E. Floyd, Rep. Folwell, Rep. Glazier, Rep. Goodwin, Rep. Hall, Rep. Hilton, Rep. Holloway, Rep. Hurley, Rep. Insko, Rep. Jackson, Rep. Jeffus, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Langdon, Rep. McCormick, Rep. McElraft, Rep. McLawhorn, Rep. Michaux, Rep. Mills, Rep. Rapp, Rep. Rhyne, Rep. Ross, Rep. Samuelson, Rep. Stam, Rep. Stewart, Rep. Stiller, Rep. Tarleton, Rep. Tillis, Rep. Tolson, Rep. E. Warren, Rep. R. Warren, Rep. Wiley, Rep. Wilkins, Rep. Yongue