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Family Engagement

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Family Communication

Family partnerships are at the heart of helping every student thrive and succeed.

IDEA partners with families to build meaningful connections, create opportunities to engage, and ensure families have the information and support they need throughout their student’s journey.

Ways We Partner With Families

✨Family Workshops & Events
Opportunities to learn, connect, and build community.

✨New Family Welcome & Onboarding
Helping new families feel welcomed, informed, and connected from day one.

✨Community Partnerships & Resources
Connecting families with resources and organizations that support student and family success.

✨Family Voice & Feedback
Creating opportunities for families to share their experiences, ideas, and feedback.

✨Family Support Services
Resources and support for families experiencing unique circumstances, including foster care and housing transitions.

Ways To Connect

What you can expect from your school

We believe strong family partnerships help every student thrive. Our commitment is to keep you informed, connected, and engaged in your student’s experience—both inside and outside the classroom.

Your school will provide regular opportunities for you to stay informed, connect with staff, access important resources, and be involved in your student’s journey.

Your voice matters. We value your questions, ideas, feedback, and partnership. We encourage you to reach out, share what’s working, and let us know how we can better support your family.

Together, we can create a strong partnership that helps your student succeed.

Tools your school will use to communicate

Login to TEAMS to Start Learning on Any Device

Student Technology

Parent Communication Flow Chart

This is a tool to help you know who to contact for the specific issue you are trying to address. We commit to a 24 hour response rate and want you to feel you are connecting with the best person to answer your questions. If you do not receive one, please reach out to the campus School Counselor. Here is an example of what it may look like:

Click the image to expand! 

Family Communications Guide

Remind

Remind is a communication platform that allows the school to communicate with you and for you to use to communicate with the school staff. We utilize this app between the hours of 7am-7pm. We are committed to a 24-hour response rate. Please use this app to connect with campus staff via text or phone call. Please expect to receive more information regarding Remind as we get closer to the 26-27 school year.

Family Weekly

Every school will share a weekly newsletter with you called the Family Weekly. If you do not receive this, please contact the campus School Counselor. This newsletter is shared electronically via Remind. Please expect to receive a Family Weekly when the 26-27 school year begins. Here is a picture of what a Family Weekly looks like:

Social Media

Follow us on social media! To remain up-to-date on IDEA’s latest and greatest news, we encourage you to follow us on our national Facebook and Instagram pages. We also encourage you to follow your campus’ Facebook for specific campus related news and highlights.

Glossary of Terms

To help our IDEA families to get more comfortable with the IDEA culture and our frequently used terms, we have created this IDEA Glossary of Terms sheet! In no time, you will be using these terms on your campus and with your scholar!

Glossary of Terms

Parent Portals

Powerschool

STREAM

Title 1 Policies

IDEA Public Schools receives federal Title I funding to help ensure that every student (no matter their background) has access to a high-quality education. Title I supports our efforts to strengthen instruction, provide additional academic resources, and engage families as active partners in their child’s learning.

As part of this program, each campus develops a School-Parent Compact and Family Engagement Policy that outline shared goals for student achievement and family involvement. Families are encouraged to review these documents and participate in meetings and events that shape how Title I funds are used at their child’s school.

For more information, please review the attached documents below in English and Spanish. 

Title 1 Policy
Servicio del titulo 1

McKinney-Vento

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition includes those sharing housing due to loss or economic hardship, living in motels, hotels, or shelters, or those with a primary residence in a public or private place not designed for regular sleeping.

Key Components of the McKinney-Vento Definition: 

  • Lack of Fixed, Regular, and Adequate Nighttime Residence: This is the core of the definition. It means a child or youth doesn’t have a consistent, permanent place to sleep that is suitable for human habitation.  
  • Sharing Housing: This includes children or youth who are temporarily living with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar reasons.  
  • Living in Temporary or Emergency Housing: This includes shelters, transitional housing, motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to a lack of alternative, adequate accommodations.  
  • Living in Public or Private Places Not Designed for Sleeping: This encompasses situations like cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, and similar settings. 

Resources:

 

Contact your campus School Counselor, Social Worker, or Principal for questions or support.Â