Title I and Family Engagement

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School believes that family engagement means the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, includes ensuring: 

• That parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning. 
• That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education. 
• That parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child. 

Parent and Family Engagement Standards

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School invites all parents to join a school community team to share ideas and ways to involve other parents and family members to build partnerships with school, families and communities via starting a school PTSA. Our school currently has a GO Team that will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Scan the QR code if you would like to learn more and/or sign up to join your school’s community teams. 

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School and our parents have adopted the national PTA standards for Family - School partnerships as the school’s model in engaging parents, students, and the community. The standards are:

1. Welcoming ALL families.
2. Communicating effectively
3. Supporting student success
4. Speaking up for every child
5. Sharing power
6. Collaborating with Community

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School is a Title 1 school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title 1 is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to the challenging State academics standards to improve teaching and learning for students. Title 1 programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family engagement. All Title 1 schools must jointly develop with parents and family members a written parent and family engagement.

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School will take the following measures to promote and support parents and family members as an important foundation of the school, to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:  

• Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish, posted on the school website and included in the monthly school newsletter for all families.  
• Provide monthly trainings for staff during their planning periods on strategies to improve communication with parents and ideas to increase family engagement with reading and math activities for our students outside of the classroom. Staff will also share best practices during regularly scheduled faculty meetings.  
• Partner with early childhood programs, middle and high schools, college and career ready resources or organizations, parent resource centers, or other programs to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning.  
• Share information in English and Spanish on the school blog and in the school newsletter for parents to understand the schools academic standards and assessments as well as the ways parents can monitor their childs' progress and work with educators.
• Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding schoolwide events and activities, through phone messages, social media and flyers.
• Offer literacy and computer classes for parents and family members to help further enhance their various educational levels in our Parent Resource Center.
• Collect feedback from parents and family members at all events, take feedback via email and post a suggestion form on the school website in order to respond to parents’ request for additional support for parent and family engagement activities.

As part of the plan, Ralph J. Bunche Middle School and our families will develop a school-parent compact, which is an agreement that parents, teachers and students will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students and teachers during the Annual Spring Parent meeting. School-parent compacts are shared with parents throughout the school year. Additionally copies ae available at the school, the Parent Resource Center and/or online.

School - Parent Compact Details

Ralph J. Bunche Middle School will host the following events to build the capacity for strong family engagement to support a partnership among the school, parents and the community to improve student academic achievement. ALL are invited are meetings. Below is a brief look at a few events for this year...

Monthly Parent Teacher Conferences - Monthly - Every 3rd Tuesday
Scheduled updates on your child‘s progress.

Go Team! 
Connect with the school and community to build a better school and review school plans.

Bunche MS PTA Meetings
A school PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a volunteer organization that connects parents, teachers, and staff to enhance students' educational experience and support school initiatives. PTAs organize events, fundraisers, and programs to build community, increase family engagement, and provide valuable resources for both students and teachers.

Annual TIitle 1 Input Meeting
A forum for parents and family members to participate in roundtable discussions with the principal and staff regrding the schoolwide plans and the next school year!

Monthly Principals Conversations - “Wednesdays with Whitfield
Come and enjoy a conversation with the Principal. Ask questions, hear student concerns, learn helpful information and more that will help facilitate our school year! our school year!

Parent University Workshops