Family Engagement

At the core of Atlanta Public Schools’ authentic commitment to Family Engagement is ensuring that each school campus is a warm and welcoming environment for students and their families.

The districtwide Warm and Welcoming Environment program will provide professional development and cultural competency to parent liaisons, front office and other staff who interface with students and their caregivers.

Family Engagement is also committed to “meeting students and caregivers where they are.” The home visit program will help to build relationships, skills and engagement at all levels; from pre-K to 12^th grade. This collaborative approach between teachers, families, and students can help to increase student success.

PAPAC, located in the Douglass Cluster in the John Lewis Invictus Academy, provides district and community based resource navigation for families in need and includes:

• Technology Center - Internet, Fax and Copy Services

• Creation Station - Project and career readiness supplies

• Community Based Resources (including Kinship Care, Returning Citizens Services and employment training program access)

• Parent Mentors (via the Office of Special Education)

• Meeting space at no cost for community based organizations

• Library complete with flash cards, books, interactive games and more!

The Office of Family Engagement has partnered with HTI Catalyst to provide Parent Leadership Academies (PLA) for our parents in the district. The Parent Leadership Academy, formerly Parent Leaders United for Students, is a six week program designed to show parents their power-filled potential as stakeholders through leadership development, navigating the district, identifying district resources and building community relationships for schools. These sessions are ideal for new parents, emerging parent leaders, GrandFamilies (Grandparents Raising Grandchildren) and Kinship Family members raising biological family members.