Anticipate these needs by speaking with parents directly. Action research indicates that if needs are anticipated through direct parent contact, instruments such as surveys, interviews, orientation, meetings and phone calls can all be used to conduct an effective needs assessment (School). In addition, plan “programs and activities early in the school year for parents and school staff to get acquainted in social situations, such as back-to-school barbeques…or other events where participants can step out of their roles as parents or teachers” (Wherry, 2009). Formal and informal communication strategies fundamentally enable Title I Parent Involvement Plans. By proactively seeking input from parents, schools are better able to understand and respond to the needs of their community. According to the Michigan Department of Education, a major factor of parental involvement in the education of their children is the parents’ perception that their school wants them to be involved”…