Family Engagement

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.

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. 

APS will reserve greater than the required one percent from the total amount of Title I funds allocated for the 2026-2027 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 school improvement goals. 

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. 

404-802-7580 

Multilingual Services

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 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: 

• 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. 

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.