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Teacher conferences crucial to parental involvement

Karen Utley

Our high school, along with others in the district, won't be holding parent-teacher conferences this spring. Instead, school administrators have advised parents to monitor their children's grades, homework and attendance through school-sponsored online services.

 

Although I am disappointed, I'm not surprised.

 

Communication in education is being transformed by technology. E-mail has taken over for the telephone, grade books have been supplanted by computer programs, and now the face-to-face exchange between two adults mutually concerned with a child's education called the parent-teacher conference is being replaced by a Web site.

As an unintended consequence of these changes, the nature and quality of educational information is being altered as well.

 

Teachers, for example, when they filled out report cards with a pen, often included detailed notes about the student's behavior and performance. Today's less accommodating computer-generated grade reports, on the other hand, offer prefab phrases such as "contributes well in class" or "incomplete assignments." The personal nuances are being lost. And I miss them.

 

While I recognize that parent-teacher conferences are a holdover from a chummier, pre-electronic era — at last fall's conferences, one young teacher simply handed me a printout and thanked me for coming — I'm personally saddened at their disappearance because I really enjoy them.

 

I love the ritual of sitting down with a teacher, talking about my child's progress, discussing areas of concern and exchanging anecdotes (such as the one about how one of my sons dismissed himself from German class by using a radio transmitter to imitate the classroom intercom).

 

Educators universally agree that parental involvement is critical to student success. A middle-school teacher who e-mailed me in response to a column about reducing dropout rates (and with whom I have a pleasant relationship based on remembered parent-teacher conferences) probably speaks for all when he says, "It starts with the parents."

Consistent, coordinated communication is the essence of parental involvement. As a child, I thought my mom was an "involved parent" because she baked cupcakes and organized games for our class parties. Teachers I know would have described her as "involved" because she dragged us out of bed, cooked our breakfast and got us to school every morning, or because she stayed aware of our grades and asked us about our homework. The real value of her involvement in my education, however, became clear to me when I found out how much — and how often — she used to talk to my teachers.

 

Administrators think the two days formerly devoted to conferencing can be more constructively utilized as instructional time. They may be right. Conferences are not well-attended; the parents teachers really would like to see are usually among the absentees. Some parents bring confrontational rather than cooperative attitudes to the table —leading educators to prefer the filtered communication of e-mail and a Web site.

 

A good 20-minute conversation with a sympathetic teacher, however, is immeasurably valuable to an involved parent of a teenager. And eliminating this opportunity for communication closes the door on parents who would like to become more involved.

 

Karen Utley is a longtime Salem resident and the mother of eight children. Her column appears on Tuesdays. Contact her at utley673@gmail.com.

 
 

 

Parent involvement goes too far

Charter schools » Lawmakers asked to dump rule on electing parents as representatives.

By Lisa Schencker

 

The Salt Lake Tribune

 

Parents should be involved in their children's educations, but the state shouldn't require charter schools to include elected parents on their boards, a legislative committee decided Friday.

 

The Administrative Rules Review Committee voted to recommend lawmakers end a state rule that requires charter school boards to include at least one elected parent representative. The State Board of Education passed the rule to ensure parents had a voice in charter schools.

 

Larry Shumway, state associate superintendent, said the state board passed the rule as a way to implement state law, which says charter schools exist in part to provide "opportunities for greater parental involvement, including involvement in management decisions."

 

Opponents, however, say the rule might limit charter schools' ability to innovate and it should be up to charter schools, not the state, on how to get parents involved. Some also said the rule creates problems for charter schools that were approved before it took effect.

 

"We're hoping this rule changes so we can move forward with our original, stable governing structure," said Carolyn Sharette of American Preparatory Academy.

 

Supporters of the rule, however, feared that getting rid of it might weaken parents' positions within charter schools.

 

"The strength of the charter schools is parental involvement," said Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City. "Now it seems like we're saying we want less parental involvement, and I'm not sure we're going in the right direction."

