-Caveat Lector- Excerpts: "Parents are expected to attend orientation and parent-teacher conferences and make sure their children do homework and miss no more than 10 days of school a year. Those who fail to do so must submit to a "parent involvement plan" and may be referred to support services or a parent involvement mentor. In extreme cases, parents could be referred to the state Department of Children and Families for neglect. Parents who meet the goals may be recognized on a parent honor roll or with school-based awards programs. " Education to become total effort http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2276954&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7573&; rfi=8 Natalie Missakian, Register Staff August 28, 2001 NEW HAVEN - The Board of Education on Monday gave tentative approval to a groundbreaking accountability plan that stretches beyond the school doors and into children's homes. But the board's approval of the plan - or at least its concept - came with a caveat: Members want to review and fine-tune the lengthy document more thoroughly before the superintendent puts it into action. The plan, unveiled in June after two years of study by a task force, seeks to hold teachers, administrators, parents and students all responsible for student achievement in the city schools. It is the first of its kind in Connecticut. Some, including the teachers union and an official from a statewide children's advocacy group, are asking for more public dialogue before the plan is formally adopted. "The concept is solid. I think people are just concerned with how it's being executed," said Sharon Williams, director of parent engagement leadership for the Connecticut Commission on Children. "I think what's important is engaging parents." Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo said part of the fine-tuning being requested by the board will include seeking more feedback from parent groups and teachers. But he plans to immediately set up an Office of Accountability to carry out the plan after receiving approval to proceed Monday night, and said some other aspects of the plan, such as new evaluation procedures for teachers and administrators, could be approved in phases. "I don't expect this to take another 18 months to two years," Mayo said of the fine-tuning. "We really want to get moving on this." Under the plan, employees who fail to meet standards could be placed on probation and moved to another job or fired if they fail to improve. Parents are expected to attend orientation and parent-teacher conferences and make sure their children do homework and miss no more than 10 days of school a year. Those who fail to do so must submit to a "parent involvement plan" and may be referred to support services or a parent involvement mentor. In extreme cases, parents could be referred to the state Department of Children and Families for neglect. Parents who meet the goals may be recognized on a parent honor roll or with school-based awards programs. School officials said the attempt to shift some responsibility onto parents and even businesses in the community - which are asked to offer internships and release employees to volunteer in schools - sets the plan apart from most accountability systems adopted by schools in the country. The goal is not to dictate specific parenting choices but to boost parental involvement in schools, the proposal says. In all cases, the plan sets up progressive levels of intervention and support. But Williams worries the plan may be too harsh on parents and could backfire. "If you're going to write a document about shared accountability you shouldn't focus on a worst-case scenario like a DCF referral," said Williams. "There are many other positive opportunities for shared accountability." Mayo said referring parents to DCF would be used as a last resort, in cases of chronic truancy, for instance. "I think it's necessary," he said. "The key is getting kids to school. The key is to have everyone accountable." [Forwarded For Information Purposes Only - Not Necessarily Endorsed By The Sender - A.K. Pritchard] ------------------------------ A.K. Pritchard http://members.ll.net/chiliast/ http://rosie.acmecity.com/songfest/189/ To subscribe to "The Republican" email list - just ask! [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The fundamental theory upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children. "The child is not the mere creature of the state." -- United States Supreme Court, Pierce v. 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