Family

Natomas Charter was founded on the philosophy that families and schools should be partners in educating children. Families who get involved in their child's education make a difference and everyone benefits. Students achieve, schools improve, and families gain a sense of accomplishment because they know they've increased their children's chances for success. It is the hope of the Leading Edge staff that you will correspond with your child's teachers and find ways that fit your needs to add to the educational experiences offered at Charter. Charter wants your support and encourages you to be a partner in educating your child.

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Natomas Charter School's Family Involvement Guidelines for Site-Based Programs

  1. Each family must contribute a minimum of 30 hours per school year.
  2. A parent hours tally sheet will be sent home each month with the school newsletter. Families will receive a copy of their year-to-date totals monthly with their Charter Chat Newsletter.
  3. Hours must be entered on a tally sheet only and submitted by the 20th of each month. Keep a copy for your records. Hours will not be accepted after two months from the date of service.
  4. Parents should make every effort to work throughout the year. Families should complete two thirds, 20 hours, by February 27, 2004. Families failing to meet this deadline will be placed on a probationary status. Those families who fail to complete their 30 hour commitment by May 27, 2004 will have their contract revoked.
  5. All 30 hours must be turned in by May 27, 2004. If you have arranged to help with end of the year activities (those taking place after 5/14), please make a note on your last tally sheet. Include the name of the activity, the date, how many hours you will be working, and a signature from the staff member in charge.
  6. Ten of your 30 hours may be contributed through donations. Donations are calculated at a rate of $10.00 per hour. You may either pay for up to ten hours ($100.00) , donate $100.00 worth of items needed for class supplies, or a combination of the two. Attach your receipt to your monthly tally sheet and you will be credited 1 hour per $10.00 spent or paid for a total of 10 hours.
  7. Hours may not be transferred or given to another family.
  8. If you are unable to work during your designated time, PLEASE call the Charter Office and leave a message for the person expecting you.
  9. New students will have their hour obligation pro-rated (10 hours per trimester).

Examples of Approved and Unapproved Activities

HOURS GIVEN FOR:

  1. At home work for teachers = Length of time worked
  2. Baking = 2 hours per dish/batch
  3. Donations-punch/napkins/supplies = 1 hour per $10.00 (receipt must be attached)
  4. Class Manager = Length of time worked
  5. Driver-Job shadowing (2 or more students)= Driving time
  6. Car pooling(2 or more students)-field trips/after school sports/performances = Driving time.
  7. Theater help/supervision = Time spent on campus
  8. Lunch supervision = Time worked
  9. Video taping for teachers = 1 hour per program
  10. Meetings = Time spent
  11. Back to School Night = Two hours
  12. Office help = Time worked
  13. Telephoning = Time worked
  14. In class work = Time worked
  15. Fundraising = Time worked

CREDIT NOT GIVEN FOR:

  1. Student Shadowing
  2. Donations over $100.00
  3. Car pooling to or from school
  4. Driving your student only to or from an event

LEAP - Leading Edge Active Parents

The Leading Edge Active Parents Club meets the first Tuesday of each month from September through June at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose room. These meetings are the best way to keep up on the latest and greatest happenings in the Leading Edge Program. Parent support is needed for all of our many activities and events throughout the year. Meetings begin with a brief introduction and update. Parents then break into small groups to help plan upcoming dances, performances, etc. LEAP meetings are the best way to keep in touch with what's going on in your child's education and at the same time earn parent hours! Please come and add your energy and ideas. Below are just a few of the events that the parents make possible for our students and staff.

  • Charter Challenge
  • Study Lab
  • Colonial Day
  • Science Faire
  • Castle Faire
  • Frontier Day
  • Mummy's Tomb
  • Dances
  • Gladiator Day
  • Career Day
  • Author Day
  • Teacher Appreciation
  • Sports Day
  • Lots and lots of field studies and grade level trips

Your Rights Under the Law: The Family-School Partnership Act

Questions and Answers from the California Department of Education

What is the Family-School Partnership Act?
The Family-School Partnership Act is a California law that allows parents, grandparents, and guardians to take time off from work to participate in their children's school or child care activities. Authored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin when she was serving in the state assembly, the law (Labor Code Section 230.8) first took effect in 1995. Its provisions were expanded in 1997 to add licensed child day care facilities to the kindergarten-through-twelfth- grade levels included in the original legislation.

