Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Varnell Elementary School around blue and white colt

Contact

Paula Wheeler, Principal
4421 Highway 2
Dalton, GA 30721
(706) 694-3471
paula.wheeler@wcsga.net

Parent & Family Engagement Policy and Plan for Shared Student Success

August 7, 2026

Varnell Elementary will take the following measures to promote and support parents as an important foundation of the school in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:

Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish, posted on the school Web site, and included in the monthly school newsletter for all parents.
Varnell will educate staff with parental assistance, in understanding the value of working as partners by providing teachers, administrators, and other staff members with in-service training, workshops, and/or information that address techniques for reaching out to and communicating effectively with parents as equal partners.
Share information in English and Spanish on Infinite Campus and in school flyers for parents to understand the school’s academic standards and assessments as well as the ways parents 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 Infinite Campus, the grade-level newsletters, social media, and flyers.
Provide necessary materials and handouts for parents at conferences, meetings, and activities to help parents work with their child to improve their child’s achievement.

Resources

School Plan for Shared Student Achievement

What is it?
This is a plan that describes how Varnell Elementary will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning. Varnell Elementary values the contributions and involvement of parents and family members to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan describes the different ways that Varnell Elementary will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.

How is it revised?
Varnell Elementary School invited all parents to participate in surveys throughout the year to give feedback and help revise our current plan. Information gathered from this survey was used to revise our Parent Involvement Policy and our grade level Compacts. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this plan are welcome during the school year. The plan is posted on our school Web site for parents to view and submit feedback throughout the year. All parent feedback received during the year will be used to revise the plan for the next school year. We also distribute an annual survey online and by mail to ask parents for their suggestions on the plan and the use of funds for parental involvement. Parents can also give feedback during several parent meetings and activities during the school year.

Who is it for?
All students participating in the Title I, Part A program, and their families are encouraged and invited to fully participate in the opportunities described in this plan. Varnell Elementary will provide full opportunity for the participation of parents and family members with limited English, with disabilities, and of migratory children.

Where is it available?
At the beginning of the year, the plan will be sent home with every student. Copies of the plan will be available to our parents in the Parent Resource Center. Our plan will also be posted on our school website.

2026-2027 District & School Goals

2026-2027 District Goals

Goal 1: Maximize opportunities for career awareness and exploration in grades K–12.
Goal 2: Sustain a safe, positive, and welcoming school environment.
Goal 3: Continue to ensure information is effectively communicated to families.
Goal 4: Continue to support families with resources to further students' education.

2026-2027 School Goals

Goal 1: Our goal is to have a 9% gain in MAP reading from fall 2026 to spring 2027 in grades K-3. In 4^th and 5th grade, the goal is to have a 4% gain in MAP reading from fall 2026 to spring 2027.
Goal 2: Our goal is to have a 10% gain in MAP math from fall 2026 to spring 2027 in grades K-5.

School–Parent Compacts

As part of this plan, Varnell Elementary and our families will develop a school-parent compact, which is an agreement that parents, teachers, and students will develop that explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students and teachers during Meet Your Teacher Day, class meetings, and during parent-teacher conferences. The school-parent compacts are kept with each child’s teacher, posted on our school website, and a copy will be sent home with each child.

Parental Resource Center & Involvement

Parent Resource Center

The Parent Resource Center is available to check out books, study materials, and activities to use at home with your child. Call Beth Taylor for more information about what is available in our Parent Resource Center.

Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Parent and Family Engagement

Varnell Elementary believes that family engagement means the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including 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 and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.

Parent and Family Engagement Standards

Varnell Elementary and our parents have adopted the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships as the school’s model in engaging parents, students, and the community. These standards are:

Welcoming All Families
Communicating Effectively
Supporting Student Success
Speaking Up for Every Child
Sharing Power
Collaborating with Community

Varnell PTA

Varnell Elementary invites all parents to join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to share ideas and ways to involve other parents to build partnerships with school, families, and the community. The team will meet several times during the school year, but parents can also submit their ideas or suggestions at any school activities and meetings, as well as through our parent surveys and website. If you would like to learn more about Varnell PTA, please contact Paula Wheeler, principal, at (706) 694-3471 or complete the interest form and leave it in the Main Office.

What is Title I?

Varnell 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 must jointly develop with parents and family members a written parent and family engagement policy.

Let's Get Together!

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

Meet Your Teacher, August 2026
Annual Title I Meeting – Month of September/October
Parent-Teacher and Student Conferences scheduled by each teacher
Scheduled updates on your child’s progress.
Other various opportunities will be made available throughout the year

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