Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Contact

Rebecca Hunter, Principal
1380 Dawnville Rd NE
Dalton, GA 30721
(706) 259-3914
rebecca.hunter@wcsga.net

Parent & Family Engagement Policy and Plan for Shared Student Success

Updated August 5, 2026 — Dawnville Elementary will take the following measures to promote and support parents as an important foundation of the school in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:

Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish, posted on the school website, and included in the monthly school newsletter for all families.
Provide monthly trainings for staff during their planning periods on strategies to improve communication with parents and ideas to increase family engagement with reading and math activities for our students outside of the classroom. Staff will also share best practices during regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Partner with early childhood programs, middle and high schools, college and career ready resources or organizations, parent resource centers, or other programs (as applicable) to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning.
Share information in English and Spanish on the school blog and in the school newsletter for parents to understand the school’s academic standards and assessments as well as the ways parents can monitor their child’s progress and work with educators.
Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding schoolwide events and activities, through phone messages, social media, and flyers.
Work with our parents to develop relevant trainings and helpful presentations to educate our staff on the importance of parent and family engagement and how to support student learning.
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.
Use our Partners in Education and School-Community Team to improve awareness of the activities and events listed in the school parent and family engagement policy.
Offer literacy and computer classes for parents and family members to help further enhance their various educational levels.
Collect feedback from parents and family members at all events, place input cards around the building and post a suggestion form on the school website in order to respond to parents’ requests for additional support for parent and family engagement activities.

Resources

What is Title I?

Dawnville Elementary 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 the challenging State academic standards to improve teaching and learning for students. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement an include strategies to support family engagement. All Title I schools must jointly develop with parents and family members a written parent and family engagement policy.

School Plan for Shared Student Achievement

What is it?
This is a plan that describes how Dawnville Elementary will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning. Dawnville Elementary values the contributions and involvement of parents and family members to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan describes the different ways that Dawnville Elementary will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.

How is it revised?
Dawnville Elementary School invited all parents to attend our annual School Forum last spring to review and revise this parent and family engagement policy, as well as the schoolwide plan, our school-parent compact, and the family engagement budget. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this plan are welcome during the school year through an online form. The plan is posted on our school website for parents to view and submit feedback throughout the year. All parent feedback received during the year will be used to revise the plan for the next school year. We also distribute an annual survey online and by mail to ask parents for their suggestions on the plan and the use of funds for family engagement. Parents and family members can also give feedback during several parent meetings and activities during the school year including our annual Community Cares event.

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. Dawnville Elementary will provide full opportunity for the participation of parents and family members with limited English, with disabilities, and of migratory children.

Where is it available?
At the beginning of the year, the plan is included in the student handbook that is given to all students. As a reminder, we will email the plan to all parents in August before the scheduled Open House event. The plan will also be posted on the school website and social media. Parents can also retrieve a copy of the plan in the Parent Resource Center.

2026-2027 District & School Goals

2026-2027 District Goals

Goal 1: Maximize opportunities for career awareness and exploration in grades K–12.
Goal 2: Sustain a safe, positive, and welcoming school environment.
Goal 3: Continue to ensure information is effectively communicated to families.
Goal 4: Continue to support families with resources to further students' education.

DES School Improvement Goals
Dawnville Elementary administrators and teachers have studied our student performance data to determine the most important areas of improvement for our school.

Goal 1: During the 2025-2027 school years, DES will increase the # of students meeting their projected growth targets, in the area of ELA each year, according to MAP.
Goal 2: During the 2025-2027 school years, DES will increase the # of students meeting their projected growth targets, in the area of Math each year, according to MAP.

School–Parent Compacts

As part of this plan, Dawnville Elementary and our families will develop a school-parent compact, which is an agreement that parents, teachers, and students will develop that explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students, and teachers during the Community Cares event and the School Forum. The school-parent compacts also are shared with parents during parent-teacher conferences and kept with each child’s teacher if parents need another copy.

Parental Resource Center & Involvement

Parent Resource Center

Come visit the Parent Resource Center to check out books, study materials, and activities to use at home with your child. Computers are available for parents to explore the Parent Portal and educational resources. The Parent Resource Center is available Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm.

Parent and Family Engagement

Dawnville Elementary 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 play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.
That parents 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.
The carrying out of other activities as described in this plan.

Parent and Family Engagement Standards

Dawnville 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. These standards are:

Welcoming All Families
Communicating Effectively
Supporting Student Success
Speaking Up for Every Child
Sharing Power
Collaborating with Community

School-Community Team

Dawnville Elementary invites all parents to join the School-Community Team to share ideas and ways to involve other parents and family members to build partnerships with school, families, and the community. The team will meet at least four times during the school year, but parents and family members can also submit their ideas or suggestions at any school activities and meetings, as well as through our parent surveys and website. If you would like to learn more about the School-Community Team, please contact Rebecca Hunter at 706-259-3914 or complete the interest form and leave it in the Main Office.

Parental Involvement Events

Here are a few of the events that Dawnville Elementary will host to build the capacity for strong parental involvement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement.

Meet the Teacher - Parents have the opportunity to meet their child’s teacher, and receive information about DES.
Fall Festival - Join us for fun and games with your family. There will be snacks available for purchase from various vendors.
Fall/Spring Book Fair - Students will have the opportunity to shop during the school day and families will have opportunities to shop with their students as well.
Annual Title I Meeting - We invite you to view our Annual Title 1 meeting presentation. At this virtual event, we will be sharing about our Title I program, and parent requirements of the Parent/School Compacts. We will also be sharing information about our School Improvement Plan, & Family Engagement Policy. Invitation flyers will be sent home with students. Details will also be posted and made available on our school website, social media, & Class Dojo accounts.
Career Day - Students have the opportunity to learn about many possible career choices. Please let us know if you are interested in participating.
Valentine Dance - Join us for music, dancing, snacks and more. This dance is for Dawnville students and their families.
Milestones Information Meeting – Parents of third through fifth graders can learn important information about the Georgia Milestones Assessment.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Teachers will be scheduling conferences throughout the school year. Title 1 Documents will be made available for input upon request. We welcome your feedback.
Parent Input Meetings - Parents are invited to Parent Input meetings held at 2 different times of the year. Parents will be able to view important Title 1 documents, such as the, School Improvement Plan, School-Parent Compacts, Family Engagement Policy, in addition to giving input on funding for parent involvement activities, and more. We will also send out parent surveys during the year for those who cannot attend the input meetings.

We welcome parents to give feedback at each event.

Dawnville Elementary is committed to helping our parents attend the parental activities listed in this plan. Please call or email us if you need assistance with childcare or transportation in order to participate in our programs at (706) 259-3914 or rebecca.hunter@wcsga.net.

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