Who We Are & What We Do
Everyone benefits when parents and families are involved in their children’s education. Not only do students do better in school, but parents feel more connected, as well. The Department of Family and Community Empowerment offers programs and services for students to improve their academic achievement. We offer classes and training for parents and families to help them become academic partners with their children and to become more self-sufficient. We offer opportunities for the community to share their voice and partner to create stronger schools.
Every program and event we offer is meticulously aligned with the MIRACLES framework, ensuring a consistent and comprehensive approach. This framework guides our planning and execution, helping us deliver impactful experiences that align with our core values and objectives. The MIRACLES framework is a district improvement plan strategy designed to drive action for the strategic plan movement. This framework has a comprehensive approach to ensure that all students receive equitable and high-quality education. This framework focuses on eight key tenets. To achieve success, districts must build accountability systems that lead to continuous improvement. This work must be transpired in unison to support each other, and the MIRACLES framework provides a systematic and cohesive approach to this.
Our efforts are organized around five primary focus areas, each designed to address key aspects of our mission. These focus areas guide our initiatives and ensure that our work is impactful and aligned with our strategic goals.
Student Academic Support
According to Grace Chen, Public School Review: Parental Involvement is Key to Student Success. April 30, 2018. Research shows that students’ Academic Achievement increases when parents and caregivers are involved in their children’s education. The more intensively involved the parents and caregivers are, the greater the positive impact on academic achievement. Research also shows that parental involvement not only enhances academic performance, but it also has a positive influence on student attitude and behavior. A parent’s interest and encouragement in a child’s education can affect the child’s attitude toward school, classroom conduct, self-esteem, absenteeism, and motivation.
We are committed to supporting our parents and caregivers trough trainings and collaborations so that they can meaningfully impact their students’ academic success.
Parent Leadership & Advocacy Training
The Parent Leadership & Advocacy focus area provides DCSD parents and caregivers access to knowledge relating to student achievement, the workings of our school system, and skills in advocacy and educational support. We provide opportunities for parents with training and resources to grow, achieve, and empower greater levels of advocacy for children, schools, and community.
Family Friendly Schools Initiative & Volunteerism
The Family Friendly School initiative has been developed by the DeKalb County School District’s Department of Parent and Family Engagement to help schools create and maintain a positive learning climate. This initiative will engage families and build a positive relationship between our families and the school. This initiative will improve student academic achievement and strengthen the family-school partnership. It is our goal that all schools communicate “Welcome!” to students and families by creating an environment that is friendly, inviting, and culturally sensitive.
Family Friendly Schools Initiative Family Friendly Schools Survey Pop-ups (September – December 2024)
In the first semester of the school year, we will set up a table or tent at various schools and conduct a brief survey with parents on-site. Parents can complete a 5-star rating survey available in each school’s front office as they visit. The FACE Department will focus on days when parental engagement activities are taking place. All surveys will be conducted electronically.
Family Friendly Schools Survey Pop-ups (January – April 2025)
Evaluate the top 5 schools in each area using the Family Friendly School Survey, covering a total of 35 schools. Scores for all schools will be calculated and assigned a rating band. A point-based system will be used to rank the schools, which will help identify those eligible for the Family Friendly School Award. Schools receiving satisfactory or unsatisfactory results will be provided with guidelines to help their administration achieve a distinguished status.
Parent’s Personal & Professional Growth & Development
Parents’ Personal and Professional Growth & Development is designed to support and enhance parents’ education, post- secondary opportunities, and career advancement. Programs and resources provide parents the support needed to develop into lifelong learners as well as productive citizens. Parents will have an opportunity to participate in the district’s GED Support Program. This FREE program provides resources and GED test prep classes, tutorials, online practice skills, study guides, and practice tests in language arts and mathematics. Post-Secondary Education as well as Career Advancement opportunities offer support to parents and help enhance their professional growth & development.
Parent & Family Wrap Around Services
Our parent and family wrap-around services focus on supporting the mental, social, and emotional health & wellness of the entire family by strengthening parents’ capacity to overcome socioeconomic bearers and in-home challenges that negatively affect their children’s academic achievement.
We offer parents and guardians a direct line to resources, supports, and services to address their needs. In addition, we offer several interactive workshops, seminars, and town hall meetings to assist parents in building their capacity to better support their children.
The theory behind wrap around services is rooted in three (3) major principles:
- Students whose health & wellness needs are attended to will be healthier, more focused, and better able to learn.
- Families engaged with schools and supportive services will have increased capacity to support child learning.
- Schools, having additional systems for confronting social challenges that impede learning, will allow teachers and administrators to focus on instruction.
Our parent and family wrap-around services focus on supporting the mental, social, and emotional health & wellness of the entire family by strengthening parents’ capacity to overcome socioeconomic bearers and in-home challenges that negatively affect their children’s academic achievement. We offer parents and guardians a direct line to resources, supports, and services to address their needs. In addition, we offer several interactive workshops, seminars, and town hall meetings to assist parents in building their capacity to better support their children.
Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy
Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy addresses the challenge of achieving a strong connection between the district’s international and culturally diverse families. We recognize families of English Language Learners as a valuable part of school communities and the overall success of the schools. It is our goal to bridge communication gaps with our non-english-speaking communities and diverse cultures, by offering resources and information through several outreach platforms, communicate in their spoken languages and advocate on their behalf. We will accomplish this by ensuring that the following actions are taken:
Our first step in realizing this goal, is the creation of the Welcome to DCSD: Exploring Our School District, resourceful online program. This workshop series will assist the parents and their child(ren) in making a smooth transition into the school community. Also, it will equip them with the knowledge necessary to navigate new educational experiences and receive additional information regarding the supports available to promote the success of their child(ren).