Family and Civic Engagement Plans Focus on ImprovementDistricts Working Hard to Meet June 30, 2010 Deadline 
By June 30, 2010, all school districts must have a Family and Civic Engagement plan in place. That, everyone knows. But the details required to be included in such a plan remain a mystery for many administrators who are charged with developing the document. Family and Civic Engagement Plans are really about two things, explains Dr. Ron Anderson, Greene ESC Director of Organizational Development, who along with Sue Giga is assisting the Fairborn City School District in implementing their plan. First, it is about developing a goal designed to both increase the district’s graduation rate and reduce drop outs. Second, it is about developing activities that engage families and community groups in addressing the factors which impede a child’s learning or render a child unready to learn when they come to school. Those factors could include hunger, lack of parental support, medical needs, low self esteem, and a myriad of other influences. Family and Civic Engagement in Ohio is a concept actively promoted by First Lady Frances Strickland, who has been actively involved in FCE Councils around the state. With the passing of House Bill 1, which includes Revised Code Section (RC) 3313.821, school districts are required to appoint a family and civic engagement team, according to Greta Gardner, OSBA Deputy Director of Policy Service. The board of education of each school district must determine the membership and organization of the team, which must include parents, community, health and human services and business representatives, and any other representatives identified by the board.
In addition, family and civic engagement teams must work with the family and children first council to recommend qualifications and responsibilities to be included in a job description for school, family and civic engagement coordinators. The deadline for nominating the team, developing the plan, and writing the job description is June 30, 2010. Everyone is on the same timeline, stresses Jennifer Vargo, ODE Family and Civic Engagement Coordinator. The pilot counties (including Greene County) whose ESC’s were awarded ODE grants and the non-pilots all have to submit their FCE plan by June 30th. “Districts should begin implementing their plans right away,” cautions Vargo. “Obviously, for this year, implementation would likely begin the next school year.” Four Steps to Meeting the Deadline: School district boards of education are required to adopt policies which instruct their superintendents to either create a local FCE team or to expand the existing Business Advisory Council to do the job of both. Under current law, each city and exempted village school district must appoint a business advisory council to provide recommendations on matters such as employment skills and curriculum to develop those skills; changes in the economy and job markets; and developing working relationships among businesses, labor organizations and education personnel. As an alternative to maintaining both a business advisory council and a family and civic engagement team, the act allows city and exempted village school districts to appoint one committee to perform the functions of both. The membership of a combined committee must include all the members required for family and civic engagement teams. Second, the District Must Define the FCE Team and Pass a Board Resolution Nominating the Team Sue Giga and Ron Anderson are available to help each school district define their FCE teams. The board officially determines the membership and organization of the FCE team which should include parents, community representatives, health and human service representatives, business representatives, and other representatives identified by the board. ODE has supplied a sample Resolution which can be used by boards of education in defining their teams. “I don’t see a number of participants included in the legislation,” comments Vargo. “It appears that the board resolution is a template that can be modified to fit the district’s specific need. Third, the District Must Develop and Submit the Plan Fourth, the District Must Develop a Job Description for a Family and Civic Engagement Coordinator No one has yet developed a sample job description for the FCE coordinator. But Jennifer Vargo has developed a list of recommended roles and responsibilities which school districts can use to develop one. That document, along with other templates and resources can be linked to below. Resources and Training Sample Board Policy © Ohio School Boards Association: Permission not implied. Sample FCE Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities To see a formal listing of FCE-related deadlines, go to education.ohio.gov, keyword search: HB 1 family and civic engagement. Also search the keywords: FCE professional development for excellent resources to help you understand and complete these initiatives, including online training sessions, data sources for use in developing an FCE plan and an FCE plan template. For more information, contact: Jennifer Vargo, Family and Civic Engagement Coordinator, jennifer.vargo@ode.state.oh.us. |