12 Things Parents Should Know About and Expect From Schools and Themselves

If you think that you alone cannot do much to improve your school, you are probably right. But if you collaborate with other parents and organizations, you can make a difference. There is strength and power in numbers, according to Parent Leadership Associates. Their website features a handy 12-point reference tool to help parents become better advocates for student learning: (1) Parent involvement matters a lot when it comes to academic achievement; (2) Parents can be teachers, supporters, advocates, and/or decision-makers; (3) Children need effective parents;
(4) Schools need informed parents; (5) Parents should be told clearly what the learning standards are in each grade; (6) Schools should clearly communicate their behavior standards; (7) Parents should be told clearly how their child’s school is performing; (8) Middle and high school parents should be told what it will take for their child to apply for college; (9) Parents should research their educational options. With the federal No Child Left Behind law, students in low-income public schools that fail to meet learning goals for two years in a row now have a chance to transfer to another school; (10) Whether in person, on the phone or on the Internet, your school should be willing to share the answers to important questions about school safety and learning environments; (11) Parents and other taxpayers may not be the educational experts. But they are the owners of the schools. Parents have the right to be treated respectfully as full and equal partners in their child’s education; and (12) Having allies is important. Parents are more likely to accomplish their goals if they work with other parents.