Definition of Family Engagement: Family Engagement is a full, equal, and equitable partnership among families, educators, and community partners to promote children’s learning and development from birth through college and career (Mapp, 2019). Family engagement is the shared responsibility of family members, schools, and communities. District and school leaders often consider family engagement a two-way process that begins in early childhood education, persists through high school, and occurs across multiple settings where children learn. 

Vision: We will effectively educate, engage and empower families to support the personal and academic development of all stakeholders to ensure access to opportunities for all members of our community. We strive to support all students enrolled within CMS Title I schools so that they may graduate high school, college and career ready.

Mission: Our mission is to empower families, educators, and community members supported by CMS Title I schools as partners in the life-long success of all students by empowering stakeholders with the skills, knowledge, and resources to be informed and actively engaged in our students’ education.

2023-2024 Title I Family and Community Advisory Council 

The Title I Family and Community Advisory Council works to engage and empower families and the community to build and exercise their agency in decision making and policy improvement concerning education and engagement in schools and at the district level. 

Goals:

1. Assist the district with improving its engagement practices, policies, and interactions with families and the community.

2. Support Title I educators with building the capacity of families to support learning at home.

3. Effectively advocate, express concerns, and provide perspective of students and families being served in Title I schools.

4. Support the cultivation of parent learning networks to improve student academic outcomes, social and emotional well-being, and essential school leadership skills. 

Who can join? 

Parents/guardians with students enrolled in a CMS Title I School and community partners that support CMS Title I Schools can join the Title I Family and Community Advisory Council.

Engaging Parents, Guardians and Families in CMS Title I Schools

The law states that parents in Title I schools:

• Must be a part of developing a written parent involvement policy that is distributed to all parents and the local community and announced at an annual meeting.
• Have a right to be involved in the planning and implementation the parent involvement program in their school.
• Can receive materials and training for parents and staff to foster greater parent involvement.
• Must have the opportunity to jointly develop, with school staff, a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and how the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state's high standards.

In addition, parents have the right to know:

• Qualifications of their child's teacher.
• Information on the level of achievement of their child.
• If their child is being taught by someone who is not "highly qualified" and will be in that position for four or more weeks.
• School's parent policy and have a right to have input in the decisions that are in the policy.

Questions? Contact Latisha Hensley, Director of Title I Family Engagement & Community Outreach at latisha.hensley@cms.k12.nc.us