Parent Involvement

Hilo High School
Parent Involvement Policy

Hilo High School’s School Community Council (SCC) cooperates in developing and implementing the schoolwide program and provides opportunities for parent participation in governance, as does our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). The SCC and PTSA meetings are open to all parents.
A Parent Newsletter containing current school information is emailed to families on a timely basis.
Parents/guardians are provided with individual assessment information through student report cards, progress reports, Smarter Balance, ACT and SAT scores.
All school staff is reachable through a phone messaging system or their email.
Teachers call parents to notify them of academic concerns, and individual parent conferences are arranged as needed.
The automated phone system notifies parents of a student’s absence on the same day that the absence is reported.
Various meetings involve parents as active participants.
Parent and community members are involved in career pathway development and implementation.
A Parent Center has been developed to house the Parent Involver, who serves as an outreach coordinator.
Parents are invited to participate in numerous team and class activities with their children.
State Social Services and the Hawaii Behavioral Health Service assist the school in counseling troubled students.

STATE OF HAWAII
PARENT/FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

BOE POLICY #2403

The Board of Education recognizes that a child’s education is a responsibility shared by the school and the family during the entire period the child spends in school. To support the goal of the Department of Education (Department) to educate all students effectively, schools and parents must work as knowledgeable partners.

Although parents are diverse in culture, language, and needs, they share the schools’ commitment in the educational success of their children. The Department and its schools, in collaboration with parents, shall establish programs and practices that enhance parent involvement and reflect the specific needs of students and their families.

To this end, the Board of Education supports the Department in the development, implementation, and regular evaluation of parent involvement programs in each school. The implementation will involve parents at all grade levels in a variety of roles, including input in decision-making processes and practices. The parent involvement program will be comprehensive and coordinated in nature. It will include, but not be limited to, the following components of successful parent involvement programs:

Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful.
Responsible parenting is promoted and supported.
Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning, including successful achievement of the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards.
Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought.
Parents are partners in the decisions that affect children and families.
Community resources are made available to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning.

The Department shall implement administrative guidelines that support professional development opportunities for staff members to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies. The Department recognizes the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental participation.

Engaging parents is essential to improved student achievement and to realize the Vision of a Public School Graduate.