Helping Parents To Be Equal Partners in Our Schools Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Oralia Gonzalez, Fed Prog./SCE Director Parents And The Educational Process:

NCLB Requirement  Building Capacity for Involvement—To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, each school and LEA…shall educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school

Value & Utility of Parents  Parents as concerned guardians of their children Educate parents on school curriculum and instruction Educate parents on school curriculum and instruction Educate parents on grading/testing procedures Educate parents on grading/testing procedures Educate parents state assessments and results Educate parents state assessments and results Educate parents on the importance of attendance and homework Educate parents on the importance of attendance and homework Educate parents on supplemental educational services available to their children Educate parents on supplemental educational services available to their children Educate parents on how to access community and other resources to help their children Educate parents on how to access community and other resources to help their children  Remember that parents CARE about their children’s education. Sometimes they may not know how to express their care and concerns.

Value & Utility of Parents  Parents as volunteers Train parents on how to operate equipment used in the school Train parents on how to operate equipment used in the school Train parents on the school’s procedures, including monitoring, schedules, etc. Train parents on the school’s procedures, including monitoring, schedules, etc. Train parents to be tutors in school Train parents to be tutors in school Train parents on other expectations of the volunteer Train parents on other expectations of the volunteer  Everyone has a talent that you can tap to help in the educational process.

Value & Utility of Parents  Parents as home tutors Teach parents how to review homework Teach parents how to review homework Teach parents how to help their children at home Teach parents how to help their children at home Teach parents about the importance of proper nutrition and sleep for their children Teach parents about the importance of proper nutrition and sleep for their children  Do not assume that a parent cannot help because they have a limited formal education. At the very least, they can question, assure the child completes homework, and/or listen to the child read.

Value & Utility of Parents  Parents as members of committees Train parents on parliamentary procedures Train parents on parliamentary procedures Explain the committee’s work to parents Explain the committee’s work to parents Invite them to serve on school committees, such as fundraising, PTO/PTA, Campus Performance Objectives Committee (CPOC), developing the campus improvement plan, designing/evaluating the Title I Program, tutoring programs, etc. Invite them to serve on school committees, such as fundraising, PTO/PTA, Campus Performance Objectives Committee (CPOC), developing the campus improvement plan, designing/evaluating the Title I Program, tutoring programs, etc.  Regardless of their level of formal education or English-speaking abilities, parents have experiences that can be useful in helping make decisions.

Reaching out to Parents  Invite parents to participate in the educational process Communicate with parents in the language they are most comfortable with Communicate with parents in the language they are most comfortable with Communicate with parents using terminology they understand Communicate with parents using terminology they understand Communicate with parents in a variety of ways: notes, phone calls, newsletters, etc. Communicate with parents in a variety of ways: notes, phone calls, newsletters, etc. Communicate with parents in a calm, non- threatening manner Communicate with parents in a calm, non- threatening manner  People can sense when we are sincere.

Helping Parents Become More Effective Partners  Provide a meaningful parental involvement program on campus, including Parenting sessions Parenting sessions ESL instruction ESL instruction Computer instruction Computer instruction Instruction on strategies parents can use at home to teach their children basic skills Instruction on strategies parents can use at home to teach their children basic skills Coordinating efforts with the District’s Parental Involvement Program Coordinating efforts with the District’s Parental Involvement Program  Knowledge and skills can make parents more self-sufficient and self-assured.

Parents as Equal Partners  When parents and school personnel work together, finding fault and making excuses are replaced with finding solutions and making commitments that all can agree upon. finding fault and making excuses are replaced with finding solutions and making commitments that all can agree upon. progress towards the mutual goal—student academic achievement—is easier to achieve and more satisfying. progress towards the mutual goal—student academic achievement—is easier to achieve and more satisfying.  Remember: In unity, there is strength!