 

Goodfellow's comments drew applause from Monticello Academy charter school parents at the meeting. Some parents from the West Valley City school are frustrated by a separate issue involving possible conflicts of interest involving the school's director and board.

 

"There absolutely needs to be parental involvement in management issues," parent Chantelle Ray said.

 
 

 

Parental Involvement Remains Focus of Dallas Area Initiative

ETS Supports Third Annual "Parents Step Ahead" Program

 

Last update: 11:03 a.m. EST Dec. 16, 2008

PRINCETON, NJ, Dec 16, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The Texas-based "Parents Step Ahead" program celebrated the culmination of its third successful year promoting parental involvement in children's education with its annual gala and awards ceremony on Thursday, December 4, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dallas. The event honored six parents who participated in the nonprofit organization's school-based parenting skills workshops during the year.

ETS, a founding sponsor of "Parents Step Ahead," acknowledges and applauds the program's recognition of the vital role parents play in children's academic achievement, a fact that is too often overlooked.

"'Parents Step Ahead' is important because it makes a real difference in the way parents view their role in their children's academic success and personal development," explains Eleanor Horne, vice president of ETS's Social Investment Fund. "Participating in this program reinforces ETS's commitment to help advance the quality of education for the children of Texas parents."

Horne also says that it was a privilege to present one of the six Parent of the Year awards to Mrs. Valdemar Sancen during the gala's awards ceremony.

Sancen was born and raised in the Mexican State of Guanajuato and moved to Fort Worth 16 years ago. She is the mother of two girls, and is a volunteer at T.A. Sims Elementary School in Fort Worth. She believes that if parents are involved in their children's school, it makes it easier for them to help their children at home. Her oldest daughter, Kimberly, has earned top scores in reading and mathematics on the TASK Test in the State of Texas.

The other 2008 Parent of the Year award recipients are Martha de la Mar, Jose Salvador, Maria de la Luz Flores, Martha A. Arias and Lydia Curiel.

Horne adds, "ETS is proud to partner with the 'Parents Step Ahead' program. This organization shares ETS's objectives to improve educational outcomes, with an emphasis on English-language learners, narrowing achievement gaps and helping students transition from one educational level to the next."

Founded by El Hispano News -- in cooperation with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), Garland Independent School District (GISD), Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) and various community organizations -- "Parents Step Ahead" prepares and educates parents to meet the challenges faced by today's youth. The program's mission is to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children.

The mission of El Hispano News is "to inform, to advocate and to empower the Hispanic community." With the majority of school students in Dallas, Garland and Fort Worth being Hispanic, the paper not only provides vital news and information, but equips readers with the necessary resources needed to achieve success in life.

For more information regarding the "Parents Step Ahead" program, please call 214-357-2186.

About ETS

At nonprofit ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English-language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually -- including the TOEFL(R) and TOEIC(R) tests, the GRE(R) test and The Praxis Series(TM) assessments -- in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

Contact: Jason Baran 609-683-2428 jbaran@ets.org

 

MarketWatch Community

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Caddo plans to increase technology, parental involvement at all schools

By Ashley Northington
adnorthington@gannett.com

Increasing technology, exposing students to foreign languages and helping parents help their children are some of the goals proposed for all Caddo students by the school district's superintendent.

Gerald Dawkins reviewed his plans for all of the parish's schools and students during forums Monday night at Huntington and North Caddo high schools.

Some of the plans are to increase the use of technology and provide all students with laptop computers over a three-year period.

The portable computers would have tracking devices so school officials would be able to monitor where the computers are at all times, middle school director Leisa Edwards said. Software would be installed at all schools so parents and students could see homework and classroom assignments and teachers could track attendance and communicate more efficiently with parents, she said.

Another major component of Dawkins' plan is to expose all students to a foreign language at every grade level. "The currency of the new economy is technology and foreign languages," he told the small group gathered at the Huntington High forum.

Another initiative Dawkins proposes for all schools includes implementing a Parent University to help parents assist students academically. A parental orientation would be held at each school at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, he said.

"We have no choice but to move forward. If our children can't perform at the highest levels, then we've missed the boat. Average won't do in this new economy."

