256A.4 - FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS.
256A.4 FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS.
1. The board of directors of each school district may develop and
offer a program which provides outreach and incentives for the
voluntary participation of expectant parents and parents of children
in the period of life from birth through age five, who reside within
district boundaries, in educational family support experiences
designed to assist parents in learning about the physical, mental,
and emotional development of their children. A board may contract
with another school district or public or private nonprofit agency
for provision of the approved program or program site.
A family support program shall meet multicultural gender fair
guidelines. The program shall encourage parents to be aware of
practices that may affect equitable development of children. The
program shall include parents in the planning, implementation, and
evaluation of the program. A program shall be designed to meet the
needs of the residents of the participating district and may use
unique approaches to provide for those needs. The goals of a family
support program shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Family involvement as a key component of school
improvement with an emphasis on communication and active family
participation in family support programming.
b. Family participation in the planning and decision-making
process for the program and encouragement of long-term parental
involvement in their children's education.
c. Meeting the educational and developmental needs of
expectant parents and parents of young children.
d. Developmentally appropriate activities for children that
include those skills necessary for adaptation to both the home and
school environments.
2. The department of education shall develop guidelines for
family support programs. Program components may include, but are not
limited to, all of the following:
a. Instruction, techniques, and materials designed to educate
parents about the physical, mental, character, and emotional
development of children.
b. Instruction, techniques, and materials designed to enhance
the skills of parents in assisting in their children's learning and
development.
c. Assistance to parents about learning experiences for both
children and parents.
d. Activities, such as developmental screenings, designed to
detect children's physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral problems
that may cause learning problems and referrals to appropriate
agencies, authorities, or service providers.
e. Activities and materials designed to encourage parents'
and children's self-esteem and to enhance parenting skills and both
parents' and children's appreciation of the benefits of education.
f. Information on related community resources, programs, or
activities.
g. Role modeling and mentoring techniques for families of
children who meet one or more of the criteria established for the
definition of at-risk children by the child development coordinating
council.
3. Family support programs shall be provided by family support
program educators who have completed a minimum of thirty clock hours
of an approved family support preservice or in-service training
program and meet one of the following requirements:
a. The family support program educator is licensed in
elementary education, early childhood education, early childhood
special education, home economics, or consumer and homemaking
education, or is licensed or certified in occupational child care
services and has demonstrated an ability to work with young children
and their parents.
b. The family support program educator has achieved child
development associate recognition in early childhood education, has
completed programming in child development and nursing, and has
demonstrated an ability to work with young children and their
parents.
c. The family support program educator has completed sixty
college credit hours and possesses two years of experience in a
program working with young children and their parents.
d. The family support program educator possesses five years
of experience in a program working with young children and their
parents.
4. Each district shall maintain a separate account within the
district budget for moneys allocated for family support programs. A
district may receive moneys from state and federal sources, and may
solicit funds from private sources, for deposit into the account.
5. A district shall coordinate a family support program with
district special education and vocational education programs and with
any related services or programs provided by other state, federal, or
private nonprofit agencies. Section History: Recent Form
92 Acts, ch 1158, §4; 2001 Acts, ch 159, §4; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §8
Legislative intent; 92 Acts, ch 1158, §1