Family Engagement

White County Schools will welcome all families into the school community and encourage families to be active participants in the life of the school. It is the expectation that families are treated with courtesy and respect, as their input is valued. The district recognizes that families are diverse in the issues of culture, economics, language, and demographics. Family engagement activities will be planned to address a variety of concerns applicable to diverse groups.

Families and school staff will be encouraged to engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning and continuously work together to effectively strengthen their knowledge and skills. Schools will assist families in the monitoring and review of their student’s progress through an understanding of the state academic content standards and assessments. White County Schools will offer accessibility for the participation of families with limited English proficiency and families with disabilities. White County Schools will ensure that school related information is sent to families in a format and language that families understand.  The goal is for meaningful collaboration with all families in meeting the needs of individual students.  

White County Schools will assist schools in planning and implementing effective family engagement programs and in building schools’ and families’ capacity to support student success.  In order to foster family engagement, White County Schools will provide support that may include funding, materials, resources, staff development, family literacy training, and technological support to assist families in working with their children to improve academic achievement.  

White County Schools will ensure that families are informed and enabled to speak up as advocates for their own children, with the goal of students having access to learning opportunities that will support their success.  An Annual Survey will be conducted at the school level, allowing families to provide input specific to their child, with results analyzed to determine areas of needed improvements.  Parenting resources are included in school newsletters, school Facebook, and school/district websites so families can monitor their child’s academic progress.  

White County Schools will exert effort to identify the desires of families and will act responsibly when considering those desires. Through surveys, meetings, and/or personal consultation, a district and each school’s plans have been developed with and agreed upon by families of participating students and/or community members.  These plans will be reviewed annually and updated as needed and school plans will be distributed to families each school year through handbooks or annual meetings. In order to make families and school staff equal partners in the decisions affecting students and families, schools will conduct an annual evaluation through meetings and/or surveys.  This sharing of power will enable the school district to (1) determine the effectiveness of family participation, (2) identify barriers to greater participation by families, and (3) design strategies for the support for family activities, school improvement and revision of family involvement plans if necessary.  

White County Schools will collaborate with the community in coordinating and integrating family engagement with other programs, including Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten. Community and business members work with schools to assess needs, develop programs, and serve as a resource to boost student success. This collaboration will connect students, families, and staff to expand the learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation provided to the students in our schools.  Space for meetings will also be provided.    

Not less than 1% of the school district’s Title I allocation shall be reserved to carry out family engagement activities. Through surveys, questionnaires, and/or meetings, families of participating students will be involved in the decisions regarding the allocation of these funds.