At Grand Rapids Public Schools, we believe every scholar will be empowered and prepared to develop personal responsibility to be positive, productive members of our community. In our district, and at each of our schools, we focus on positive outcomes related to the major themes in our strategic plan: to meet the holistic needs of scholars, ensure equitable access, and provide enriching opportunities to learn and engage that result in positive lifelong outcomes.
Our Scholar Resource & Responsibility Guide is an essential resource that outlines information related to scholar behavior and expectations at school. Schools can’t do it alone; families and caregivers are critical partners in their child’s learning and success in school. Parents and caregivers are their child’s first teachers. We encourage you to review this handbook with your child to familiarize them with the rights and responsibilities that create a safe, positive, productive learning environment.
Our commitment is to preserve what is exceptional about our community, to deepen our best practices and to continue to innovate and learn in ways that accelerate and expand each scholar’s achievement. To create a safe and orderly learning environment in our schools, it is also important that we recognize it is a team effort. The team consists of parent(s), caregivers, school staff, and scholars working together, creating relationships that will positively impact the school environment and improve each scholar’s achievement. An active commitment contributes to each scholar’s success in school.
Superintendent Welcome
On behalf of the Grand Rapids Board of Education and the entire GRPS staff, thank you for allowing us the privilege and opportunity to educate your scholar for the 2026-2027 school year!
We have developed this Scholar Resource & Responsibility Guide for our stakeholders to provide direction in navigating the educational system. This manual offers guidance in several areas, including but not limited to how our scholars are graded, what is appropriate behavior in our buildings, how they can help promote a conducive learning environment, and ideas for interventions. We also provide many additional resources for scholars and caregivers.
During my tenure, we have developed a new Strategic Plan that focuses on supporting scholars and caregivers in ways that ensure inclusivity of all scholars, culturally responsive practices, and social-emotional awareness. This school year, we will be working to improve both our academic outcomes and our outcomes related to culture and climate. We understand that our scholars, caregivers, staff, and other stakeholders are our priority. Our policies, procedures, and practices should reflect that.
We have high expectations for all scholars and want to see them succeed. We recognize that scholar success goes beyond academic achievement, and it is our responsibility to acknowledge and support our scholars’ emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health. We are also committed to empowering scholars to use their unique voices. This is our mission!
Thank you again for choosing Grand Rapids Public Schools. If you have any questions regarding the content in this guide, please contact Community & Student Services at (616) 819-2150 or email enrollment@grps.org.
Sincerely,
Leadriane Roby, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools