Title I and Family Engagement
Frederick Wilson Benteen Elementary School Parent Center
The purpose of the Benteen Parent Center is to support and promote the Frederick Wilson Benteen Elementary School's and the Atlanta Public Schools' programs and services by proactively accessing the needs of parents, students, and faculty/staff while utilizing community and business partnerships.
Parents are encouraged to visit the center, regularly, to find information and to use the technology that is available to them. The Parent Center is open from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.
To request a meeting with the parent liaison or to use the parent center for a meeting, please complete the meeting request form.
APS Family Engagement Statement
Family Engagement Statement
The Atlanta Public School District (APS) works to ensure families are full partners in their child’s education. Family Engagement builds genuine relationships with families to support their overall well-being to include students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school. We believe when families are engaged and partnerships are created with a common focus, it leads to helping children grow and thrive. adopted from childwelfare.gov.
What is Title I?
Title I is a federal program that provides funding to local school districts to help ensure all children in Title I schools meet the state’s high academic standards. Title I, Part A provides for substantive family engagement at every level of a student’s education. Section 1116 of the ESSA contains the primary Title I, Part A requirement for schools and school systems is to involve families in their children’s education.
What is Family Engagement?
Family engagement is the participation of families in regular, two-way, meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, ensuring that they:
Assist in their child’s learning;
Remain actively involved in their child’s education;
Become full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision- making and on advisory committees; and
Carry out other activities, as described in Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Jointly Developed
The Family Engagement statement is jointly developed with families of children attending APS Title I schools. The statement is distributed at schools and on district and school websites.
Parents and Guardians may submit feedback about the statement by participating in the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey distributed each year via local school newsletters, the district website, and APS social media channels.
We Value Collaboration
Strengthening Our Schools
The APS Office of Federal Programs in partnership with the Office of Family Engagement provides technical assistance and support to all Title I schools on effective family engagement practices as well as Title I requirements. Schools are provided with resources and training to build the capacity of their staff, parents, and families. The Office of Federal Programs and the Office of Family Engagement conduct regular school visits to monitor program implementation and provide on-site technical support designed to enhance family engagement in APS.
Family Engagement Evaluation
The Family Engagement Office works with Title I schools to evaluate the effectiveness of family engagement programs through the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey, distributed each year via local school newsletters, the district website, and APS social media channels. Title I schools also gather feedback on their Family Engagement Plans and programs through ongoing surveys and the in-person annual Spring Title I Input Meeting hosted at each school site.
Reservation of Funds
APS will reserve greater than the required one percent from the total amount of Title I funds allocated for the 2025-2026 school year to carry out family engagement requirements listed in Section 1116 of the ESSA. APS will ask parents and guardians for feedback on using the one percent for family engagement activities by including a question in the district’s annual Family Engagement Survey. APS will distribute funds to schools based on poverty counts multiplied by a Parent Family Engagement per-pupil allocation. This method ensures priority is given to schools with the highest needs. APS will provide clear guidance and communication to assist each Title I school in developing and adequately utilizing Title I funds to support their needs assessments and family engagement programs.
Accessibility
In carrying out family engagement requirements, the APS Federal Programs and Family Engagement Offices partner with the Office of Multilingual Programs + Services to ensure information is communicated in a language parents and guardians can understand.
We Value Capacity Building
Building Capacity for School Staff
APS hosts regular training opportunities for school staff and principals that highlight Title I, Part A Family Engagement requirements. These training sessions focus on strategies to increase family engagement, improve school-family communication, create a welcoming environment, improve two-way communication, and build relationships with families and the community. Training sessions may be redelivered to school level staff to further enhance their capacity to engage families as equal partners in their child’s education.
Additionally, APS encourages school staff to attend local and national professional conferences on effective Family Engagement. Conferences provide an opportunity for schools to network with other districts and learn best practices in the field of family engagement.
APS Title I Schools use the Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) Family Engagement model. APTT is an evidence- based program wherein teachers and families partner to address academic goals through at-home learning activities. Training and support for the APTT model is provided through the Georgia Department of Education.