Caddo School Board member Dottie Bell, whose District 12 includes Huntington High, said, "Change is here and we've got to buy into it."

In addition to reviewing plans for all schools Monday, Dawkins addressed plans for 11 of the district's low-performing schools, which includes assigning new academic themes at each site, restaffing schools, lengthening the school day and increasing professional development for teachers and administrators.

Parent Tori Parrott, who teaches at Huntington High, said she thinks Dawkins' plans for the district are brilliant.

"I think the layout is fantastic," said Parrott, who has a daughter who attends Judson Fundamental Elementary Magnet and a daughter who attends Southern Hills Elementary.

"We are kind of low on the totem pole when it comes to education. And I believe my children should have access to technology and other resources so they can be competitive," Parrott said. "I think it's a brilliant idea, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will all turn out."

She asked Dawkins if her children would be able to attend the reconfigured low-performing schools.

The schools would be neighborhood campuses and those who live nearby would have first priority, he said, but there may be spots for other children outside the 11 schools' attendance zones to attend.

"I don't believe all of the district's smart children are at one school. I believe there are smart children at all of our schools in all of our neighborhoods," Dawkins said. "We're going to unleash some talent on this community that we've never seen before."

 Shreveport times


 

A Day In The Life Of A Teacher

 

1. A typical day in Leo Bennett- Cauchon’s classroom is anything but typical. One of Leo’s first tasks of the day is to connect with his instructional support team composed of: Erika Bell, Rogelio Aguilera, Consuelo Cordero, Jordana Zavala, and Castula Valdivia.

 

 

At 8:00 every morning, the classroom team meets to strategize for the day. Leo reviews receptive & expressive vocabulary that assistants will use to support language development such as “Give me the cup, bowl, plate, spoon.” He also gives input on how to “think functionally” and “sabotage the environment” to teach self-help skills, I.e., leaving the toilet seat up. Leo debriefs on prompting hierarchies and asks his staff to select photographs, which will support verbal directions in all routines.

 

 

2. While brainstorming with his assis-tants, Leo gets outfitted for the day with protective clothing. He explains that he is in the process of tweaking routines for two cohorts in his class, which he calls “the calm and active co-horts.” Among the gear that Leo stores in a fishing vest and utility belts that he wears throughout the day are ti m-ers for self-regulation, picture sym-bols, and student reinforcers such as favorite toys. Leo states that he uses multiple strategies to understand his students’ needs and “Safety First” is his motto.

 

 

3. Before the school day begins, Leo is often engaged in parent consultations over the phone or in the classroom. Leo has an “open door policy” with family members and colleagues. On any given day he can be engaged in consultation “on the fly” as he continually works to improve students’ educational programs. Leo believes that it is his calling to work as a member of a learning community and he comments, “I really love it here. There is a sense of community inherent with families and among the staff. My goal for the IVCEC classroom is to build linkages with families through regular home visits.”

 

 

4. Once students arrive, Leo sets in motion to provide structure for his students as well as his instructional support staff as the team leader. Since beginning in the Elementary Class at IVCEC in 8/03, Leo has created physical environments to promote student learning and independence. The first step, he explains, is establishing “sustainable routines to teach to students.” He continues that the “primary goal at their level is to address functional needs such as self-feeding and toileting training. The curriculum challenge is to develop a routine that accommodates individual needs.” Leo comments that his role is to find the “maximum level of control I can give back to the child.” This process involves three steps: engineering the environment, engaging students, and fading and generalizing to new environments. Leo spent a lot of his personal time shopping for everyday items such as plastic tubs and totes, kitchen utensils, etc. to provide each student with accommodations for meals. As the instructional leader, Leo has incorporated functional activities into every task throughout the school day in natural environments. One example of this is assigning students to wash dishes in the IVCEC kitchen after meals. Leo provides constant encouragement, praise, & reinforcement to students as they successfully complete tasks.

