Family Focus Group Invitation

Posted Date: 01/20/26 (09:51 AM)

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Dear Families,

We wanted to let you know that this year, our district is taking part in a review led by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR). This review is a chance to take a closer look at how things are going in our schools; from the systems and policies we use to how we support students and families. The final report will be public and will help us make thoughtful, informed decisions about what comes next for our district. (You can check out past reports here.)

As part of the review, the team will be holding focus groups, classroom visits, interviews, and reviewing key documents. We’d love for you, our parents and caregivers, to be part of the process by joining a family focus group. Your perspective matters and will help us paint a true picture of what’s working well and where we can grow.

We’re hoping to include voices from families across all our schools!

Focus Group Info:
Date/Time: Wednesday, February 4th from 6:00-7:00pm ET
Location: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Length: Approximately 60 minutes
The focus group will touch on a few key areas, including:

How families receive information about academics and student well-being
Ways families can be involved in school or district decisions
Supports for students and families, both in and out of school
Access to electives, extracurriculars, and advanced classes
Services for Students with Disabilities, English Learners, and others needing extra support

We really hope you’ll consider joining this opportunity and sharing your thoughts. Registration is limited to 30 participants and will close on January 28, 2026.

Thanks so much for your continued partnership. We’re grateful to work alongside you in supporting our students.

Dr. Jennifer O'Neill | Superintendent of Schools
Norton Public Schools | 64 West Main Street | Norton, MA 02766

Office: (508) 285-0100 | Fax: (508) 285-0199 | norton.k12.ma.us

Our Mission: Promote individual talents and maximize each student’s potential.

It is the policy of Norton Public Schools to provide a learning environment free from discrimination or harassment. All students, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, limited English proficiency, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or housing status, have equal access to all programs including athletics and other extracurricular activities.