(PAT) Parents As Teachers
Rebecca Lindquist, Principal, and a team from Sun Empire Elementary School, Kerman USD, CA

Parents As Teachers is a program designed to bring parents and teachers together to help students succeed in early literacy. Teachers model to parents best practices for developing reading skills. Parents use skills with students as students build confidence in reading under teacher supervision.

Strand: Collaboration, NEW!
Grade Level: K–6

How to Involve Parents in the School Community
Candice Gregory, District Coordinator & Field Colleague, Alisal USD, CA, Sandra Roberts, Principal & Field Colleague, Sunset Elementary, Hacienda La Puente USD, CA

PART I:
When parents get involved, children’s performance in school improves. Districts have developed innovative programs for parents that may spark ideas for your school. The team will answer questions about:

• district-wide parent patrols to keep children safe
• Koffee Klatches
• community activism resisting a liquor store near a school
• support group for families dealing with life-threatening illnesses
• School Site Council, parents’ association
• school events: multicultural day, fundraisers for field trips
• side-by-side learning

Grade Level: K–12

PART II:
Sunset Elementary and Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) School is two sites in one. This site also houses a California Children's Service Unit, which provides occupational and physical therapy to children from infancy through age 21. Sunset School stresses the TEAM approach, which stands for Together Everyone Achieves More. Our team includes parents, students, staff, community, and partners from business and industry. Together we are making a positive difference in the lives of our children.

Strand: Collaboration
Grade Level: K–6

It Takes a Village
Jamie Hall, Executive Director, and Jodi Moreno, Trainer, Pathways in Education, CA

It Takes a Village will focus on the successful strategies used in Pathways in Education’s programming that promote community collaboration in dropout prevention and recovery programs. We will explore the aspects that make our collaborative programming effective—community connectedness, mentoring, service learning, and model programs. We will also share proven strategies and activities that have been successful in promoting partnerships to keep our youth connected and in school.

Strand: Collaboration
Grade Level: 9–12

This Kid Is Not Someone Else’s Problem: A Coordinated Approach to Educational Options
Dan Sackheim, Community Day School Consultant, Educational Options Office, California Department of Education, CA

Over 12% of California schools are educational options schools, including community day schools, continuation high schools, opportunity education, and county court and community schools. Dan Sackheim, CDE consultant in the Educational Options Office, will present specific means for successfully referring students to educational options schools and programs, supporting their academic and socio-emotional development there, and supporting a successful transition back into traditional schools, if appropriate.

Strand: Collaboration, NEW!
Grade Level: K–12