| Parents are a critical part of their child's education. | | | | conferences also saves time and ensures multiple |
| Over the years, parental involvement in schools | | | | parents aren't vying for the teacher's attention at |
| has declined and everything from feelings of lack | | | | the same time. Schools should also consider phone |
| of empowerment, mistrust of schools and | | | | conferences as an option. |
| educators to time and schedule conflicts are cited | | | | Additionally, schools should consider allowing other |
| as the cause. As a parent, I believe there are five | | | | adult involvement with respect to students. |
| things teachers and schools can do to increase | | | | Although I believe the parent bears the bulk of |
| parental involvement. | | | | the responsibility for ensuring their child's success, |
| 1. Customize methods of involvement. | | | | schools need to reach out to other adults in the |
| Acknowledge that one size doesn't fit all. Rather, | | | | student's life. For example, communicating with |
| schools need to get more creative in customizing | | | | other adults, with the parent's permission, such as |
| the manner and ways in which they seek parental | | | | uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc., about a student's |
| involvement. The important thing is to recognize | | | | behavior, grades and even allowing them to |
| that you are building a family-school partnership | | | | attend parent-teacher conferences in lieu of the |
| and that schools have to do more to meet | | | | parent is another way to increase involvement. |
| families where they are. For some parents, parent | | | | [Note: I understand that schools can only release |
| teacher conference may suffice; yet, other | | | | information about the child to the parent but this |
| parents may require more extensive outreach in | | | | is why we have Release Forms that parents can |
| order to get involvement. Examples of | | | | sign giving the school permission to discuss their |
| customization may include home visits. | | | | child with individuals other than them]. |
| 2. Make social services a key component of | | | | 4. Communicate with parents. Communication is |
| school outreach. In many low income | | | | the key to any relationship and so is the case |
| communities, lack of parental involvement often | | | | with parents and teachers. While in person |
| stems from societal or socioeconomic issues. | | | | communication is always optimal, the technology |
| Schools can increase involvement by making social | | | | and information age have expanded the vehicles |
| services a key component of the school's | | | | of communication exponentially. Teachers can |
| outreach. Such services could include helping | | | | now send letters, email, weekly newsletter, |
| parents find jobs, providing much needed medical | | | | memoranda and find lots of other ways to |
| exams and other services that benefit a family's | | | | communicate with parents about not only their |
| health and wellness. Healthy and happy families are | | | | child's progress but also about school events, |
| likely to be more involved families. Schools need | | | | needs and concerns. |
| not provide the services themselves. They can | | | | 5. Ask parents their thoughts and ideas. Besides |
| partner with social service agencies that already | | | | caring about my children's education, I must admit |
| exist in the community to provide the services | | | | one of the biggest reasons I'm really involved in |
| while using the school as a base of operation and | | | | my children's school is because they often seek |
| execution. | | | | out my advice or input via surveys and other |
| 3. Minimize Logistical Issues. Scheduling conflicts, | | | | methods of communication. They often ask my |
| work schedules and other logistical issues are a | | | | thoughts and ideas about the manner in which I |
| major barrier to involvement. Innovative solutions | | | | can get involved. Accordingly, it's always easier to |
| are the key to increasing parental involvement. | | | | be more involved when you feel like you are part |
| For example, schools should consider making | | | | of the process. |
| parent-teacher conferences a month long event | | | | In the end, both schools and parents are partners |
| rather than a one day marathon. Having parents | | | | in a child's educational journey, and it is important |
| sign up at select times and on select dates over a | | | | that schools, educators and parents continue to |
| month long period allows parents with conflicts | | | | find ways to increase parental involvement. The |
| more flexibility to attend such conferences. | | | | suggestions outlined above are what I believe to |
| Scheduling set times with each parents for | | | | be a step in the right direction. |