Family Engagement

Newark Educators’ Community Charter School was founded on the principle that parents, staff, and community members can and should work together in structured and meaningful ways. The school makes every effort possible to partner with parents and caregivers in their children’s education and is committed to ongoing and open communication with families. It uses an Integrated Social Studies curriculum, which provides multiple entry points for children and families to share their cultures and experiences with one another, and to ask questions to further their understanding. Families have different levels of availability and may not speak English in their home. Therefore, Newark Educators’ Community Charter School will provide opportunities for parents to connect with the school during all hours of the day and early evening.  Efforts will also be made to connect with families in their home language.  The Principal and staff work to create an environment where families feel welcome, valued, and useful through various forms of communication, family events and collaborations.

NECCS demonstrates its commitment to Family Engagement by:

• Setting the stage for a positive relationships at the beginning of school
• Keeping in touch throughout the year
• Talking with parents about child development
• Involving all parents, including those who can’t make it to school
• Helping parents understand classroom practice
• Problem-solving with parents

The culture of ongoing and open communication between family and school begins at NECCS with the Principal and the teachers.  Each day the Principal greets families and students as they enter the school building and will, as often as possible, be in the cafeteria for breakfast. In addition, the Principal is available to families who have concerns with the clear understanding that classroom concerns should be brought to the teacher’s attention first.  The Principal addresses family questions and concerns in a timely manner and makes every effort to conduct meetings in the language in which the family is most comfortable.

Teachers at Newark Educators’ Community Charter School develop strong relationships with students and their families, and see children’s family and cultures as an important component and starting point for NECCS integrated studies curriculum. Teachers have individual ways to build these relationships; but the following are expectations for all teachers

• Teachers make themselves available to families via email or telephone after school hours
• Teachers look for ways to include family volunteers in their classrooms. 
• Teachers respect the cultures and experiences of various groups and then use these as resources for teaching and learning.
• If a teacher has a question or concern about a student, they contact the family in a timely manner
• If a parent has a question or concern about their child and contacts a teacher, the teacher addresses  it in a timely manner.
• Teachers make contact with families to communicate positive feedback.
• Teachers always communicate with families in a respectful way.
• Teachers will hold family conferences to review individual student’s progress at least twice a year. It is expected that if a teacher is concerned about a student more frequent, regular conferences will be arranged.
• Parents will receive three formal written reports a year documenting student progress in all content areas.