What opportunities am I offered under this law?
If the following criteria are met, you may take off up to 40 hours each year (up to eight hours in any calendar month) to participate in activities at your child's school or day care facility: * You are a parent, guardian, or grandparent who has custody of a child enrolled in a California public or private school, kindergarten through grade twelve, or licensed child day care facility. * You work for a business that has 25 or more employees at the same location.

How should I account for my time off work?
The law allows you to use vacation time, personal leave, or compensatory time off to account for the time you use participating in your child's school or child care activities. You may also use time off without pay if permitted by your employer. The employee, not the employer, chooses from the options that are available.

How can I take advantage of these opportunities?
Let your employer know in advance that you would like to take time off to participate in activities at your child's school or child care facility. Although the law does not say how far in advance you should inform your employer, it is likely that rules are in place at your work site about reasonable notice for planned absences. And, if your employer requests, you are required to provide written proof of having participated at your child's school or child care facility.

If both parents of a child are employed by the same employer at the same work site, does the law allow them to take time off together for the same school or child care activity?
The parent who first gives notice to the employer has priority for the planned absence, although the other parent may also participate if the employer approves.

Does the law apply to parents who work the night shift or only to those working the day shift? What about part-time employees?
All parents working full time, regardless of the shift they work, are allowed up to 40 hours per year. Because a night worker normally sleeps during the day when school is in session, that employee might ask for approval of an absence during the night shift in order to rest adequately for participating in activities at his or her child's school or child care facility. Part-time workers are allowed a proportionate number of hours. For example, half-time workers may take up to 20 hours a year. Teachers, even though they might work only ten months out of the year, are considered full-time employees and may take up to 40 hours per year.

What kinds of school or child care activities may I participate in with my child?
Under the law any activity that is sponsored, supervised, or approved by the school, school board, or child care facility is acceptable. Examples might be volunteering in your child's classroom; participating in parent-teacher conferences, Back-to-School Night, Open House, field trips, or extracurricular sporting events sponsored by the school, school board, or child care facility; and assisting in community service learning activities.

I am a teacher. Is my employer required to pay for a substitute teacher during my absence?
Because teachers generally get neither vacation nor compensatory time off during the school year, their only options under this law are time off without pay and possibly personal leave, unless their collective bargaining agreement provides for other alternatives. The school district would cover the cost of a substitute teacher through the salary savings gained from the classroom teacher's time off without pay. Check with your personnel director.

Does my employer have the right to refuse my request for time off to participate in activities at my child's school or child care facility?
Not if your employer has 25 or more employees at the same location. All such employers must comply with the law and allow you to take off up to 40 hours a year to participate in your child's school or child care activities. At least one of the options--using vacation, personal leave, compensatory time off, or time off without pay--must be provided.

My employer has an incentive bonus program for employees who take no unpaid leaves of absence. If I take time off to participate in activities at my child's school or child care facility, will my doing so count against me?
Although the statute contains no clear answer to this question, it seems reasonable that an employer would apply an incentive bonus program equally to all unpaid leaves of absence, regardless of the reason for the leave. Such a neutral application of the policy probably would not be considered discriminatory or retaliatory, particularly if employees account for their time off through vacation, personal leave, and so forth.

What should I do if I feel that my employer has discriminated against me for taking time off to participate in my child's school or child care activities?
Your employer may not fire you, demote you, take away your benefits, deny you a promotion, or in any other way discriminate against you because you have chosen to participate in activities at your child's school or child care facility. The law provides for civil penalties and compensation to the parents if such discrimination occurs. The law does not, however, give enforcement powers to a specific governmental agency. If you feel you have suffered discrimination, contact your local labor commissioner or consult an attorney.

Parenting and Family Involvement Resources

Please click below to get information on family involvement and parenting resources.