August 18, 2025

Dear Parents:

Merriam Park Elementary has been identified as an official Title I school. Our school

qualifies for this federal program, which provides extra math and reading support for

students by a formula based on the percentage of students who qualify to receive free or

reduced lunch benefits in the school.

Because we qualify for these special resources, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

requires us to meet specific criteria referred to as Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO)

as defined by the state of Kansas and determined by a formula that considers:

● The performance of third through sixth grade students on the Kansas math

assessment

● The performance of third through sixth grade students on the Kansas reading

assessment

Federal guidelines mandate that Title I schools provide parents the right to know. As a

parent you have the right to know:

● The qualifications of your child's classroom teacher, such as:

o Whether or not the teacher is certified in Kansas

o Whether the certification is emergency or provisionary

o The teacher’s college major and if he/she has advance degrees

o Whether aides or paraprofessionals are providing services to your child

and, if so, his/her qualifications

● How your child performed on the Kansas reading and math assessments

I will be able to share with you information regarding your child’s performance on the

state assessment at the end of the school year. Information about our staff credentials

and our test scores are public information and will be listed in our state report card.

Thank you for your continued support of our school. Together we can make a very

positive difference for your child. We are working hard to provide the best possible

education for your family. Please call the school and set a time to meet with your child's

teacher or me if you have questions at any time during the school year.

Respectfully yours,

Amy Simeonov

Principal, Merriam Park

August 18, 2025

Estimados padres:

Nuestro colegio ha sido identificado como una escuela oficial para Titulo I (Title I). La

escuela califica para este programa federal, que provee soporte extra para los

estudiantes en matemáticas y lectura, y desarrollo profesional para los maestros, por

una formula basada en el porcentaje de estudiantes que califican para recibir en la

escuela almuerzo gratis o rebajado.

Debido a que nuestra escuela califica para estos recursos especiales, el Acto No Child

Left Behind (NCLB) requiere que tengamos que satisfacer cierto criterio referido como

Objetos Medidos Anuales (AMO), definido por el estado de Kansas y determinado por

medio de una fórmula que considera lo siguiente:

● El rendimiento de estudiantes en los grados 3 a 6 en los exámenes de

evaluación de matemáticas y lectura del estado de Kansas

Las normas federales requieren que las escuelas que son Titulo I provean a los padres

el derecho a saber. Como padre, usted tiene el derecho a saber lo siguiente:

● Las cualificaciones del maestro de su hijo, como:

o Si el maestro está certificado por el estado de Kansas

o Si la certificación es de emergencia o provisional

o La licenciatura que el profesor sacó en la universidad, o si tiene un titulo

avanzado

o Si los asistentes o asistentes profesionales están proveyendo servicios a

su hijo, y, si están, cuáles son sus cualificaciones

● Cómo hizo su hijo en los exámenes de evaluación de matemáticas y lectura del

estado de Kansas

Esa información será compartida con usted tan pronto como está disponible.

Información acerca de las calificaciones del personal y resultados de exámenes son

información pública y estarán incluidos en nuestro reporte estatal.

Tendremos una reunión de información de Título I para padres en (la fecha). El

personal del distrito estará disponible para dar una vista general de qué Título I

significará para (nombre de la escuela) y contestará cualquier pregunta que usted

tenga.

Muchas gracias por continuar su soporte a nuestro colegio. Juntos podemos hacer una

diferencia positiva para nuestros hijos. Estamos trabajando duro para proveerle la mejor

educación posible a su familia.

Respetuosamente,

Amy Simeonov

Principal, Merriam Park

Mission Values Statement:

Merriam Park Elementary School

School Parent Involvement Policy 2025-26

In January of 2008, the Kansas State Board of Education, (KSBE), endorsed the six National Standards for

Family-School Partnerships (NSFSP) to promote parent involvement in all KS districts and schools. East Antioch Elementary will incorporate these standards into their parent involvement policy to promote parent involvement. These standards include: (1) Welcoming all families into the school community, (2) Communicating effectively, (3) Supporting student success, (4) speaking up for every child, (5) Sharing power, (6) Collaborating with community

 

PART I. SCHOOL PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY REQUIRED COMPONENTS

A. Merriam Park Elementary will jointly develop/revise with parents the school parent involvement policy and distribute it to parents of participating children and make available the parent involvement to the local community.

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
PTA Meetings	Monthly	PTA President, Principal
SITE Council	Quarterly	Principal
Back to School Night	August	Principal

(NSFSP:1-6.)

B.  Convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved;

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
August PTA Meeting	August	PTA President, Principal
September PTA Meeting	September	Principal
Open House	February	Principal

(NSFSP: 1,2,4)

C.  Offer flexible number of meetings , such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide, with funds provided under this part, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement;

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
PTA Meetings 6:00 PM	Monthly	PTA President, Principal
Title Event- Parent Information Night	August 21	Interventionists, Principal
Title Event- Culture Night	March	Interventionists, Principal
Title Event – Merriam Park Loves Literacy	March	Interventionists, Principal
Title Event –Kindergarten Kick-off	April	Principal
SITE Council	Quarterly	Principal

 

●     Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the school policy under section 1112, schoolwide under section 1114, and the process of the school review and improvement under section 1116.

(NSFSP: 2, 3, 5)

 

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
SITE Council	Quarterly	Principal
PTA Meeting	September	Principal

 

●     Provide parents of participating children-

o        timely information about programs under this part;

o        a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; and

 

c.  if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practically possible.

