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.
2025-2026 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 your child’s progress at our school as well to define the role families play in being actively involved in your child’s education. If you have any concerns or suggestions regarding the Parent Involvement Policy, please contact Dr. Angela McShepard-Ray, Executive Principal, at [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, quarterly honor roll certificates, mail, and/or phone calls.
• We offer families the opportunity to translate communications in the Smore newsletter, our MLK website, and in the weekly principal callout. Other translations can be provided upon request.
• Families will be provided with 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 with 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 to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of your student.
• We will provide regular opportunities for general PTSA meetings for parents to support the school community.
• 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 monthly college planning workshops with our college counselor.
• We will host an annual Registration night for students and families on Advanced Placement classes and other programs offered at MLK.
• The PTSA will offer Parent Empowerment Workshops as appropriate. A workshop aimed at educating, engaging, and empowering parents to become active participants in their child's development. These workshops often cover topics like positive parenting techniques, communication strategies, academic support, mental health awareness, community resources, and advocacy. The goal is to strengthen the parent-child relationship and promote a supportive home environment that contributes to the child’s success.
Family Participation:
• We will collaborate with families to get 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 career-readiness, and to encourage family involvement.
• We will collaborate with families on prospective family engagement and outreach for funding and support.
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 encourage families to utilize in school and after school tutoring, Monday-Thursday, to support their child’s academic success.
• We expect families to work with MLK faculty and staff to build a strong foundation for the success of the whole child.
• We expect families to communicate any address, phone number or email change to the school.
Teacher Expectations
• Teachers will respond to emails and/or phone calls within 24 to 48 hours.
• Teachers will update grades weekly.
• Teachers will monitor support to ensure individual plans meet the goals of each student for academic success.
• 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.
The administration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School values your feedback. If there is anything that is contained in this document that you would like to bring to our attention, please do so by reaching our to [email protected]