 

 

5. Students in Leo’s class go swimming in the IVCEC pool once each week and individual students participate in horseback riding lessons in 6 week cycles. Within the school day, students also participate in three different circle activities, each addressing different areas: English Language Development, Exercise, and Primary Language Maintenance. Pictured here are Humberto Flores and Esmeralda Lopez as they participate in ELD instruction through music. Leo’s goal is to enable his students “to participate in life as much as possible as we all live it.”

 

 

Leo’s first exposure to the field of special education was family discussion around the dinner table in his mother’s home. Like Leo, his mother, wife and 2 sisters are also working as special educators. Leo provided hospice care for his grandmother at the end of her life and his mother encouraged him to consider the profession be-cause it requires “patience and management of personal self-care,” and she knew that he has what it takes. Leo believes that the 10 years he staffed a homeless shelter and the 8 years he learned about animal husbandry when his family ranched in Campo and home-schooled four children have helped him to acquire a lot of skills for teaching. Leo received his Bachelor’s Degree from SDSU, IV Campus, in Public Administration, as an adult re-entry student. He has been a teacher for 6 years and holds both the Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe California teaching credentials. Leo and his wife, Terry, have five children and reside in El Centro. Terry and Leo’s sister, Therese, are also special educators at IVCEC.

November 2003

 


Leo Bennett-Cauchon

leocauchon@netscape.net

Phone: 307-8525



December 3, 2008

Editorial: Parent involvement vital for school changes

District deserves credit for letting families have a say on boundaries for new elementary

Editorial Board
argusleader.com

Deciding which school one's kids will attend is no small matter.

Many parents choose the location of their homes based partly on where they want their kids to go.

And quality education often isn't the only criteria that parents consider when picking a school. Stabile environments and relationships - with teachers and friends - also are benefits parents want to provide.

So when school boundaries change, the transition can be hard on families.

Unfortunately, that change is inevitable, especially in a city such as Sioux Falls, whose population continues to increase.

Because of the city's growth, the Sioux Falls School District will open a new school in August near 57th Street and the Tea-Ellis Road.

Thankfully, the district is involving parents in the process to help decide what the new school boundaries will look like.

In years past parents often felt the school district did not adequately listen to their concerns about boundary changes. But recent administrations have worked to remedy that problem, and for the past several years the district has made great strides to include parents.

The school board is holding public forums to discuss with parents the three boundary proposals for this latest change.

Under each proposal, some children would move from Discovery and John F. Kennedy schools to the new school. Students at Oscar Howe also might be affected.

School officials say they could amend the proposals if parents make other suggestions.

When it's all said and done, more than 500 elementary schoolchildren will be reassigned to different schools.

That's a big deal. So, the school board has done well for itself to include parents in the decision-making process.

 
 

DonorsChoose.org

Give to schools with just a click 

This story is taken from Sacbee / Living Here 

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter.

Fulfilling Student Projects
Sustaining Operations
Spreading the Word

Fulfilling Student Projects

DonorsChoose.org performs a good deal of work to ensure the integrity of its philanthropic marketplace. Here's how it works:

Public school teachers create student project proposals at DonorsChoose.org. This consists of writing a one page essay and listing the exact resource(s) needed.

DonorsChoose.org volunteers screen each project proposal before posting to the website. Volunteers verify that the teacher and project meet our eligibility requirements, emailing follow-up questions to the teacher if anything is unclear.

Concerned individuals fund the student projects of their choice—in whole or in part—and are emailed immediate email gift acknowledgments from DonorsChoose.org which can be used for tax deduction purposes.

DonorsChoose.org emails the school principal, alerting him/her to the funded project.

Within the next week, DonorsChoose.org forwards the donor an "e-thank-you" from the teacher, which notes the date by which the donor can expect his/her full feedback package.

DonorsChoose.org purchases the student materials and ships items directly to the school along with a disposable camera, guidelines for preparing feedback packages, and a stamped envelope in which to enclose the feedback.

Students experience the project that the donor made possible! The teacher photographs the students participating in the project and writes an impact letter to the donor. Students write their own thank-you notes. This feedback is then mailed to DonorsChoose.org headquarters.

