Family Engagement
- Family Engagement Statement
- Parents Right to Know
- Parent Compact
- Parental Involvement Policy and Plan for Shared Student Success
Family Engagement Statement
The Atlanta Public School District (APS) works to ensure families are full partners in their child’s education. Family Engagement builds genuine relationships with families to support their overall well-being to include students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school. We believe when families are engaged and partnerships are created with a common focus, it leads to helping children grow and thrive. adopted from childwelfare.gov.
What is Title I?
Title I is a federal program that provides funding to local school districts to help ensure all children in Title I schools meet the state’s high academic standards. Title I, Part A provides for substantive family engagement at every level of a student’s education. Section 1116 of the ESSA contains the primary Title I, Part A requirement for schools and school systems is to involve families in their children’s education.
What is Family Engagement?
Family engagement is the participation of families in regular, two-way, meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, ensuring that they:
Assist in their child’s learning;
Remain actively involved in their child’s education;
Become full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision- making and on advisory committees; and
Carry out other activities, as described in Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Jointly Developed
The Family Engagement statement is jointly developed with families of children attending APS Title I schools. The statement is distributed at schools and on district and school websites.
Parents and Guardians may submit feedback about the statement by participating in the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey distributed each year via local school newsletters, the district website, and APS social media channels.
We Value Collaboration
Strengthening Our Schools
The APS Office of Federal Programs in partnership with the Office of Family Engagement provides technical assistance and support to all Title I schools on effective family engagement practices as well as Title I requirements. Schools are provided with resources and training to build the capacity of their staff, parents, and families. The Office of Federal Programs and the Office of Family Engagement conduct regular school visits to monitor program implementation and provide on-site technical support designed to enhance family engagement in APS.
Accessibility
In carrying out family engagement requirements, the APS Federal Programs and Family Engagement Offices partner with the Office of Multilingual Programs + Services to ensure information is communicated in a language parents and guardians can understand.
Reservation of Funds
APS will reserve greater than the required one percent from the total amount of Title I funds allocated for the 2025-2026 school year to carry out family engagement requirements listed in Section 1116 of the ESSA. APS will ask parents and guardians for feedback on using the one percent for family engagement activities by including a question in the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey. APS will distribute funds to schools based on poverty counts multiplied by a Parent Family Engagement per-pupil allocation. This method ensures priority is given to schools with the highest needs. APS will provide clear guidance and communication to assist each Title I school in developing and adequately utilizing Title I funds to support their needs assessments and family engagement programs.
Family Engagement Evaluation
The Family Engagement Office works with Title I schools to evaluate the effectiveness of family engagement programs through the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey, distributed each year via local school newsletters, the district website, and APS social media channels. Title I schools also gather feedback on their Family Engagement Plans and programs through ongoing surveys and the in-person annual Spring Title I Input Meeting hosted at each school site.
We Value Capacity Building
Building Capacity for School Staff
APS hosts regular training opportunities for school staff and principals that highlight Title I, Part A Family Engagement requirements. These training sessions focus on strategies to increase family engagement, improve school-family communication, create a welcoming environment, improve two-way communication, and build relationships with families and the community. Training sessions may be redelivered to school level staff to further enhance their capacity to engage families as equal partners in their child’s education.
Additionally, APS encourages school staff to attend local and national professional conferences on effective Family Engagement. Conferences provide an opportunity for schools to network with other districts and learn best practices in the field of family engagement.
APS Title I Schools use the Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) Family Engagement model. APTT is an evidence- based program wherein teachers and families partner to address academic goals through at-home learning activities. Training and support for the APTT model is provided through the Georgia Department of Education.
Building Capacity for Parents and Families
APS provides families with information about the Title I program in an understandable format, and to the extent practical, in a language parents can understand. Residential facilities in APS are included in Family Engagement correspondence and activities. APS works with Title I schools to help families understand:
APS collaborates with federal and state funded preschool programs within the district and locally. In the spring, schools host Kindergarten Round-Up, Middle and High School Transition Nights, and College and Career Fairs, providing information to families that helps prepare students for a smooth transition into the next stage of academic learning.
- Academic expectations for student learning and progress;
- Specific information related to family participation;
- The State’s challenging academic standards, local and state assessments, including alternative assessments; and
- Use of the APS student information system Infinite Campus, and other digital resources, including the harms of copyright piracy.
We Value Community Input
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Opportunities for Meaningful Parent Consultation
Parents, family, and community input is essential to the Title I, Part A Family Engagement program. All families are invited to participate in the following opportunities to share their ideas and suggestions to help the district, schools, and students reach our student.
Parents Right to Know
Parent’s Right to Request a Teacher’s and a Paraprofessional’s Qualification Notification
Dear Parents,
In compliance with the requirements of Every Students Succeeds Act, Atlanta Public Schools would like to inform you that you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) and/ or paraprofessional(s). The following information may be requested:
Whether the student’s teacher—
has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
is teaching under emergency or another provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you wish to request information concerning your child’s teacher’s and / or paraprofessional’s qualifications, please contact your child's school.
