2026-27 JCSS Family Engagement Plan

JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 2026-27 Parent and Family Engagement Plan

Revised 6/15/2026

What Is Title 1?

Title I is a federal program that provides additional resources and support to help students meet challenging academic standards and succeed in school.

Jackson County School System receives Title I funds to support student learning and strengthen partnerships between schools and families.

Why Does Title I Include Family Engagement?

This Parent and Family Engagement Plan explains how Jackson County School System will meet that requirement. Research shows that students do better when families and schools work together. Because of this, Title I requires districts and schools to provide meaningful opportunities for families to be involved in their children's education.

What Does This Plan Include?

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This plan describes how the district will: Involve families in developing and reviewing district and school improvement plans Provide opportunities for family input and feedback Build the capacity of families and staff to support student success Strengthen communication between schools and families Provide accessible information and resources for all families Evaluate family engagement efforts and make improvements each year

How Can Families Get Involved?

Families can support student success by: Attending family engagement events and meetings Participating in surveys and stakeholder input opportunities Serving on advisory groups and committees Communicating regularly with teachers and school staff Supporting learning at home

Sharing ideas and feedback to help improve our schools

What is Family Engagement?

Family engagement is the meaningful involvement of parents and family members in their child's education through regular, two-way communication and active participation in learning and school activities.

Throughout this plan, the term families includes parents, guardians, and other adults responsible for a child's care and educational well-being.

What Family Engagement Looks Like in JCSS Support Learning At Home

Being Involved In Education

Families play an important role in helping their children learn and succeed.

Families are encouraged to participate in school activities and their child's education.

Sharing Ideas and Making Decisions

Working Together for Student Success

Families are valued partners whose input helps shape school and district decisions.

Families, schools, and communities collaborate to support student achievement.

How Families Help Shape Decisions Your Voice Matters Jackson County School System believes families are important partners in education. Parents and family members are encouraged to share ideas, provide feedback, and participate in decisions that support student success.

The district values family input and uses feedback to improve programs, services, and opportunities for students and families.

Opportunities To Share Your Input Family feedback helps guide decisions about family engagement activities, district improvement efforts, and the use of Title I funds.

Throughout the year, families may provide feedback through: Meetings Surveys Advisory groups Events and workshops Communication with school and district staff Family Involvement in Planning Families are invited to participate in the development, review, and revision of: The District Parent and Family Engagement Plan The Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP) School Improvement Plans School Parent and Family Engagement Plans School-Parent Compacts If the district's Title I plan is not satisfactory to parents of participating students, parent comments will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Education along with the district plan.

Parent Advisory Opportunities The Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy (VILLA) serves as Jackson County School System's Parent Advisory Council for Title I programs. VILLA members work alongside district staff to: Review family engagement programs and activities Community partners and business Provide feedback on district and school plans leaders may also be invited to Share family perspectives and recommendations participate in discussions that Support communication between schools and families support student success.

How Families Help Shape Decisions Title I Family Engagement Funds Each year, Jackson County School System reserves a portion of its Title I funds to support family engagement activities and programs. Families are invited to provide input on how these funds are used to support family engagement opportunities, resources, and services at Title I schools.

Building Capacity For Families Helping Families Support Learning Jackson County School System is committed to helping families become active partners in their children's education. Throughout the school year, Title I schools provide information, training, and resources to help families support learning at home and stay informed about their children's academic progress.

Topics may include: Georgia Standards of Excellence State and local assessments Understanding student achievement reports Monitoring academic progress Supporting reading and math at home Using educational technology and digital resources Understanding Title I programs and services Working with teachers to support student success

Resources and Learning Opportunities

Families are invited to participate in a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year.

These opportunities may include: Family engagement nights Academic workshops Literacy and math events Technology training sessions Parent resource materials Family learning activities Information about upcoming events will be shared through ParentSquare, school websites, social media, and other district communication channels.

Supporting Early Learning and Student Transitions The district works with community organizations and early learning programs to help children and families prepare for success in school.

Support may include: Kindergarten registration and transition events Early learning resources for families Partnerships with local preschool programs Ferst Readers book distribution program Resources for English Learner and Migrant families Family events that connect families with school and community resources By working together, families, schools, and community partners can help students build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Building Capacity For Schools & Staff Partnering With Families For Student Success Jackson County School System recognizes that strong family-school partnerships contribute to student success. The district supports professional learning opportunities that help school staff build positive relationships with families and create welcoming school environments.

Professional Learning for School Staff The district supports and funds professional learning opportunities for principals, teachers, family engagement staff, and other school personnel.