DonorsChoose.org develops the photos, and compiles the letter and thank-you notes. This feedback is mailed to the donor(s) who completed the project or made a partial contribution of $100 or more.

DonorsChoose.org works equally hard to strengthen the framework which enables citizen philanthropists to connect with classrooms in need. In order to ensure a secure, efficient, and effective exchange, we:

 

  • Negotiate discounts and partnerships with vendors to get the best prices available.

  • Continually upgrade our web technology to make DonorsChoose.org more user-friendly and effective for donors and teachers.

  • Acquire and update databases of all the public schools in the regions we serve. We track everything from the principal's name to the number of students who receive free or reduced price lunch (a measure of poverty) to ensure the information we provide donors is accurate.

  • Create community awareness about DonorsChoose.org to increase funding of student projects.

Sustaining Operations

The price of a student project includes an optional fulfillment fee covering the work performed by DonorsChoose.org (see Fulfilling Student Projects). After clicking to fund a project, the donor may decide not to include this fulfillment fee. By choosing to include it, donors support the necessary resources—staff time, office space, and technology—to bring their chosen projects to life.

While the cost of fulfilling student projects remains the same, DonorsChoose.org offers a "scholarship" to higher need schools by discounting the fulfillment fee. Depending on the school's poverty level, fulfillment is assessed at 15%, 20%, or 25% of the project's cost. The vast majority of schools using DonorsChoose.org have high rates of poverty, so most proposals carry the 15% fulfillment fee.

Donors' inclusion of the fulfillment fee is essential to the existence and success of DonorsChoose.org. Thankfully, 90% of donation dollars come to us with the fulfillment fee included, and income thus earned allows us to continue our work.

As more student projects are funded and donors continue to include the fulfillment fee, DonorsChoose.org becomes increasingly self-sustaining. However, during this early stage in our growth, we also depend on grants and contributions to support our operation.

Spreading the Word

The most powerful motivator of new donors is you. By sharing DonorsChoose.org with friends, family, and colleagues, you can help bring resources to students in struggling classrooms. Ways to involve one's personal community include:

Funding a project in someone's honor. Here, the donor can recognize someone special by funding a project in his/her honor. The donor gets the tax deduction and the honoree is acknowledged by the classroom.

Giving a GivingCard. A DonorsChoose.org GivingCard allows the giver to get the tax deduction and enables the recipient to fund student project(s) of his/her choice—and to receive the classroom acknowledgment. Parents often use this tool to introduce their children to philanthropy. Click here to give a GivingCard.

Opening a Gift Registry. Whether getting married or running the marathon, DonorsChoose.org supporters can use special occasions to help students learn. The gift registry feature enables anyone to select his/her favorite projects and to share that list with family and friends via our email engine. The registrant is acknowledged by the classroom, while the tax deduction goes to those who donate to projects on the gift registry. Click here to open a gift registry.

Learn about more ways to help spread the word about DonorsChoose.org.

More questions? Please see our Frequently Asked Questions in the Help section.

 

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Parents Honored for Being Involved
Washington Post - 10 hours ago
Three Southern Marylanders are among those who have been honored with Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards, which recognize parents from jurisdictions across Maryland.


Family Connection Parent Involvement meeting
Forest Blade - Apr 9, 2008
Parents, please come join us on April 15, 2008, at 7:00 pm at Calvary United Methodist Church for the Emanuel County Family Connection Parent Involvement meeting. Bring your unique perspective of what is important to you regarding children and families ...

Hard Work Rewarded
Cumberland Times-News - Apr 11, 2008
CUMBERLAND - Erin DeLong's hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed - she has been selected as the Allegany County winner of the 2008 Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Award. "I am very excited for the school and for the (academic endowment ...

At Goldie Maple Academy In Queen, Parent Involvement Is A Must
NY1 - Apr 7, 2008
Queens is home to some of the most overcrowded public schools in the city, but as NY1's Ruschell Boone explains in the following report, there is plenty of room at one Rockaway school, where parent involvement is required. Latisha Thomas and her fiancé ...

