Parent and Family Engagement Plan

Kelly Myers, Principal

Website: https://hpes.mauryk12.org

Location: 1606 Highland Avenue, Columbia, TN, USA

Phone: 931-388-7325

Highland Park Elementary is identified as a Title I school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to the challenging State academic standards to improve teaching and learning for students. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family engagement. All Title I schools, in conjunction with parents and family members, must develop a written parent and family engagement plan.

Highland Park Elementary believes that family engagement success requires the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, ensuring:

• That parents play an integral role in assisting their child's learning.
• That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child's education at school.
• That parents are full partners in their child's education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making an on leadership committees to assist in the education of their child.

This is a plan that describes how Highland Park Elementary will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning.

Our goal in 2026-2027 is to increase proficiency on TCAP by 10% in reading and math.

Students will have equal access to a safe and healthy learning environment.

Highland Park Elementary will host the following events to build the capacity for strong family engagement and support a partnership among the school, families, and the community to improve student academic achievement.

• Title I Annual Meeting - July 30, 2026 5:30-7:00 pm

We invite you to an evening of learning and sharing about our Title I program, including our parent and family engagement plan and the school-parent compact. You will also be able to meet your child's teacher and learn about important grade level information.

• Parent/Teacher Conferences - Scheduled updates on your child's progress

• Book Fair - Fall and Spring Dates TBD

• Math Night - October 29, 2026 6:00-7:00 pm

Learn how to make math fun at home.

• December Winter Arts Night - December 10, 2026 6:00-7:00 pm

Come see our Chorus perform and students' art work will be on display.

• Literacy Night - March 4, 2026 6:00-7:00 pm

Learn how to make reading fun at home.

• Parent/Teacher Conferences - March 9, 2026 4:00-7:00 pm

• PreK Transition to Kindergarten Parent Meeting - April 2027

• Spring STEAM Well Rounded Night: May 6, 2027 6:00-7:00 pm

Come see our Chorus perform. STEM stations will be set up for families to explore.

Highland Park Elementary will take the following measures to empower and support parents and family members as an important foundation of our school in order to strengthen the school and reach our goals.

We will:

• Ensure that information related to school and family programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish; posted on the school website; included in the weekly school newsletters: and monthly Title I newsletters, for all families.
• Provide training to educate teachers, specialized support personnel, principals, and other staff, of the values families contribute to their child's education.
• Provide training to teachers, specialized support personnel, and other staff on how to communicate and work with families as equal partners, and implement and coordinate parent programs.
• Partner with early childhood programs and middle schools to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning.
• Share information in English and Spanish on the school website and in school newsletters for families to understand the school's academic standards and assessments as well as the ways families can monitor their child's progress and work with educators.
• Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding schoolwide events and activities, through Parent Square, our website, social media and newsletters.
• Collect feedback from parents and family members through surveys throughout the year in order to respond to parents' requests for additional support for parent and family engagement activities.
• Provide information on parent and family engagement programs and activities with other Federal, State, and local programs that encourage and support families to more fully participate in the education of their child: such as Center of Hope, TN Reconnect, South Central TN Workforce Alliance and Coordinated School Health.

HPES invites all families to join the Leadership Team to share ideas and ways to involve others to build partnerships with school, families, and the community. The team will meet monthly during the school year, but parents and family members can also submit their ideas or suggestions at any school activity or meeting, as well as through our family surveys. If you would like to learn more about the Leadership Team, please contact Jennifer Throneberry at 931-388-7325 ext.6467.

Leadership Team Meeting Dates:

• · Monday, August 10
• · Monday, September 14
• · Monday, October 12
• · Monday, November 2
• · Monday, December 7
• · Monday, January 11
• · Monday, February 1
• · Monday, March 1
• · Monday, April 5
• · Monday, May 3