(NSFSP: 2,3, 5)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Parent Letter English and Spanish	August	Principal
PTA Meeting	September	Principal
SITE Council	Quarterly	Principal
Back to School Night/Parent Information Night	August 21	Principal

 

●     Merriam Park Elementary will inform parents and parental organizations of the purpose and existence of the Parental Information and Resource Center in Kansas (i.e., Kansas Parent Information Resource Center). (NSFSP: 6)

 

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Merriam Park Website	Ongoing	Librarian
Weekly Newsletter	Weekly	Principal
PTA Meetings	Monthly	PTA President
Parent/Teacher Conferences	Fall and Spring	Merriam Park Teachers
Back to School Night/Parent Information Night	August 21	Principal

 

PART II REQUIRED SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

 

As a component of the school-level parent involvement policy, each school shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement.

•  Conduct a parent/teacher conference in elementary schools, annually (at a minimum), during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact related to the individual child’s achievement;

•  Provide frequent reports to parents on their children’s progress; and

 

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-  Provide parents with reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class and observation of classroom activities.

 

(NSFSP:2,3,5)

 

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Parent/Teacher Conferences	Fall and Spring	Merriam Park Teachers
Grade Cards	Quarterly	Merriam Park Teachers
SMSD Visitors	Ongoing	Principal

 

BUILDING CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR INVOLVEMENT

To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, each school and local educational agency assisted under the part-

 

o        Shall provide assistance to the parents of children served by the school or local educational agency, as appropriate, in understanding such topics as the State’s academic content standards and State student academic achievement standards, State and local academic assessments, the requirements of this part, and how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children;

(NSFSP: 2)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Back to School Night	August	Principal
Building Report Card-Website	September	Principal
KS Assessment Parent Letters	October (possibly May)	SMSD
Parent/Teacher Conferences	Ongoing	Merriam Park Teachers
Quarter 1 Title Event-	August	Principal
Quarter 2 Title Event-	March	Principal
Quarter 3 Title Event – MP Loves Literacy	March	Interventionists
Quarter 4 Title Event – Kindergarten Kick-off	April	Principal

 

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b.  Shall provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement;

(NSFSP:3)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Parent/Teacher Conferences	Fall and Spring	Merriam Park Teachers Principal
Quarter 1 Title Event- Meet the Teacher Night	August 7	Principal
Quarter 2 Title Event- Parent Information Night	August 21	Principal
Quarter 3 Title Event – MP Loves Literacy	March	Interventionists
Quarter 4 Title Event – Kindergarten Kick-off	April	Principal
7 Habits Parent Training	Monthly	Principal

 

c.  Shall educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school;

(NSFSP:5)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
PTA Meetings	Monthly	PTA President, Principal
Professional Learning Courses	Ongoing	SMSD Curriculum & Instruction
Staff Meetings	Ongoing	Principal/Merriam Park Teachers
Grade level Meetings/PLCs	Ongoing	Merriam Park Teachers
Action Team Meetings	Ongoing	Merriam Park Teachers

 

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d.  Shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, the Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program and public preschool and other programs, conduct other activities, such parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children;

(NSFSP: 6)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Kindergarten Kick-off	April	Principal
PreK Open House	April	Principal
7 Habits Parent Training	Monthly	Principal

 

•  Shall ensure that information related school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents of participating children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents can understand;

(NSFSP:2)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Weekly Newsletter (Eng/Span)	Weekly	Principal
Merriam Park Website (Eng/Span)	Ongoing	Librarian
Classroom Newsletters (Eng/Span)	Ongoing	Merriam Park Teachers
Weekly emails	Weekly	Principal
Reminder/update calls and texts	As needed	Principal

 

•  Shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under this as parents may request.

(NSFSP:1)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person

 

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•  May involve parents in the development of training for teachers, principals, and other educators to improve the effectiveness of such training; (NSFSP: 4,5)

•  May provide necessary literacy training from funds received under this part if the district has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for such training; (NSFSP: 2,3,)

•  May pay reasonable and necessary expenses associated with local parental involvement activities, including transportation and child care costs, to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions; (NSFSP:1)

•  May train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents: (NSFSP: 1, 4)

•  May arrange school meetings at a variety of times, or conduct in-home conferences between teachers or other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend such conferences at school, in order to maximize parental involvement and participation; (NSFSP: 1)

•  May adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement; (NSFSP:1, 4)

•  May establish a district parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental involvement in programs supported under this section; (NSFSP: 5, 6)

•  May develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses in parent involvement activities; and (NSFSP: 5,6)

 

PART III ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

 

In carrying out the parental involvement requirements of this part, district and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with children with limited English proficiency, parents with children with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents can understand.

(NSFSP: 4)

Activity	Date Due	Contact person
Spanish Translator at events and parent/teacher conferences	Ongoing	Spanish Translator Principal
Sign language interpreter at events and parent/teacher conferences	Ongoing	Principal

 

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PART IV ADOPTION

This Merriam Park Elementary Parental Involvement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I program, as evident by meeting minutes.

The Parent Involvement Policy was developed by Merriam Park Elementary on and will be in effect for the period of school year. The school will distribute this Parent Involvement Policy to all parents of participating Title I children and make it available to the community on or before May 2019.

 

  Amy SImeonov                      Signature of Title I Authorized Representative

 

_08/18/2025        Date

 

These parents were involved with the development of this document: PTA President, Previous PTA President, reviewed at September PTA meeting

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