Professional learning may focus on: The value of family engagement Effective school-family communication Building trusting relationships with families Working with families as equal partners Creating welcoming and inclusive school environments Responding to family questions and concerns Supporting student learning through family partnerships Understanding Title I family engagement requirements

“Jackson County School System recognizes that strong familyschool partnerships contribute to student success.”

Supporting Effective Family Engagement Practices The district supports schools in implementing effective family engagement practices by: Supporting compliance with Title I requirements Sharing resources and best practices Reviewing programs and practices to support continuous improvement and positive outcomes for students and families

Communication, Accountability & Family Support Keeping Families Informed Jackson County School System is committed to providing families with timely, accurate, and meaningful information about their children's education and opportunities for involvement.

Families can expect regular communication regarding: Student learning and academic progress School programs and activities Family engagement opportunities Important district and school updates Meetings, workshops, and events How We Communicate Schools and the district use a variety of communication methods to share information with families, including: ParentSquare District and school websites Social media platforms Emails, phone calls, and text messages Flyers, newsletters, and printed materials Parent-teacher conferences and meetings These communication tools ensure families stay informed and connected to their child's school.

Accessible Communication for All Families Jackson County School System is committed to providing information in a format and language that families can understand.

To the extent practicable, the district and schools will provide: Translated documents and communications Interpretation services for meetings and events Information in alternative formats upon request Assistance for families with disabilities Support for families with limited English proficiency Families who need language assistance or accommodations are encouraged to contact their children's school.

Supporting Family Participation The district strives to remove barriers that may prevent families from participating in school activities and meetings.

When feasible and allowable, schools may provide: Flexible meeting times Virtual participation options Multiple opportunities for input and feedback Assistance connecting families with school and community resources The district is committed to creating welcoming environments where all families feel valued, respected, and encouraged to participate.

Parent and Family Engagement Evaluation Continuous Improvement

Annual family engagement surveys School Stakeholder Input Meetings Federal Programs Input Meetings Advisory groups and committees School and district communication channels

REVIEW THE DATA

Family feedback plays an important role in helping the district identify strengths, needs, and opportunities for improvement.

The district reviews family feedback and other data to identify: Barriers that may prevent families from participating in school activities and events The needs of families as they support student learning at home Ways to strengthen communication and partnerships between families and schools Opportunities to increase family participation and engagement

PLAN IMPROVEMENTS

GATHER FEEDBACK

Jackson County School System values feedback from families and uses that feedback to strengthen family engagement and improve student success. Each year, the district conducts an evaluation of its Parent and Family Engagement Plan and family engagement activities to determine their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

The district uses evaluation results to: Improve family engagement programs and activities Develop strategies to increase participation Address barriers identified by families Improve communication and accessibility Revise district and school family engagement plans when needed By listening to families and making continuous improvements, Jackson County School System can better support students, families, and schools.

Rights, Resources & Contacts Parent Right-to-Know Parents of students attending Title I schools have the right to request information about the professional qualifications of their child's teachers and paraprofessionals.

Upon request, parents may receive timely information about the qualifications of their child's teachers and paraprofessionals, including: Teacher certification and qualifications Whether a teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional certification Whether a teacher is teaching in the field of their certification Qualifications of paraprofessionals providing services to their child

Parent Rights and Complaint Procedures The Jackson County School System values parent input and encourages parents to share concerns, questions, and suggestions. Parents who believe federal Title I requirements have not been met may file a complaint in accordance with Georgia Department of Education procedures. Information about Title I complaint procedures is available on the district and school websites or by contacting the Federal Programs Office.

Accessing This Plan The Parent and Family Engagement Plan is available to all families of participating Title I students.

The plan will be: Posted on the district website Shared with families through district communication channels Available in print upon request To the extent practicable, information will be provided in a language and format families can understand.

Rights, Resources & Contacts Annual Review and Revision This plan is reviewed annually with input from parents, family members, school staff, and community stakeholders. Feedback collected through surveys and other engagement opportunities is used to update and improve the plan each year. If the district's Title I plan is not satisfactory to parents of participating students, parent comments will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Education along with the district plan.

Adoption of the Plan This Parent and Family Engagement Plan was developed jointly with parents and family members of students participating in Title I programs. The plan was adopted by Jackson County School System in June 2026 and will remain in effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Contact Information For questions about Title I programs or family engagement opportunities, please contact: Federal Programs Office Jackson County School System Phone: 706-367-5151, etc. 17341 Email: susan.selby@jcss.us