GCA’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy is our Plan for Shared Student Achievement which describes how GCA will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning. GCA values the contributions and involvement of parents, Learning Coaches, and family members to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This policy describes the different ways that GCA will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and outside of the virtual classroom.

GCA invited all parents to attend our Title I Family Engagement End of Year Review & Input Meeting last spring to review and provide input on our Family Engagement Policy as well as our School-Parent Compacts, and our family engagement budget. We also distributed our annual survey online to all families to ask parents for their suggestions on the policy, School-Parent Compacts, and the use of funds for family engagement. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this policy are welcomed throughout the school year through focus groups, survey feedback, email feedback, online meetings, and phone calls. The policy is posted on our website for families to view and submit feedback throughout the year. Parents and family members are also welcomed to give feedback during parent meetings provided throughout the school year. The Family School Partnership Coordinators reviews feedback annually to provide revisions for the Family Engagement Policy. We welcome Learning Coach, parent, and family feedback. If you would like to provide feedback, please email Michelle Gilyard, Family School Partnerships Coordinator at  mgilyard@georgiacyber.org . All parent feedback received during the current school year will be used to revise the plan for the following school year.

At the beginning of the year, the policy is emailed to all families by the Family School Partnership Coordinators. The policy is also provided in our Annual Title I Meeting, and is available on our website https://www.georgiacyber.org/parents/title-i-program

GCA will reserve 1% from the total amount of Title I funds to carry out parent and family engagement requirements.  Furthermore, at least 90% of the 1% will be reserved to support family engagement programs and activities. Family engagement programs and activities are to ensure that parents are provided opportunities and experiences that enable them to promote high student academic achievement and be involved in an effective partnership with the school.

GCA coordinates and integrates parent and family engagement strategies with the Georgia Department of Education through ongoing collaborations and continuing education. GCA is proud to have contributed to the Georgia Department of Education by providing technical assistance to the 2017-2019 Family-Friendly Partnership Schools Cohort.

Ongoing staff professional development is provided district wide by the Family School Partnership Coordinators to strengthen our staff’s family engagement practices. Some of the topics that will be covered are best practices in the value and utility of contributions of parents; how to effectively reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners; how we implement and coordinate parent programs; how to provide information in a language that parents can understand; and how to build ties between parents and the school. Parents are asked to participate and provide feedback on staff family engagement professional development. 

GCA staff and parents/learning coaches work collaboratively to develop the School-Parent Compacts as part of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy. This compact outlines how parents/learning coaches, school, staff, and students share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and how the school and parents/learning coaches will build and develop a partnership to help students achieve the state's high standards.  Copies of the School-Parent Compacts are located on our website: https://www.georgiacyber.org/parents/title-i-program

In carrying out the parent and family engagement requirements established by Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Family School Partnership Coordinators will communicate and collaborate with the Title III Coordinator, Transitional Support Liaisons, and Student Support Services Team to ensure opportunities for participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents of migratory children, and parents with disabilities are provided information and school reports in a language parents can understand.

The GCA Annual Parent Survey is conducted each spring to evaluate the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy and programming in improving the academic quality of our school.  The survey is also used to identify barriers to greater participation by parents and to identify the needs of parents in how they can further assist with the learning of their student. Results from this survey are used in the planning of future parent and family engagement programming and documentation.

The purpose of the Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Parent Advisory Council is for parents to be positive ambassadors while providing meaningful input that impacts our students and their families. The primary focus for the advisory members is to increase parent and family engagement ensuring student academic success. The goal of the GCA Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is to ensure the effective involvement of parents while forming a partnership with the GCA community and supporting our Family-Friendly School environment.

 If you have questions or would like to apply for next school year, please contact Veronica Okpani, Family School Partnerships Coordinator at vokpani@georgiacyber.org.

The Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Student Board of Advisors (SBA) provides feedback on our school from the student’s perspective. The council is comprised of students who represent GCA’s Primary, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Grade Bands. The purpose of GCA SBA is to provide feedback on the social, emotional, and academic needs of our students with the goal of identifying any student concerns which will be shared with school leadership.  If you have questions or would like to apply for next school year, please contact Michelle Gilyard, Family School Partnerships Coordinator at mgilyard@georgiacyber.org.

Georgia Cyber Academy Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (GCA PTSO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support and enhance the educational experience for the children attending GCA. The PTSO provides an avenue of communication, offers volunteer opportunities, and fundraises to assist with school related programs and projects. To volunteer for the 2021/2022 school year complete this Volunteer Survey. More information about GCA PTSO and how you can be involved is located on the PTSO website at www.gcaptso.org.  If you have questions, please email Michelle Gilyard, Family School Partnerships Coordinator at mgilyard@georgiacyber.org.

Our school website has a wealth of information including faculty directory, school policies, school news, academic and events calendars, department information, Georgia Milestones resources, new family resources and much more. Visit the GCA website at https://www.georgiacyber.org/.

The GCA Calendar contains details about in-person/virtual events and online support sessions. In-person events are planned by our school, teachers, and parent leaders all over the state to provide educational and social opportunities with other GCA families.  Online support sessions cover a variety of topics.  View the GCA Calendar at https://www.georgiacyber.org/calendars/all-calendars for details.

The Family School Partnership Coordinators hosts online open office help sessions at the beginning of the school year. Department leaders from Primary Grade Bands, Elementary Grade Bands, Middle Grade Bands, Secondary School Grade Bands, Counseling, Accountability, Strong Start New & Returning Parent Support, and Special Education & LIFE Program are available to help answer families’ questions and provide support. Learning Coach Live Help will take place daily:

July 26^th – Aug 13^th, Monday-Friday from 12:00-1:00

Aug 16^th – Aug 30^th, Monday-Wednesday from 12:00-1:00

Sept 7^th - Oct 18^th, Monday-Wednesday from 12:00-1:00

For more information and to find the session link, please visit the GCA Parent Calendar at https://www.georgiacyber.org/calendars/parent-calendar.

The role of the GCA Family Engagement Liaison (FEL) is to provide holistic support to each student and their family throughout each school year. The purpose is to guarantee that all GCA families have adequate support and individual communication to foster family-school partnerships that lead to increased student achievement. The Family Engagement Liaison is a gateway to many other resources and departmental support.