Building Capacity for Parents and Families
APS provides families with information about the Title I program in an understandable format, and to the extent practical, in a language parents can understand. Residential facilities in APS are included in Family Engagement correspondence and activities. APS works with Title I schools to help families understand:
APS collaborates with federal and state funded preschool programs within the district and locally. In the spring, schools host Kindergarten Round-Up, Middle and High School Transition Nights, and College and Career Fairs, providing information to families that helps prepare students for a smooth transition into the next stage of academic learning.
- Academic expectations for student learning and progress;
- Specific information related to family participation;
- The State’s challenging academic standards, local and state assessments, including alternative assessments; and
- Use of the APS student information system Infinite Campus, and other digital resources, including the harms of copyright piracy.
We Value Community Input
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Opportunities for Meaningful Parent Consultation
Parents, family, and community input is essential to the Title I, Part A Family Engagement program. All families are invited to participate in the following opportunities to share their ideas and suggestions to help the district, schools, and students reach our student.
BPES Family Engagement
What is Title I?
Benteen Elementary School is identified as a Title I school as part of 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.
School Plan for Shared Student Achievement
What is it?
This is a plan that describes how Benteen Elementary School will provide opportunities to improve parent and family engagement to support student learning. Benteen values the contributions and engagement of parents to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan describes the different ways that Benteen Elementary School will support parent 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 developed?
Benteen Elementary School invited all parents to attend our School Wide Planning and Budget meeting to review and revise this parental engagement plan, our school-parent compact and the parental and family engagement budget. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this plan are welcome during the school year through an online form. 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 and family engagement. 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. Benteen Elementary School will provide full opportunity for the participation of parents with limited English, parents with disabilities and parents of migratory children.
Where is it available?
The plan is posted to the school website, emailed to all parents, distributed at the Annual Title I meeting. Parents can also retrieve a copy in the Parent Resource Center located on the immediate side hall outside the cafeteria in room 99.
2025-2026 Academic Achievement Goals
APS District Goal
Academic Program
Our students will be well-rounded individuals who possess the necesary academic skills and knowledge and are excited about learning.
Benteen Elementary Goals:
All Grades - Literacy: Build the 45-minute writing segment into the master schedule. Use a variety of text sources to increase reading and writing fluency.
All Grades - Math: Identify and implement consistent intentional math best practices to increase inquiry and understanding.
School-Parent Compacts
As part of this plan, Benteen Elementary School and our families will develop a school-parent compact. It is an agreement that explains how parents, teachers and students work together to ensure that our students reach grade-level standards.
The compacts are reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students and teachers during the School-wide Planning meeting and in school forums.
Parents and teachers work diligently to create compacts. A copy of the school-parent compact brochure is distributed to every family.
Let's Get Together!
Benteen Elementary School will host several events to build the capacity for strong parent and family engagement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. First quarter events included our Annual title 1 meeting, Curriculum Night, and several Family Engagement activities. Future events will be posted on the school website and announced through flyers, emails, text messages and voice messenger.
- Annual Title 1 Meeting
- Principal Chat
- PTA Meetings
- Campus Portal and Computer Literacy Workshop
- Parent and Family Engagement Month
- Title I Parent Input Meeting
Future Events will be posted on the school’s website, and announced through take home flyers, email, text, and voice messenger.
Connect digitally with Benteen Elementary School on all social media platforms to receive updates on family engagement events!
https://www.facebook.com/BenteenElementarySchool
https://twitter.com/APSBenteen
https://www.youtube.com/user/BenteenES
Parent Center Information
Benteen Elementary School Parent Center is open and fully equipped with valuable academic materials and resources for parents.
Parent Center Contact and Hours
Monday-Friday
9:00 am-2:00 pm
Ms. L Salters
ljsalters@atlanta.k12.ga.us
404-802-7318
Parent and Family Engagement
Benteen Elementary School believes that parent engagement means the participation of parents in two-way communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:
- Parents play a role in assisting in their child’s learning.
- Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school and home.
- Parents are full partners with the school and are included in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.
- The carrying out of other activities as described in this plan.
Benteen Elementary School is committed to helping our parents attend the parental activities listed in this plan. Please call or email us if you need assistance with childcare or transportation in order to participate in our programs.
