Tips For Schools From Parents

The Family Partnership Department asked parents for suggestions on getting increased levels of parent involvement. Several parents gave their feedback for ‘what works' in regards to making them want to become more involved and feel like partners in their child's education.

Parent's Top 10 Reasons for Getting Involved In Their Child's School.

1. “I enjoy getting involved in my child's school because the office staff is always friendly and welcoming when I come in.”
2. “I get involved because the teacher calls or sends me a note when my child is doing a good job. Hearing good things about my child first makes it easier to be objective when I have to hear not so comforting news about my child's progress.”
3. “I get involved because the staff treats me with respect even though I am not an educator.”
4. “I am always given meaningful projects by the staff when I ask for ways that I can help support the school.”
5. “ I never get the run around when I have a problem. The staff usually returns my call or makes contact with me in a reasonable amount of time.”
6. “The information in the notes and newsletters that I get from the school are quick to read and easy to understand.”
7. “When the staff says they want me to be involved I can believe them because they make it easy, they don't have rules and policy's that discourage my involvement and they don't direct me to a web-site every time I have a question.”
8. “My child thinks that the teacher believes in him so that encourages me to be on the teachers team as an active volunteer.”
9. “I've noticed that children whose parents are involved get more out of the educational system than children whose parent's are less involved or not involved at all.”
10. “I understand my responsibilities as a parent so when I find out my child is not doing well, it encourages me to get more involved. When I can't be involved at his school, I focus my efforts on helping him at home.”

Find out other ways you can support effective parent partnerships

Visit our Family Partnership Office ‘Key Communicator’ community meetings. Participate in discussions with parents, students, staff and community members about how the district promotes parent and community engagement and equity and achievement.

Next ‘Key Communicator’ meeting date: April 24, 2008
Time: 6:30p.m.
Location: Educational Service Center 31405 18th Ave. S., Federal Way 98003