Family Events & Resources

What do our students lose over a summer?
Due to a lack of quality learning over the summer, students lose ground. On average, the impact is:

• 2.6 months of math loss
• 2 months of reading loss
• 1 month of learning is lost
• 6 wks. of re-learning old material in the fall

To not lose academic ground, students should do academic work for 2-3 hrs. per week to keep on track from June to September.

PREVENTING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS PRESENTATION

LEARNING OPTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SUMMER

Ways to best support your scholar’s education

• Your involvement helps support your scholar to make greater achievement
  • Set a timer weekly to check-in with your scholar on how they are doing and utilize any tools that your school supplies (PowerSchool, Google Classroom or connecting with teachers to get outstanding work info).
• Building a relationship with your scholars’ teachers is very important.
  • Your teacher is the best connection to where your scholar is in their learning journey.
  • Be Proactive at the beginning of the school year in getting to know your teachers, school, and office staff. Email introduction is a good start, make sure there is a reply and hold the school accountable for replies.
  • Sharing information that can be helpful in the teacher getting to know your child: learning styles, barriers (anxiety, poor experiences in the past, etc).
  • Make sure to reach out to them if somethings not going well or you have questions (email for record)
• Organizing
  • Put days off and events in your calendar under a different color for school stuff.
  • Have a family calendar that everyone can see to know what is going on.
  • The best organizing options are the ones that work for your student.  The way you organize may not work for your student- let them lead on this.
• Support good attendance by trying to schedule appts outside of school time if possible.

Reading

• Help your student to become an active reader
  • Ask them to tell you about what they read and get details from them.  This is important in reading comprehension.
  • Letting older kids read to younger kids builds both of their skills.
  • Ensure your kids are reading at least 20 mins per day at home (the type of reading does not matter- graphic novels, magazines, online articles, or chapter books).
  • Knowing your child’s reading level is important and helps you know if they are on track- https://www.justrightreads.com/reading-levels-explained
• Importance of reading and early learning
  • http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ImportanceofEarlyLearning.pdf
• Reading and the school to prison pipeline
  • https://bookstr.com/article/the-school-to-prison-pipeline-and-prison-literacy/
  • https://lexiatest.cambiumlearning.com/blog/lack-literacy-skills-can-push-students-along-school-prison-pipeline

2-7 yrs. Brain Development

https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-ages-2-7-matter-so-much-brain-development

8-10 yrs. Brain Development

• https://www.kidcentraltn.com/development/8-10-years/brain-development-ages-8-10.html
• Support guide for parents- You and Your Adolescent- New and Revised

Teenage Brain Development

• https://www.aacap.org/aacap/families_and_youth/facts_for_families/FFF-Guide/The-Teen-Brain-Behavior-Problem-Solving-and-Decision-Making-095.aspx
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201104/adolescence-and-the-transition-middle-school

Back to school transition and anxiety about school starting

• https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/08/28/545393966/how-to-counter-back-to-school-anxiety
• https://childmind.org/article/back-school-anxiety/
• https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-life/back-to-school/making-transition.html

What is the Office of Education Ombuds (OEO)? 

• OEO was Founded by the state legislature in 2006 to support families in Washington state. 
• OEO’s Mission: We work with families, communities, and schools to address problems together so that every student can fully participate and thrive in Washington’s K-12 public schools.  
• Free, Confidential & Independent Resource 
  • Individual support with information and informal conflict resolution
  • Training and Outreach
  • Policy Work 

How to contact the Office of Education Ombuds (OEO)? 

• OEO’s website: www.oeo.wa.gov 
• OEO Email: oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov 
• Toll free phone: 1-866-297-2597 (interpreter services available) 
• OEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WAEducationOmbuds/ 
• OEO on Facebook en Español (Spanish): https://www.facebook.com/OmbudsdeEducacion/ 

Back to School with a 504/IEP 

• The difference between a 504 and IEP 
  • Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act) 
    • Anti-discrimination law 
    • Definition of student with a disability is broad (any mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity) 
    • Section 504 Plans generally list accommodations a student needs in school.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”)
    • Special education law
    • Definition of child with a disability is more specific
    • IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) include areas of “Specially Designed Instruction” in addition to accommodations, related services, etc..

What Every Parent Needs to Know – Protecting the Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities (resource with info re: the IEP and 504 processes) 

• English: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/manual_students_with_disabilities.pdf 
• Spanish: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/manual_students_with_disabilities_spanish.pdf 

Tips and Tools for Families – Prior Written Notice (PWN) 

• English: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/FINALToolkit.PWN_.2019_01_31.pdf 
• Spanish: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/Prior_Written_Notice_PWN_Spanish_Notificacion_Previa_por_Escrito.pdf 

All toolkits from OEO and other resources: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en/about-us/publications-and-resources-families.

check out this resource! (also available in spanish)

Learn how to support your child’s educational journey. Click on a topic to learn more!

PAYING FOR COLLEGE PRESENTATION

PAYING FOR COLLEGE RESOURCES

• Legislative One-Pager
• How to find your legislator: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder
• How to find a bill by bill number: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
• How to be an advocate
  • Make a plan
    • Write a testimonial (use this template)
    • Plan to email, call, tweet legislators about your issue
    • Do this as a group to get more collective action
  • Attend WA Charter events
  • Sign-up to testify when there is a bill you support
  • Sign-up to receive action alerts and emails from WA Charters at https://p2a.co/fLl46Gf

• Legislative One-Pager
• How to find your legislator: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder
• How to find a bill by bill number: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
• Committees: https://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/CommitteeListing.aspx
• “I’m Just a Bill” |School House Rock! | Disney Shorts- https://youtu.be/_I_CMwj-j-k
• How to be an advocate
  • Make a plan
    • Write a testimonial (use this template)
    • Plan to email, call, tweet legislators about your issue
    • Do this as a group to get more collective action
  • Attend WA Charter events
  • Sign-up to testify when there is a bill you support
  • Sign-up to receive action alerts and emails from WA Charters at https://p2a.co/fLl46Gf