BPES School Parent Compact
What is a School-Parent Compact?
Our annual school-parent compact is a written commitment describing how all members of a school community—parents, teachers, principals, and students—agree to share responsibility for student learning. This compact helps bridge the learning connection between school and home.
Jointly Developed
This compact is uniquely developed to meet the needs and goals of our students. Parents, students, teachers and faculty members work together to develop our school-parent compact. Each school year, two meetings are held for parents, teachers, and students to compare the compact with school data to review our progress and assess our goals.
School and Home Communication
Benteen Elementary School is committed to providing regular two-way communication with families about student learning. Listed are some ways families can expect us to reach out:
- Parent Portal
- School Website
- Six-week progress reports
- Parent Liaison Newsletter
- Telephone messages
- Parent-teacher conferences
- Robo-Calls
- Email, Twitter, etc.
- Zoom Meetings (virtual platform)
Parent Outreach Opportunities
There are many opportunities for parents to learn about and engage with Benteen Elementary School. Please contact our school to learn about these great opportunities and more.
- School Events: Open House, Parent Workshops, Fall and Spring Title I Meetings, Information Day, Curriculum Night, etc.
- Parent Volunteers: Parents are welcome to volunteer in classrooms, especially reading and mathematics.
- Parent Teacher Student Conferences*
- Classroom Visits and Observations*
Parents may schedule conferences, classroom visits, and observations at any time by emailing the teacher or calling the school.
Parent Center Contact and Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00am - 2:30 pm
Ms. Lynne Salters
ljsalters@apsk12.org
404-802-7318
Academic Goals
APS Mission
Through a caring culture of equity, trust, collaboration, every student will graduate ready for college, career, and life.
APS Vision
A high-performing school district where students love to learn, educators inspire, families engage, and the community trust the system.
School Goals
Benteen Elementary School administrators and Leadership team have studied our performance data. Goals extracted from our school-wide plan are highlighted below. By the end of the 2025-2026 school year, we will:
- Increase the percentage of students who score Proficient and above on the Spring 2025 EOG in Math.
- Increase the percent of students scoring proficient and above on the GMAS assessments in ELA by 10%.
- Increase attendance with current 5th grade. This group had the lowest attendance as a grade level in the school
- Increase the ADA by at least 2% for students to support their academic achievement. Increase parent engagement by 30%
TEACHERS & STAFF
On Benteen Elementary School’s campus and in classrooms Teachers and Staff will:
- Provide critical thinking skills activities in reading/literacy for phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, decoding and comprehension.
- Provide the Accelerated Reader progress monitoring software.
- Provide information and family workshops geared to improve upon parent tutorial skills.
- Provide family meetings for feedback, workshops and events to help families understand and assist in decision making activities regarding school and district goals.
- Provide opportunities and an expectation for all students to engage with books across all genres and at multiple times during the day.
- Maintain a school library filled with print materials interesting to our children to foster engagement and love for reading.
- Provide opportunities for parents to engage in volunteering
SCHOLARS
At home and at school Benteen Elementary School Students will:
- Review academic progress bi- weekly
- Log homework daily in agenda, complete homework and do reading and studying outside of assignments
- Participate in Literacy, Science, Social Studies and Math Clubs.
- Excel in Math Facts i.e. Consider including all basic operations.
- Apply revising and editing process for writing.
- Utilize complete thoughts and sentences when speaking and writing.
- Read with parents and peers at least twice a week.
- Check out and return books from school and local library.
FAMILIES
At home and in the community Benteen Elementary School Parents and Families will:
- Develop a relationship with my child’s teachers at the beginning of the school year to bridge learning from school to home.
- Register and utilize Infinite Campus Parent Portal to monitor my child’s progress weekly.
- Ensure my child completes homework and all forms are signed.
- Ensure my child reads at home daily for (20) minutes with a family member or guardian.
- Monitor Accelerated Reader progress.
- Participate in Curriculum Night, Parent-Teacher conferences and at least 80% of family engagement workshops/sessions.
- Volunteer at school at least twice per month.
- Join the PTA and attend at least 2 meetings per quarter.