PARENT ORIENTATION REQUIREMENTS

According to the Basic Education Circular (BEC) of July 2001 (22 Pa. Code §4,26):

"District/charter schools should make every effort to provide an orientation to parents as well as to the students. The orientation should include basic school information, a description of the ESL or bilingual education program, what content classes the student will attend, what special programs are available, homework and attendance policies, and district-wide assessment practices and procedures. Expectations for participation and behavior should be clear to all involved.", and

"Federal regulations require districts to provide information about assessment, academic achievement, and related issues to parents in their native language or in their preferred mode of communication. This means that it is the district's/charter school's responsibility to provide for translation and interpretation services."

The regulations suggest that districts must provide school information to parents in their native language or preferred mode of communication. The orientation should include descriptions of:

Basic school information
A description of the ESL program
Content area classes the student will attend
Special programs that are available - Curricular, Extra-curricular
Policies, practices, and procedures - Homework, Attendance, District-wide assessment
Clear expectations for participation and behavior