Workshops

Solid Foundation

Solid Foundation is a web-based process that guides a school team through 10 efficient and effective steps to:

• Assess the school community’s strengths and areas for improvement (including a review of Title I requirements for parent involvement.)
• Develop a two-year plan
• Implement the plan with abundant resources

Solid Foundation is evidence-based and designed to:

• Strengthen family-school connections.
• Engage parents in children’s learning
• Improve student academic and social learning.

The Solid Foundation process is directed by the principal and a school team (a school-based team that include the principal, teacher, and parent representatives.)
Staff from the South Dakota Parent Information and Resource Center acts as an External Partner and assist in facilitating the process.  

Family Friendly Walk Through

The Family Friendly Walk-Through is a process to:

• Examine how inviting the school appears to families and the local community
• Consider strategies that will make the school more inviting and welcoming to families and community members.
• Assist in evaluating the implementation of Title I parent involvement requirements
• Increase parent involvement

This process involves the principal and a team of parent and educator representatives and takes 3-4 hours.

Be the Power in the Education of Your Child

Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher! Most parents want to be involved in their child’s education but do not know what to do or how to go about it. “Be the Power in the Education of Your Child” provides parents with information on how to help their child to be successful in school. Training is 1 - 1½ hours in length.

Report Cards – Not Just for Kids!

Participants will learn about the state accountability system Report cards aren’t just for kids!  Your child’s school and district has an annual report card that provides you with information ranging from how your school performed overall on testing, to information about teacher qualifications, to school attendance and graduate rates.  This session will show you not only where you can find the your school’s report card, but more importantly - HOW to understand the information that is available

A Parent's Guide to the No Child Left Behind Act

This training provides information to families on the basics of the No Child Left Behind Act. General information on the requirements is provided. This training can easily be used as an introduction for districts and schools as they present assessment data to the community. Training is 1 hour in length.

A Parent's Guide to Reading and/or Mathematics Math Standards

What are content standards? Who developed them and why? This training for parents helps to answer these questions and more. Parents are provided with information on the reading and/or mathematics standards including how a standard might be taught in a classroom. Training is 1-1 ½ hours in length.

A Parent's Guide to Choosing a Supplemental Educational Service Provider

One of the opportunities provided to families under the No Child Left Behind Act is the ability to select a Supplemental Educational Services provider for their child. This training provides an explanation of Supplemental Educational Services, informs parents as to how providers are selected and the types of providers available to them in South Dakota. This training is recommended for schools or districts in level 2 of school improvement. Training is 1-1½ hours in length.

Building Bridges between Home and School through Educational Partnerships

When families and schools work together, children do better in school.  This workshop offers ideas and tools for families to build effective partnership with their child’s teacher.  Children benefit when all those who are key to their success are on the same team!  This workshop discusses foundational principles for effective partnerships keeping the main goal in mind – student success.