Communicating the value of parent involvement

New guide from the Learning First Alliance, a coalition of education organizations, encourages school leaders to proactively embrace the power of parent involvement as one of seven core values that drive educational improvement. Guide focuses on how school leaders can promote their schools and offers advice on how to talk about parent involvement...along with specific steps that administrators can take to make it happen in their schools.

Other six topics that school leaders should stress, says LFA: values such as hard work, school discipline, academics, accountability, benefits of public ed, and accurate public information (both successes and shortcomings).

Excerpts:

What to Say
• When it comes to their children, parents are often more powerful than they believe. Parents can use this power to shape their children’s behavior so they can succeed in school—by teaching them respect and responsibility, by encouraging them to work hard to learn, by showing a consistent interest in their schoolwork, and by celebrating their accomplishments.
• We need parents as our partners to ensure that every child can succeed in our schools.


What to Do
• Describe how you support parents’ efforts to help their children succeed. Assist parents in understanding the curriculum and homework assignments. See that messages are returned promptly, teachers are available to talk with parents, and school meetings and events are scheduled at times that permit parents to attend. Then publicize these efforts with parents and the community.