Derecho a Conocer las Calificaciones Profesionales de los Maestros y Paraprofesionales
Estimados padres:
Conforme a los requisitos de la Ley para que todos los alumnos tengan éxito, Atlanta Public Schools a le gustaría comunicarle que puede solicitar información sobre las calificaciones profesionales del (de los) maestro(s) y/o para profesional(es) de su hijo/a. Puede solicitarse la siguiente información:
Si el maestro del alumno:
ha cumplido con la calificación y los requisitos para la licencia del Estado para los niveles del grado y las asignaturas en las que el maestro enseña;
está enseñando en carácter provisional o de emergencia a través del cual no se exigen los requisitos para la licencia ni la calificación del Estado y
está enseñando en el campo de la disciplina de la certificación del maestro.
Si son paraprofesionales los que le brindan servicios al alumno y, de ser así, sus calificaciones.
Si desea solicitar información acerca de las calificaciones del maestro y/o para profesional de su hijo/a, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo.
Parent Compact
What is a School-Parent Compact?
It is a written commitment describing how all members of a school community—parents, teachers, principals, and students— agree to share responsibility for student learning. This compact helps bridge the learning connection between school and home.
South Atlanta High School
800 Hutchens Rd, SE
Atlanta, GA 30354
atlantapublicschools.us
404-802-5000
P. Alexander Braziel, II Principal
Did You Know?
Parents, students, teachers and faculty members work together to develop our school-parent compact. Each school year, two meetings are held for parents, teachers, and students to compare the compact with school data to review our progress and assess our goals. This compact is uniquely developed to meet the needs and goals of our school and students. Parents can provide feedback on the compact at anytime during the school year. Please call (404) 802-5000 or visit our web site.
Parent Outreach Opportunities
There are many opportunities for parents to be involved and learn about South Atlanta High School whether through our parent volunteer program, our open door classroom policy or our Parent Resource Center. Please contact our school to learn more about these great opportunities:
- Hornet Parent University
- GO Team
- PTSA
- Open House
- Parent Teacher Conferences
Please call (404) 802-5000 to schedule an appointment with your student’s teachers or visit our website at SAHS and click on the Parent Resources link to learn more information.
School and Home Communication
South Atlanta High School is committed to providing regular two-way communication with families about student learning through the following methods:
- School Website
- Six week progress reports
- Parent Portal
- Robo-Calls Remind
- Parent-teacher conferences
- Google Classroom
School Goals
Increase the number of all students scoring Developing or above on the Spring 2026 Literature and Composition II End-of-Course (EOC) assessment from 41% to 46% overall by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Increase the number of all students scoring Developing or above on the Spring 2026 Biology End-of-Course (EOC) assessment from 44% to 49% by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Increase the number of all students scoring Developing or above on the Spring 2026 Algebra I: Concepts and Connections End-of-Course (EOC) assessment from 47% to 52% by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Increasing Literary Skills
As a teacher - I will provide on grade-level reading materials which will enhance vocabulary skills through reading. I will provide a learning environment that is conducive to student learning success by implementing literature circles, book studies, student-led book talks and provide more “read-talk-write” opportunities.
As a parent - I will continue to provide my child with various reading materials or an environment that is conducive to reading, studying and keeping my child focused. For example, the library, a bookstore and a quiet study area at home.
As a student - I will read more books, write more essays and poetry, practice learning the dictionary which will help to enhance my vocabulary. I will also utilize my teachers as a resource when writing scholarship essays and learn more about writing blogs on different topics.
Improving Math (Numeracy) Skills
As a teacher - I will offer more group projects aligned with interactive and engaging assignments. I will also implement on-going interactive and engaging experiences to connect classroom learning with real life situations and I will incorporate more student-led teaching and demonstrations to monitor comprehension of topics taught.
As a parent - I will take the time to educate myself on different math skills in order to assist my child with improving their math skills. I will ensure that my child spends an appropriate amount of time each week reviewing their math terms and skills.
As a student - I will study more and take more notes to increase my note-taking and study skills. I will also utilize the resources available to help with studying such as having a peer tutor and participating in a math study group.
Building Better Writers
As a teacher - I will provide more writing labs, one-on-one writing revisions and facilitate student-writing mentors as well as increased literary analysis for writing through text dependency. I will also facilitate meaningful learning that is aligned with the language arts curriculum.
As a parent - I will encourage my child to write more often by sharing an experience they’ve had at school, in their community or in the classroom with their teachers.
As a student - I will write more essays, poetry analysis and use the various different writing styles in my writing more often. I will educate myself on current events, learn about interesting topics and authors and write about something that I am passionate about.