Family Engagement and Title I
What is Title I?
L.O. Kimberly is a Title I school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is a federal program that provides funding to local school districts to help ensure that all children in district Title I schools meet the state's high academic standards. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parent and family engagement. All Title I schools must jointly develop with all parents and families a written parent and family engagement plan.
School Plan for Shared Student Academic Achievement
What is it?
This plan describes how Kimberly Elementary will provide opportunities to engage our families and enhance support for all students. Kimberly Elementary values the contributions and involvement of all parents to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. The plan describes the different ways that Kimberly Elementary will support parent engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.
How can families provide feedback?
Throughout the year parents and families are encouraged to provide input and feedback on the Parent/Family Engagement Plan, School Compacts, and other Title I funded programs. Parents will be provided with input forms when attending parent workshops and events. Parents are also encouraged to connect with the school's parent liaison to share any feedback and input they may have.
Who is it for?
All students participating in the Title I, Part A program, and their families, are encouraged and invited to fully participate in the opportunities described in this plan. Kimberly Elementary will provide full opportunity for the participation of parents with limited English, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children.
Where is it available?
We will provide a variety of ways for parents to receive a copy of this plan. For example, parents can obtain a copy of this plan by attending our Open House events, visiting the school website, and by checking your student's take-home folders. Parents and families can also pick up a copy by visiting our school's parent center.
Kimberly Elementary School Family Engagement Resources
Kimberly Elementary School-Parent Compact
The School-Parent Compact (SPC) is a written agreement between the school, community, and parents. The SPC provides an opportunity to create new partnerships between the school, teachers, and families. It explains what families and schools can do to help children reach high academic standards of excellence. This written agreement indicates how all stakeholders of our school community agree to share in the effort to raise student academic achievement.
Kimberly Elementary School Family Engagement Plan
Kimberly Elementary and our parents have adopted the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships as the school's model in engaging parents, students, and the community. The standards are:
• Welcoming All Families
• Communicating Effectively
• Supporting Student Success
• Speaking Up for Every Child
• Sharing Power
• Collaborating with Community
Parent Engagement Committee Team
The Parent Engagement/Communications Committee Team meets once a month or more if needed and is comprised of school staff and parents. The major responsibility is to plan parenting events with the help of the Parent Liaison and to promote our school through multi-media outlets (i.e., school website, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, school newsletters, YouTube announcements, Remind, and more). The team will share ideas and ways to involve parents/guardians/community members to build partnerships with the school. All parents can submit their ideas or suggestions throughout the school year. Please contact the Parent Liaison for additional information.
Kimberly Elementary School Goals
Our administrators and leadership team have studied our performance data and decided that increasing Reading/ELA scores on Georgia Milestones and improving school culture are the most important areas of improvement for our school.
During the 2026-2027 school year, the percentage of Grades 3-5 students scoring at the Proficient or Distinguished Level on the Georgia Milestones ELA assessment will increase from 29% to 49%, reflecting an annual 5% increase in the number of students achieving Proficient or above.
During the 2026-2027 school year, the percentage of Grades 3-5 students scoring at the Proficient or above level on the Math Georgia Milestones assessment will increase from the 25% baseline toward a long-term target of 45% by 2030. The school will work toward an annual 5% increase in the number of students in Grades 3-5 scoring Proficient or above.
During the 2026-2027 school year, the percentage of students with less than 10% of their enrolled days absent will increase from 67.3% to 81.9% as measured by APSgraphs (CCRPI calculation).
Literacy Focus
1. Phonics - letter and sound recognition
2. Read for fluency and comprehension
Culture Focus
1. Implement and monitor SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
2. Teach positive behaviors through use of Success Center.
Let's Build Together
Kimberly Elementary School will host the following events to build the capacity for strong parental and family engagement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement
All families are welcome to join us for all our school events. You will be invited to join us via our school website, flyers, email, Remind, blogs, newsletters, other media (Facebook, X, Instagram), and Robo Calls. Please be sure to stay connected to what is happening at Kimberly Elementary.
Summer Meetings
• Open House - Meet your child's teacher and the Kimberly staff
• Annual Title I Meeting
• Title I - Parent Workshop
• Parent University/IB Conversation
Fall Meetings
• Title I - Parent Workshop
• Building Capacity - School Staff
• Title I - Curriculum Day
Winter Meetings
• Title I - Parent Workshop
• Parent University
• Curriculum Night - Math & Literacy - GMAS
Spring Meetings
• Curriculum Night - Math & Literacy - GMAS
• Title I Spring Input Meeting
• Summer Academy
Parental Involvement
Kimberly Elementary believes that parent involvement means the participation of parents in regular two-way communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:
• Parents play a role in assisting their child's learning.
• Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child's education at school and home.
• Parents are full partners in their child's education and are included in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.
Kimberly Elementary is Branching Out!
Kimberly Elementary will take the following measures to promote and support parents in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:
• Ensure that all parents are invited to the Annual Title I Meeting at a convenient time for them at the school to explain Title I requirements and how the school participates in the program.
• Offer flexible meetings for parents Monday-Friday, as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 4:00 p.m. These meetings will be promoted through personal letters, telephone calls, website, social media, flyers, etc.
• Share information in parent-friendly language to assist parents/families in understanding the school and state academic standards and assessments. Information will be translated as necessary for parents who speak another language.
• Provide necessary materials and handouts for parents at conferences, meetings, and activities to help parents work with their child to improve their child's achievement.
• Provide parents with timely information, as well as allowing time for school staff to respond to parents' recommendations.
• Work with our parents to develop relevant trainings and helpful presentations to educate our staff on the importance of parent engagement.
• Use our Partners in Education and Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) to improve awareness of the activities and events listed in this school's plan.
• Offer literacy and computer classes for parents to help further enhance their various educational levels.
• Collect feedback from parents at all events, place input cards around the building, and post suggestion forms on the school website to respond to parents' requests for additional support for parental involvement activities.
• We will have Panther Talks, parent workshops that the school will host to support student learning at home.
District Family Engagement Resources
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.
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.
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
- Carry out other activities, as described in Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 APS opportunities to share their ideas and suggestions to help the district, schools, and students reach our student.
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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