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Educators: Top 5 Questions

Educators know the importance of parent involvement. It works when you have established a relationship with the parents of your students. An excellent resource for educators is: Henderson, A.T., Mapp, K.L., Johnson, V.R. & Davies, D.  (2007).  Beyond the Bake Sale:  The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships.  New York:  The New Press.

The Florida PIRC at USF is a resource for information, training, and technical assistance to assist you with your Parent Involvement Program. Here are some frequently asked questions.

1. Why is it important to involve parents in their child's education?
   
   Research shows that effective parent involvement leads to increased student achievement.
   
   
   
2. What should be my first step for getting parents involved?
   
   A proper mindset about a parent’s role in education is critical.  We must view parents as true experts about their children. We cannot begin to truly engage parents until  we have accepted them as equal partners.
   
   
   
3. I am a busy classroom teacher. What are a few things I can do to partner with the parents of my students?
   
   At the beginning of the school year, make contact with all of the parents.

   • Send a postcard or better yet, make a quick phone call to tell parents how glad you are to have their child in your class, that you are looking forward to a great year, and that you are available if they have questions about assignments or other issues regarding their child’s academic achievement.
   • Send your email address and school phone number home to parents.
   • Some teachers exchange cell phone numbers with their parents so they can really stay connected. Throughout the year, continue to make contacts with the parents.
   • Invite your students’ parents into your classroom for special events. Have student-led conferences.
   • Plan mini parent workshops on topics where parents can help their children. Meet at a small restaurant, in your classroom, or at a community center near the school and talk to parents about subject areas you are teaching such as math concepts and how they are being taught, reading strategies, and other school issues.
   • Give parents quick techniques and tips to help their children at home.
   • Help parents understand what students need to know and be able to do so they will work with their children at home.
   
   
4. I am familiar with the educational standards for the subject areas I teach. Are there standards for Parent Involvement? 
   
   There are six standards for family and community involvement. They are:

   • Welcoming All Families into the School Community,
   • Communicating Effectively,
   • Supporting Student Success,
   • Speaking Up for Every Child,
   • Sharing Power, and
   • Collaborating with Community.

   To find out more about the standards and how to use them to design effective parent involvement programs in your school, visit the National PTA website (www.pta.org).

   
   
5. What is the “Parents Right to Know” and how does it apply to me?
   
   Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), parents have the right to request information about the qualifications of their child’s teachers. To learn more about parental involvement and parents’ rights under NCLB, please visit http://www.ed.gov/parents.

The Florida PIRC at USF wants to hear from you! If you have other questions or needs, please contact us and let us know.

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