DESE Parent & Community Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher notices that a student's parent never responds to emails. What is the BEST next step?
- Send more frequent emails
- Call the parent during the school day
- Try an alternative contact method such as phone or a note home (Correct answer)
- Report the lack of contact to the principal immediately
Correct answer: Try an alternative contact method such as phone or a note home
Using multiple communication methods increases the likelihood of reaching families who may not have reliable email access.
Question 2: Which strategy BEST supports family engagement for parents who work multiple jobs and have limited availability?
- Require attendance at all school events
- Offer flexible meeting times including evenings and weekends (Correct answer)
- Send home weekly paper newsletters only
- Assign homework that requires parental involvement
Correct answer: Offer flexible meeting times including evenings and weekends
Flexible scheduling removes a common barrier for working families and signals that the school values their participation.
Question 3: Under IDEA, schools must provide parents of students with disabilities with a written notice before:
- Sending home a progress report
- Initiating or refusing to initiate a change in identification, evaluation, or placement (Correct answer)
- Assigning a new classroom teacher
- Updating the school website
Correct answer: Initiating or refusing to initiate a change in identification, evaluation, or placement
Prior Written Notice (PWN) is an IDEA requirement triggered by any proposed or refused action regarding a child's special education services.
Question 4: A school wants to increase community trust after a period of conflict. The MOST effective first step is to:
- Host a school assembly for students
- Hold a town hall meeting to listen to community concerns (Correct answer)
- Send a letter explaining the school's position
- Launch a social media campaign
Correct answer: Hold a town hall meeting to listen to community concerns
Creating a forum where community members can voice concerns demonstrates a commitment to two-way communication and rebuilding trust.
Question 5: Which federal law requires schools to provide parents with information about their child's school's academic performance, teacher qualifications, and school safety?
- FERPA
- IDEA
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (Correct answer)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Correct answer: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA includes parent notification requirements about school performance, teacher qualifications, and other key information.
Question 6: When forming a school-community partnership, it is MOST important to:
- Identify what the school needs from the community
- Assess mutual interests and establish shared goals (Correct answer)
- Secure financial contributions first
- Invite only businesses with established reputations
Correct answer: Assess mutual interests and establish shared goals
Effective partnerships are built on shared goals and mutual benefit, not one-sided needs assessments.
Question 7: A bilingual student's parents speak only Spanish. The school must provide IEP meeting notices in:
- English only, as it is the official school language
- The parents' native language to the extent feasible (Correct answer)
- Both English and Spanish, but the English version is legally binding
- Whatever language the student prefers
Correct answer: The parents' native language to the extent feasible
IDEA requires that IEP notices and documents be provided in the parents' native language or other mode of communication to ensure meaningful participation.
DESE Parent & Community Engagement 2
A teacher notices that a student's parent never responds to emails.
What is the BEST next step?