Parent Involvement:

 Research shows that family engagement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents’ confidence in their children’s education. Students with involved families earn higher grades and test scores, have better social skills, show improved behavior, and have greater overall school success. 

The Toll teaching community recognizes the importance of the triad of collaboration between students, families and staff and encourages families to be actively involved in their child's education.

2023-2024 Toll Parent and Family Engagement Policy:

Statement of Purpose

Toll Middle School is committed to the goal of providing a quality education for every student.  Toll is also committed to the goal of establishing partnerships with parents, family and the community in order to encourage greater involvement and to promote high achievement by all students. 

The Glendale Board of Education recognizes that parents and families are children’s first and most influential teachers and that continued family involvement in the education of students contributes greatly to student achievement and a positive school environment.

Parental Involvement

Toll Middle School shall jointly develop with and distribute to families of participating students a written and mutually agreed-upon policy, which shall describe the means for carrying out all Title I requirements for family involvement. The policy will be in an understandable and uniform format to provide all families with access to information.  This policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of families and the school.

The school shall:

• Convene an annual meeting to explain the Title I program requirements to families and inform them of their right to be involved in the program;
• Offer a variety of meetings and use Title I funds to pay meeting-related expenses, such as child care, transportation or home visits;
• Involve parents and families, “in an organized, ongoing, and timely way,” in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs, including the family engagement policy and development of the school site plan;
• Provide timely information in any required translations about Title I programs for parents/families, describe the curricula, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and proficiency levels students are expected to meet;
• Provide opportunities for regular meetings where parents/families can provide input on decisions relating to the education of children, and provide timely response to suggestions; 
• Promote family participation in programs for unduplicated pupils and special needs subgroups;
• Provide parents/families with an opportunity to submit dissenting views to the district if the school’s schoolwide program plan is not acceptable to them.

• Provide advice on all matters related to family engagement in funded programs.

Opportunities for Involvement for the 2023-2024 School Year:

School Level:

1.  Annual Title I Meeting: Toll is a Title 1 school due to meeting minimum requirements of students receiving free and reduced lunch.  The annual Title 1 meeting reviews the requirements and provides information about the services provided by these funds.

2.  School Site Council/English Language Advisory Committee Meetings: The purpose of the SSC/ELAC is to serve as the school community representative body.  The committee includes representation from administration, teachers, parents, students and other staff members. The purpose of the committee is to annually review student assessment data, advise on decisions regarding academic achievement goals, annually update and revise the school plan to align with the academic goals, and monitor the implementation of the goals and the budget.  All are welcome to attend meetings.  Translation services are provided upon request.   

3. English Learners Celebration and ELPAC Meetings:  The Teacher Specialist holds meetings during the year to celebrate English Language Learners at Toll.  The students are chosen by their ELD teachers for stellar performance and effort in English Language Development.  Celebrations are followed by a meeting where parents learn about the ELD Program, assessment, and ways to help English Language Learners.  Guest speakers are invited, including the Principal.  These meetings are to connect new and old parents at Toll.  In addition, the meetings establish an effective way to maintain communication with the principal and other parents regarding monthly happenings and various additional topics important to Toll. All meetings will take place at 7:30 AM at Toll Middle School.  

4.  Student of the Month: Each month, Toll staff recognize students from each core/department/elective which exemplify the Toll tenets of being Collaborative, Attentive, Respectful, and Engaged. Several students are honored each month in the auditorium at 7:30 AM. Families are invited to observe students awarded with a certificate and pin for this achievement.

5.  PTA and Foundation Events:   For events for the current year, please see the PTA and Foundation calendars.

District Level:

*Please visit gusd.net to see most up-to-to-date opportunities for parent involvement