6. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT/COMMUNICATION 

1. Communication Systems

1. 1. Snack menus are posted providing information on snacks being served.
   2. Daily activity reports let families know what children did that day and what the group is learning.
   3. Daily messages and communications are written on the classroom whiteboards and communicated informally to families as they pick up and drop off their children. Families also love hearing personal anecdotes about how their child’s day went during informal conversations at pick-up time.
   4. Classroom logbooks are provided next to the sign-in sheet where families can jot a quick note to the teachers about an earlier pick-up plan, vacation day, or any other reminder or message.
   5. Classrooms have internet connectivity, so teachers can easily send and receive email messages.
   6. A list-serve is established and maintained for each classroom (with email addresses for every staff and family member in the group). Only members (Child Development Lab families and staff) are allowed to join the list-serve, and any member is able to send messages to the group. Members also have the opportunity to UN-subscribe if they do not want to receive emails.
   7. Family-Teacher conferences are scheduled for approximately 30 minutes each, two times each year (1-Fall Semester and 1-Spring semester).
   8. Center’s Policy and Family Handbook are available and parental information and resources are posted by the family mailboxes in the front reception area.

2. Class Lists

1. 1. To facilitate interaction among families, class lists of all enrolled in the program are made available at the start of each new academic year and summer program. It includes names, addresses, email and phone numbers of each family enrolled.
   2. Families may ask to have any of this information kept off the class list by notifying the Director before the start of the program period.

3. Program Evaluations⁷⁸

Twice a year families are formally asked to provide feedback about the program by completing a program evaluation form. The feedback is extremely helpful in helping to evaluate the program’s strengths and weaknesses and it provides a way for families and staff to have meaningful input. Changes are implemented as necessary. Results are summarized and shared with families and staff.

4. Family Participation.

The Child Development Lab has an open-door policy. Families are always welcome.

Families may get involved in many different ways for example:

1. 1. Families may volunteer to do special activities in the classroom. For example, read a favorite story, lead the children in a song, play a favorite musical instrument, demonstrate a hobby or special skill, or share a cultural tradition or favorite food.⁷⁹
   2. Families may become involved with the children outside the classroom. For example, a family member may accompany the children on a field trip, invite the children to visit them at their place of work, and volunteer to make costumes for the pretend play corner, and so on.
   3. Parents/guardians may volunteer to serve on the Preschool Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) or Preschool Advisory Committee (PAC).
   4. Parents/guardians may serve as resource people to staff, sharing their expertise in areas such as computer, education, or child development issues.

5. Complaint Procedure for Families

1. 1. A family who has a problem or concern is encouraged to seek resolution of the matter on an informal basis. Any or all of the following informal channels may be used but the steps should be followed in order.
   2. A family normally should first discuss a concern with his/her child’s primary teacher or teachers if classroom or child-related or with the Director if administration-related. The family may request a special conference or meeting to discuss the concern in detail.
   3. If the discussion with the teacher(s) is not fruitful, discussion with the Director may be appropriate. In most cases, the Director will call a meeting of the relevant parties, facilitate discussions, and help to work out acceptable solutions.
   4. If the family has been unsuccessful in achieving a mutually satisfactory outcome through alternative (a) and/or (b) and believes the matter should be pursued further, the family must notify the Director that s/he intends to file a formal appeal to the Dean of the School of Human Ecology.
   5. In order to initiate the formal grievance, a written statement must be sent to the Dean of the School of Human Ecology within five working days of providing the Director with the required notification of intent. The Dean's mailing address is 2135 Nancy Nicholas Hall, 1300 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706.
   6. The statement shall specify the identity of the grievance, the facts and allegations relevant to the grievance and the relief sought.
   7. The Dean or designee may call a meeting and/or consult with the teachers, Directors, University officials and other persons involved as part of the resolution process.
   8. The family can expect a written response from the Dean. A copy of the response shall be sent to the appropriate Preschool Director.