San Bernardino Unified hoping parental councils will help African ...
Press-Enterprise - Apr 12, 2008
By MELANIE C. JOHNSON SAN BERNARDINO - School district officials hope more parent involvement will improve the academic achievement of black students.


St. Charles Journal
'Fear Factor' hits Prather Elementary
St. Charles Journal - 5 hours ago
By Jason Sibert Prather Elementary's Parental Involvement Night on Thursday allowed parents and students the chance to learn and have fun together.

Parent Involvement Symposium April 5
Leesburg Today - Apr 3, 2008
The school system's Office of Outreach Programs and the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee will host the second annual Parent Involvement Symposium April 5 at Stone Bridge High School. Organizers describe Kuykendall as one of the most ...

Schools Seek to Channel Parent Involvement
Education Week News - Apr 1, 2008
But in recent years, incidents reported in the news media have dabbed shadows on that glowing picture of parent involvement, raising issues about whether demanding adults have made teachers’ jobs harder and compromised learning.


Bay Today
Space still available to hear Youthography founder
Bay Today - Apr 8, 2008
By Kate Adams Last year the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee held a symposium featuring Craig Kielburger and it generated a great deal of excitement, this year the committee is looking for a repeat as ...


Gulf Times
Parent involvement boosts child’s learning, says expert
Gulf Times - Mar 17, 2008
INVESTING in parent involvement is one of the most powerful ways to increase student learning and school achievement, a leading global expert on parental and family engagement in education has said.

Parent Involvement
WIFR - Mar 17, 2008
For every two students at Kennedy Middle School, there's an average of one parent who shows up to parent-teacher conferences.

Roanoke City Schools holds class at "Parent University"
WDBJ7.com - 20 hours ago
Roanoke City Public Schools held the seminar at Patrick Henry High School, hoping to increase parental involvement in the school system.

More comments from Cortines
Los Angeles Times - Apr 10, 2008
[Cortines listed local control, parent involvement, teachers engaged in decision-making, the importance of leadership, principals and regional administrators having responsibility and authority.

Braun, Drown differ on issues
Easton Journal - Apr 10, 2008
By Jessica Hackett School Committee candidates weighed in this week on issues from parent involvement to whether to use town funds for improvements at Muscato Stadium.
MOORE: Being a good parent to our parents
Lufkin Daily News - 11 hours ago
They are active, independent seniors, who cherish their ability to take care of their every need, with little involvement of their children.

Candidates speak at Eggs and Issues
Carthage Press - Mar 28, 2008
Snow said parental involvement is key to combating underage drinking and there is a limit to what a board of education can do with that issue.
Candidates assess growth in Carthage Joplin Globe
all 3 news articles »


Gulf Times
Parent involvement boosts child’s learning, says expert
Gulf Times - Mar 17, 2008
INVESTING in parent involvement is one of the most powerful ways to increase student learning and school achievement, a leading global expert on parental and family engagement in education has said.

Parent Involvement
WIFR - Mar 17, 2008
For every two students at Kennedy Middle School, there's an average of one parent who shows up to parent-teacher conferences.


For Newton's retiring principal Brian Buckley, it's all about the kids
Portsmouth Herald News - Mar 28, 2008
The level of parent involvement in Newton is the best he's seen in his career, Buckley said. To prove it, he pointed to a 90 percent parent-involvement rate. The school has won the New Hampshire Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Partnership Award ...


Children's children
Hagerstown Morning Herald - 4 hours ago
Without parental and community involvement, those statistics could continue to rise, she said. "I think we need to have parents more concerned about being a parent than being their teen's friend," she said. "We're hearing about teenagers having ...



Blue Springs Examiner
Community activist Curtis passes away
Blue Springs Examiner - Mar 29, 2008
By Debbie Coleman-topi | deborah.topi@examiner.net Catherine Curtis, a longtime Independence resident known for her civic involvement and community volunteerism, died Friday. Curtis, who championed children through her 27-year involvement in the Parent ...


