MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS * OFFICE OF INSTRUCTION AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

What is Parent Involvement

…the participation of parents in every facet of the education and development of children from birth to adulthood, recognizing that parents are the primary influence in children’s lives. Parent involvement takes many forms, including the parents’ shared responsibilities in decisions about children’s education, health, and well-being, as well as the parents’ participation in organization that reflect the community’s collaborative aspirations for all children.

• Improves home-school relationship.
• Enhances child’s self-esteem.
• Helps parents and the community develop positive attitudes toward school and a better understanding of the schooling process.
• Students receive higher grades and higher test scores.
• It leads to higher long-term academic achievement.
• School programs are more successful.
• Builds more effective schools.
• Enhances the community’s perception of the schools.
• Creates higher community awareness and support for public schools.

You’re involved when you…

• Send your child to school each day well-rested, fed, healthy and with a big hug to start the day.
• Provide a place to study and the tools—pencils, paper, dictionary—your child needs.
• Talk with your child about the day---how he or she feels about it—and encourage your child to do his or her homework.
• Read, play games, or just talk with your child.
• Give him or her opportunities to practice the skills being learned in school by doing everyday tasks.
• Display his or her schoolwork.
• Meet with his or her teachers.
• Ask the school staff any questions you have.
• Join your local PTA.
• Volunteer in school or do tasks at home.
• Work with the PTA and other parents to make school better for all children.
• Reassure your child that you are there for him or her as the years go by.

• Work with school staff members to develop an ongoing, comprehensive action plan.
• Work with school staff members to create a warm, welcome setting for all.
• Offer a variety of family activity opportunities.
• Sponsor parent information programs on issues such as substance abuse, curriculum, textbooks, and computer-assisted learning. Offer language translation whenever possible.
• Assume an active role on school advisory and decision-making committees. Establish ways of getting information to and from parents.
• Take meetings into the community when necessary to make parents and other community members feel welcome. Use locations such as homes, community centers and public libraries.
• Disseminate information to parents about how to contact their child’s teacher and the school principal.

…. About encouraging parent involvement, contact your local PTA.

Or contact: Maryland PTA

3121 St. Paul Street, Suite 25

Baltimore Maryland 21218

Phone: (410) 235-7290

Fax: (410) 235-0537

This document was adopted with permission from the National PTA.