Beach High School Family Engagement Policy

A Parent and Family Engagement Policy is a plan that describes how Beach High School will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning.  We value the contributions and involvement of families to establish  an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement.  This plan describes the different ways that the school will support family engagement and how families can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home (Section 1116) of  the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

The Family Engagement Policy will be distributed to all families at the beginning of the school year through student communication folders. Additionally, copies are available in the Family Center, where you may also view it and provide feedback. The Policy will also be posted on the school’s website and shared at the Annual Title I meeting.

The following actions were taken to involve parents/guardians in the joint development of  school-parent/family compacts that outline how school staff, parents/guardians, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high standards:

• An invitation to attend the Annual Title I Family Forum was sent to parents in the spring of the previous school year, offering parents/guardians the opportunity to help plan for the upcoming school year.
• A final Family Engagement Policy and School-Family Compact(s), with all of the feedback incorporated, will be posted on school website, presented at fall Annual Title I meeting, sent home with all students to serve as an agreement between the school, parents, and students of the shared responsibility for improving student achievement.

Beach High School is identified as a Title I school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to challenging state academic standards and reinforce and enhance efforts to improve teaching and learning for students.  Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family involvement. All Title I schools must jointly develop a written family engagement policy with all families . 

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 policy.  The school will provide opportunities for the participation of families with limited English, disabilities, and families of migratory children. 

The staff at Beach High School recognizes that the education of students is a responsibility shared with, administrators, teachers, parents, and the community. Maximum learning occurs when parents are actively involved and supportive of the education of their children.  In an effort to enhance and expand parental involvement at the school level, parents will be invited to attend several meetings throughout the year in order to provide input in the planning, the review and the improvement of school-wide Title I programs.

In order to provide parents/guardians with continuous communication, opportunities for input, and to increase family engagement, the following mandatory Title I family meetings will be held each academic school year:

• Title I Annual Meeting (Fall) – Introduces the School/Family Compacts, the Family Engagement Policy, the Title I budget, and the School Improvement Plan. Information about the school’s curriculum, assessments, and other important information is also shared at this meeting.
• Family Forum (Spring) – Provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to provide input on School Improvement Planning, the Family Engagement Budget, the Family Engagement Policy,  the School-Parent/Family Compact, and staff training .

As part of our family engagement plan, Beach High School and our families develop a school-parent/family compact, which is an agreement that explains how parents/families and teachers will work together to make sure students reach grade-level standards. The compacts are reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students, and teachers during Title I Annual Meeting and from the Annual Family Engagement Survey. The school-parent/family compacts also are reviewed with families during parent-teacher conferences.

1% set-aside for parent and family engagement activities

Each year, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System reserves 1% from the total amount of the Title I, Part A funds it receives to carry out family engagement requirements.

Accessibility

In carrying out the parent and family engagement requirements established by Section 1116 of the ESSA, the district family engagement coordinator will communicate and collaborate with the Office for Student Support Services to ensure full opportunities for participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children including providing information and school reports in a language parents can understand.

SCCPSS District Goals:

Goal 1: Promote the development of foundational skills and expand early learning opportunities.

Goal 2: Advance proficiency in literacy and numeracy through high quality instruction and support for diverse learners.

Goal 3: Enhance learning opportunities to develop the critical thinking and interpersonal skills needed for workforce development and college readiness.

Goal 4: Provide high quality support and services for whole child development.

 Beach High School Goals:

Goal 1: Increase the percentage of developing or higher learners from 56% to 59% on the American Lit Georgia Milestone Assessments (GMAS), from 51% to 54% on the Algebra 1 GMAS, from 41% to 43% on the Biology GMAS and from 50% to 53% on the US History GMAS by May 2024.

Goal 2: Increase the percentage of students reading on/above Grade Level from 45% to 49% as measured by the American Lit Georgia Milestones Assessment by May 2024.

Goal 3: Increase Graduation Rate from 76.7% to 79.7% by June of 2024.

Beach High School believes that family engagement means the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

• That parents/families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
• That parents/families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.
• That parents/families are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.

HOURS: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Come visit the Family Resource Center to check out books, study materials, and activities to use at home with your child. Computers are available for parents to log into PowerSchool/Parent Access and explore educational resources.

If you need support, please reach out to our Family Engagement Facilitator/Family Community Resource Coordinator: Mrs. Lakeesha Mann, 912-395-5330, Lakeesha.mann@sccpss.com