BCPS provides opportunities for families across the district

Parent engagement isn’t limited to punishments and reactive policies.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) Pillar 3 aims to enhance parent, caregiver, and community support through resource allocation, business and philanthropic partnerships, and collaboration with the community.

Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) mirrors that initiative through the All Schools Connected to the Community portion of its All-in Promise, launched in 2022.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS

Support begins at the roots — providing resources for families. That starts with breaking down language barriers.

An action item detailed within Pillar 3 urges schools to develop translations of NCDPI materials in line with local demographics. According to school officials, 12.3% of the total student population are English learners.

Public Relations Officer Cheryl Shuffler explained that there has been a steady increase from 7.4% in 2016, with the highest percentage landing at 13.7% in 2024.

The district ensures translated material is provided to families that speak different languages at home.

“Our most common is Spanish, but we also have a substantial Hmong population,” she said. “We have translators on staff as well as parent educators to help at the district level with this.”

FAMILY SUPPORT

Shuffler said BCPS works to loop families into the education of their children, encouraging two-way communication, hosting open houses and family reading nights, and preparing students for the future with “How to Pay for College” nights and “Help with FAFSA” nights.

The district invited families with Exceptional Children (EC) to Draughn High School for EC 101 on Thursday, Jan. 15. The session covered Individualized Education Program meetings, acronyms, supports and services, and other topics intended to “empower parents with the information they need to feel confident, informed, and fully engaged” with their children, Shuffler said.

BCPS is also planning a Related Services and Behavior Support event Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at Patton High School, and a Community Resources and Transition Fair on March 19 at the Olive Hill Resource Center — both for families of children receiving EC services.

“We’re all about building positive relationships and partnering with families in their child’s education,” Shuffler said.

COMMUNITY

“We have so many great community partnerships,” Shuffler said, detailing a list of partners that ranged from educational institutions, such as Western Piedmont Community College, to the Burke County Chamber of Commerce. “They provide internship opportunities, tours, and collaboration on community workforce needs.”

One action item contained within Pillar 3 addresses strengthening community through engaging “philanthropic and business communities to fund and support research and adoption of innovative school models.”

“The Burke Education Foundation, Inc., was established to help bridge the gap between philanthropic and business communities,” Shuffler said. “We also have a great partnership with Burke County United Way, Burke United Christian Ministries, and local churches who produce weekend food bags and more for our students.”

Shuffler said they work with other organizations, such as Burroughs Wellcome and Dogwood Health Trust to facilitate grants.