Raising Kaine: Governor Answers Parents’ Call on Education
TriCities.com - 12 hours ago
It’sa complicated process, but in short, these Virginia Department of Education proposals would eliminate or reduce parental involvement in how the state handles children with disabilities. My 5-year-old son has benefitted from Virginia’s regulations, ...

In a group of standouts, one school stands out
San Jose Mercury News - 2 hours ago
The community places a strong emphasis on education - particularly science, music and art, as well as involvement in youth sports like soccer.


Peninsula On-line
Parents make the difference
Peninsula On-line - Mar 17, 2008
Dr Weiss, founder and director of Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP), said parent involvement is a major component of American education reform efforts.
 
Parent-teacher talks need mutual respect
Baltimore Sun - 1 hour ago
... The Parent-Teacher Partnership: How to Work Together for Student Achievement, said parent-teacher conferences are crucial, noting that one provision of the federal No Child Left Behind Act school reform law calls for more parental involvement.

Workshop focuses on parent involvement
Dodge City Daily Globe - Mar 8, 2008
Increasing parental involvement at Dodge City Public Schools was a key issue at a Board of Education workshop Friday morning, held to discuss future goals for both the board and the district.

Science workshop blows students away
Cleveland Daily Banner - 3 hours ago
Mayfield Elementary parent involvement coordinator Hillis Cavender recruited Robinson to the school. “I really wanted to get parents engaged in academic settings.


Parent involvement expo set for Saturday
Belleville View - Mar 5, 2008
The Van Buren Public Schools Parent Involvement Committee will hold their Third Annual Parent Involvement Expo Saturday, hosted at the Wayne County Community College Western Campus.

Program focuses on bonds between parents and kids
Santa Cruz Sentinel - 3 hours ago
"The results are already coming in, in the form of better student behavior, better academic performance, and more parent involvement with the school." The program is based on research into what works in building stronger families and increasing family ...


Fairfield school wins top PTA honor
Connecticut Post - Mar 13, 2008
The National PTA last night recertified McKinley as a "Parent Involvement School of Excellence." McKinley was the only school in Connecticut to receive the three-year certification this year and one of only seven schools in Connecticut to have ever ...

Anne Arundel Education Notes
Baltimore Sun - 7 hours ago
The Brock Bridge Elementary School Parent Teacher Association has received the National PTA's Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification. The Laurel school's PTA has 243 members, 5 percent more than it had a year ago.

Mitchell: Parent involvement school of excellence
YourHub.com - Feb 28, 2008
National PTA has certified Mitchell Elementary as a Parent Involvement School of Excellence. PTA's Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence certification recognizes schools that uphold the highest standards in parent involvement.

Community focus:
Meridian Star - 9 hours ago
She said the summits included professional consultants as well as students and community members, but that the ideas from everyone all came back to increasing motivation through curriculum change, parent involvement, and peer encouragement.

Parents, staff participate in PIE
Belleville View - Mar 12, 2008
By Elaine Burnett , Special Writer Wayne County Community College District and the Parent Involvement Committee of Van Buren Public Schools hosted the third annual Parent Involvement Expo on Saturday. Kimberly Nofz, a parent coordinator of the Parent ...

Parents organize to help Willow Run schools
The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com - Mar 14, 2008
Ford Elementary School Principal Joe Ann Allen agreed that parent involvement is one of several factors important to a school's success.
Robichaud offering classes for parents Dearborn Press and Guide
all 3 news articles »

KC school board looks for ways to improve ties with community
Kansas City Star - Mar 6, 2008
“If this is a task force only on parent involvement, this is very different from what I thought this was going to be,” Stanton said.

Keith Davis keynote for Parent Involvement
Paris News - Feb 19, 2008
By Mary Madewell Keith Davis, former linebacker with the New York Giants, is to keynote the Region VIII fifth annual Parent Involvement Conference Saturday at Aikin Elementary. The conference is scheduled from 8:30 am until 1 pm at 3100 Pine Mill Rd.