Office of Family and Community Engagement
The Office of Family and Community Partnerships (OFCP) plays a central role in advancing Newton Public Schools’ commitment to meaningful family engagement, transparent communication, equitable access to resources, and active community participation in students’ educational experiences. As part of this work, the office also houses the district’s legally mandated Attendance Officer—an essential function that had been absent in recent years and is now addressing chronic absenteeism with renewed focus and accountability. Since its establishment, OFCP has transformed NPS from a system of fragmented, informal family - support practices into a unified, data - driven operational model. This shift was both strategic and necessary: with 35% of students identified as High Needs and nearly 30% of families speaking a primary language other than English, the previous lack of centralized oversight posed risks of inequitable or inconsistent service delivery. Through initiatives such as the Aspen student - information migration and tiered attendance interventions, the office has strengthened legal compliance, improved district - wide equity, and built a standardized Continuum of Care for all families. Budget Stewardship In its inaugural year, the Office of Family and Community Partnerships operated with an FY26 budget allocation of $21,011. Recognizing the need to build foundational infrastructure, the team prioritized one - time setup costs while maintaining strict fiscal oversight. To date, the office has expended $6,940, representing 33% of the total budget allocation. The team has minimized recurring costs by leveraging reciprocal partnerships, securing free community - based engagement opportunities, and reserving district funds primarily for essential startup needs—particularly equipment and supplies required to launch the Welcome Center. This conservative and strategic approach ensures that the office is building durable infrastructure while preserving resources for future programming, family engagement, and districtwide support. Key Strategic Outcomes ● Improved Attendance: Achieved a peak attendance rate of 95.5%, with January 2026 marking the first mid - year rolling chronic absenteeism rate (9.3% 1 ) below 10% in three- year district historical analysis. ● Fiscal Impact Through Residency Enforcement: Preserved $172,468 savings to date this year by identifying and addressing residency violations—an average of $43,117 per student receiving specialized services. ● Enhanced Enrollment Support: The Welcome Center has supported 25% of all new student enrollments this school year, demonstrating scalable impact and improved family access. ● Expanded Language Access: Implemented on - demand translation technology with Pocketalk devices across all 2 3 schools, funded through grants, enabling communication in more than 92 languages.
1 Data as of January 2026
-51-
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator