Family Engagement is Integral Part of Success at MLK
Our Family Engagement policy was developed in the Spring of 2024 with feedback from the MLK PTSA and teachers. All parents and teachers had the opportunity to participate in the creation of our policy. We look forward to partnering with families for a successful 2024-2025 school year.
2024-2025 MLK Family Engagement Policy
At Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School, we value families as partners in education. We know a close relationship with parents and guardians is vital for the success of all students. This policy was developed with MLK families to define the various ways in which we as a school communicate and provide learning opportunities to support their child’s
progress at our school as well to define the role families play in being actively involved in their child’s education. If you have any concerns or suggestions regarding the Parent Involvement Policy, please contact Dr. Angela McShepard-Ray, Executive Principal, at Angela.McShepard-
[email protected].
Communication with Families:
We will communicate with families through many different modes of communication
including, but not limited to, weekly Smore newsletters, weekly Evrits emails from
each teacher, the Remind app, weekly principal callouts, regularly updated school
website, quarterly progress reports, quarterly report cards, mail, and/or phone calls.
Families will be provided a login to Infinite Campus Parent Portal which allows parents
to access their student’s grade reports and attendance. Through this system, parents
can set alerts to receive notifications about grades and attendance.
Families will be provided a login to Schoology where parents can check grades,
coursework and due dates. Families can also set up notifications about missing
assignments through this system.
Meeting with Families:
We will offer both in person and virtual family meetings and trainings
at various times throughout the school year.
We host an open house at the beginning of every school year.
We will offer Parent/Teacher conferences every fall semester and when requested by
the teacher or parent.
We will provide opportunities for monthly PTSA executive board meetings with parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their student.
We will also work with the PTSA to provide family coffees/social events at MLK.
We will offer quarterly Freshman Forum and Sophomore Seminars by the 9th and 10th
grade lead, assistant principal, and a counselor to help support 9th and 10th grade
families as they begin their high school journey.
We will offer quarterly Parent Empowerment Workshops by the student support
services team on various topics that pertain to helping families support their children
in their education at MLK.
We will offer monthly college planning workshops with our college counselor.
We will host an annual Academic Fair night for students and families on Advanced
Placement classes and other programs offered at MLK.
Family Participation:
We will collaborate with families to get their feedback and insight on the School
Improvement Plan. MLK Families are an integral part of our school community and crucial
to improving our school.
We will assist students and families in successfully transitioning from middle school to
high school and from high school onto a college or career path.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School will collaborate with community
groups and business partners to improve student achievement, college and careerreadiness,
and to encourage family involvement.
Family Expectations:
We expect families to work with teachers to build a strong foundation for the academic
success of their child.
We expect families to ensure their child attends school regularly to meet attendance
goals and turn in an excuse note that falls into the approved excused absence reasons
set by the district.
Families need to send in a note within 5 days of the absence to get an excused absence. An excuse note from a parent or guardian is needed if the child is ill and/or a doctor’s note is needed if the absence was due to a doctor, dentist, eye appointment, etc.
We expect families to ask for and review their child’s progress reports and report cards each nine weeks.
We expect families to stay up to date on MLK weekly communications including: the
weekly Smore newsletter, weekly emails sent by teachers, principal callouts, Remind
communications and marquee.
We expect families to check Schoology weekly for their child’s grades and assignments
We expect families to enroll in after school tutoring, Monday-Friday, if their child is not
having academic success.
We expect families to communicate any address, phone number or email changes to the
school.
Teacher Expectations:
Teachers will respond to emails and/or phone calls within 24 to 48 hours.
Teachers will update grades weekly.
It is MNPS policy that teachers contact parents when a student is failing their class.
Family engagement means the participation of parents/guardians in regular, two-way, and
meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities,
including ensuring:
(A) Families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
(B) Families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.
(C) 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.