Transcript PARENT INVOLVEMENT - Archdiocese of Chicago

LaTeasha Ward, MPA
Director of Wellness and Prevention Programs
AGENDA
 Welcome/Introduction
 Define Parent involvement (PI)
 Why is PI Important
 Types of Parent Involvement
 Barriers
 Engaging Parents & Overcoming Obstacles
 What can parents do to get involved
 Building Family-School Partnership
Q&A
 Resources
Parent Involvement (PI)????
PI is defined as having an awareness of and involvement
in schoolwork, understanding of the interaction
between parenting skills and students success in
schooling and a commitment to consistent
communication with educators about students progress.
Why PI is important??
According to the National Network of Partnership Schools, for parent
involvement to flourish, it must be meaningfully integrated into a
school’s programs & community.
- -Help families with parenting and child-rearing skills
- -Communicate with families about school programs & student progress
and needs
- -Work to improve recruitment, training, & schedules to involve families or
volunteers in school activities
- -Encourage families to be involved in learning activities at home
- -Include parents as participants in important school decisions
Why PI is important?? (cont.)
Parent involvement is crucial to the health and wellbeing of a child.
● As a parent, you are the most important influence in your child’s
success in school and in life.
Students with involved parents are more likely to:
1. Earn higher grades and pass their classes
2. Attend school regularly & build better social skills
3. Build self-esteem & show improvement in behavior
4. The child is more likely graduate & attend college
Types of Parent Involvement
Researchers have identified 3 constructs of parent
involvement:
 Communicating
 Supervision
 Parental expectations & Parenting Styles
Staff barriers
According to Family Support America there are 4
common barriers of Parent Involvement.
 Attitudes
 Logistics
 System barriers
 Lack of Skills
Parent barriers
 Time
 Not feeling valued/unwelcomed
 Child Care
 Language
 Transportation
 Special Needs
Engaging Parents
(Brainstorming Section)
“Engaging parents in their child(s) education is not
easy.”
What are some ways that your school has tried to involve
parents within the school?
What do you think could have been done different?
Tips to engaging parents
◦Set school requirements for parents such as:
-Protecting God’s Children training
-At least 1 hour of involvement in school activities a
month. (Hour can be split up)
◦Design workshops just for parents
◦Set up an Online Parent Community
- It will allow parents to post and receive
school updates
- Post resources for parents
Overcoming obstacles
Make school environment a more comfortable feel for
parents as well as students by:
1. Posting welcome signs in all languages spoken at the
school.
2. Create a space within the school (if possible) that is
just for parents, such as a parent center
3. If possible, offer child care at meetings or school
functions
4. Offer workshops for parents
What can parents do?
According to Epstein’s Framework there are 6 types of
parent involvement.
 Parenting
 Communication
 Volunteering
 Learning at Home
 School Decision-making and Advocacy
 Collaboration with the Community
Building Family-School Partnership
Research has shown that Family Involvement
promotes student success.
When families, schools, and communities work
together:
Student’s achievement improves
Teacher morale rises
Communication increases
Family, school, and communities connections multiply
Questions & Answers
Resources
National Standards
Implementation Guide
www.pta.org/documents/Nati
onal_Standards_Implemenati
on_Guide_2009.pdf
Free online resources for parents &
teachers
www.jumpstart.com
National PTA
www.pta.org
www.illinoisparents.org
www.antidrug.com
www.discoveryeducation.com
Thank you!!!!
Lateasha Ward, MPA
Director of Wellness & Prevention Programs
[email protected]
312-534-3880 Office
312-534-5295 Fax