A Parent's Guide to School Involvement

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A Parent's Guide to School Involvement

• presented by
• Marlon Cousin
• Title I Coordinator

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Why do schools need parent and community support?

• Thirty years of research clearly suggests that
  parent and community involvement in schools
  improves student achievement.

• To reach their potential, students need parents
  and the community to take an active role in their
  education.

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What can I do at school?

• As a parent, or an adult who plays an important
  role in the life of a child, your involvement in
  your child's education at school and at home
  shows your child that you value education.
• Teachers can see that you care about your
  children's learning. You can provide teachers
  with the most reliable source of information
  about your child. The partnership between you and
  your child's teacher is powerful.

4
Ways you can be involved in your child's
education each year at school
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Meet the teacher

• Tell her about your child's interests and
  hobbies.
• Let her know how and when it is best to reach
  you.
• Ask her how you can support your childs
  education at home

6
Make a date with the teacher to visit your
child's classroom

• Are the kids busy learning, exploring and asking
  questions?
• Does the teacher draw them in?

7
Attend Parent Teacher Conferences

• All schools in the EBRP School System set aside
  specific dates and times for parent-teacher
  conferences.
• Ask how your child is doing and review his or her
  work.

8
Establish/Join the PTA or other Parent Group

• Go to school events, like back-to-school
  night.
• As a group, see how you can help the school reach
  its goals.

9
Stay up-to-date on School Policies, Schedules and
Rules

• Ask about opportunities to participate in the
  development of school policies.

Examples School Improvement Plans Parental
Involvement Policies Extended Day
Activities Tutoring Services
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Benchmarks Standards

• Make sure that your child is learning what he/she
  needs to know to meet the standards set for her
  grade level.
• www.louisianaschools.net

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Find a teacher or counselor you feel comfortable
talking to about your child

• Talk about the courses he /she should take to
  reach their goals.
• Do they match what the standards say he/she
  should be learning?
• Will they prepare him/her for college and a
  career?

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Check your school's Web site regularly
www.ebrschools.org
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How can my community be involved in my child's
school?
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Establish School-Business Partnerships

• Schools and business can work together to prepare
  students for further education and for life as
  productive members of their communities.

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It does not hurt to ask

• Inquire whether or not your employer will grant
  parents leave to attend school meetings,
  conferences, or to volunteer in the school.

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Mentoring

• Establish and operate a mentoring program for "at
  risk" students through the involvement of
  volunteers from community, civic and religious
  organizations, local businesses, or the Chamber
  of Commerce.

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View the School as a Hub for Community Events

• Recommend that schools in your community remain
  open during the evening and on weekends to allow
  parents and neighbors to use the library,
  playground, computers and other equipment.
• Let local groups hold their meetings and special
  events at the school.

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Parental Involvement Resources

• Baton Rouge Parent University _at_ YWCA Center for
  Family Empowerment
  225.338.0028
• Louisiana State Parent Information Resource
  Centers (P.I.R.C.) Louisiana Promise
  
  520 Olive Street
  
  Shreveport, LA
  71104
  phone [phone]
  
  fax [phone]
  
  www.lpirc.org
  
  
  

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Parental Involvement Resources

• No Child Left Behind website http//www.ed.gov/
• Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
  (SEDL) http//www.sedl.rog/
• National Parent Information Network
  http//www.npin.org/
• Alliance for Excellent Education
  http//www.all4ed.org/
• National Coalition for Parent Involvement in
  Education http//www.ncpie.org/
• National Network of Partnership Schools
  http//www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nochild.htm