1. Presented by the Parent & Educator Partnership Adapted from the Center for Parent Leadership, Lexington, KY. 1

2. Parent Leadership 101 Objectives Introduce the concept of parent leadership; Identify ways partner with schools to engage more families; and Develop a plan for reaching parents to support school improvement 2

3. A little housekeeping Hospitality Table Parking Lot Supplies Word Wall Working Agreements 3

4. Everyone shares knowledge and skills Common courtesy Avoid distracting side conversations Share table supplies What’s said here stays here, what’s learned here leaves Law of two feet Turn electronics to silent or vibrate mode Call to action…… 4

5. A Sweet Way to Meet Green-Hobbies and interests Brown- Work Yellow- Your school activities Orange- Something you did in school that you are proud of Red-Example of some ways you serve other parents Blue-Your personal strengths

6. Parent Engagement Why should parents be engaged? What is the parent’s role in education? 6

7. PARENTS AS PARTNERS Why engage families with schools, isn’t student achievement the school’s responsibility? 7

8. Keys Ways Parents May Be Involved TeacherSupporter Advocate Decision Maker Leaders of other Parents 8

9. WHEN PARENTS ARE INVOLVED AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, children do better in school and the schools get better 9

10. When parents are involved, students gain: Higher grades and test scores Better attendance/more homework done Less need for special education More positive attitudes and behavior Higher graduation rates More post-secondary education

11. Benefits of parent involvement for families: More confidence in the school Higher teacher expectations of their children Higher teacher opinions of parents More self-confidence More likely to continue their own education

12. Involving families can improve schools Improved teacher morale Higher ratings of teachers by parents More support from families Higher student achievement Better reputation in the community

13. Good family engagement programs believe that all families Have strengths Can contribute to education Can learn to help Have useful ideas and insights Care deeply about their children

14. Parents are more likely to become involved if they: Understand they should be involved Know they are capable of making a contribution Feel invited by the school and their children

15. IS YOUR SCHOOL A WELCOMING SCHOOL? Involved families: The entire school staff builds strong relationships with families and communities to support learning.

16. With an Elbow Partner, Discuss: A situation that made you feel unwelcome at school; and A situation that made you feel welcome at school. What could have been done differently to help you feel welcomed?

17. Fortress School Goal:Protect School Parents:Stay Home Teachers:Teach Info:One-Way PTO/A:Hand-Picked Decisions:Principal 17

18. Come If We Call School Goal:Share Values Parents:Reinforce School Teachers:Conferences/Open Houses Info:School Handbook PTO/A:Meets Monthly Principal Speaks Decisions:Principal & Lead Teachers 18

19. Open Door School Goal:Enrich School Parents:Share & Help Teachers:Know Families/Build on Strengths Info:Friday Folders PTO/A:Parent Committees Decisions:School Council 19

20. Partnership School All Kids Learn PARENTS & TEACHERS: Know Each Other Serve on Committees Make Decisions Look at Data Share Information 20

21. Barriers Three-way rotation: Brainstorm barriers to parent involvement Identify 5 major barriers Prioritize the top 3 barriers 21

22. Changing barriers to challenges Barrier: little or no open, 2-way communication between school and home Challenge: our school has multiple avenues for open, 2-way communication between school and home. 22

23. Reflections Which of the parent roles is easiest for you? Which research point is most convincing? What kind of school do I have? Which barrier can I help reduce or eliminate? What are two things my school could do to be more welcoming to families? 23

24. CONNECTING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT Student Achievement Data School Improvement Plan Family Engagement action planning to support School Improvement Plan

25. ISAT scores grades 3-8 PSAE scores HS, grade 11 Explore/Plan scores AYP status Surveys from parents, teachers, and students Student grades Student enrollment Student attendance Graduation rates School Data Sources

26. Report Card Scavenger Hunt Use your school report card and the scavenger hunt provided to look more closely at your school data.

27. Action Plan How will you help parents: Understand they should be involved; Know they are capable of making a contribution; and Feel welcomed by their school and children? How will your plan connect to school improvement? 27

28. “As parents, we are the owners of the public school system. As owners, we bear a responsibility to participate in the school. Accountability for the schools, their employees and their funding rests with us and the rest of the schools’ owners. Our children’s future depends on the improvement of public schools, and school improvement depends on our participation.” Woodrow Wilson, 28 th President of the United States 1913 - 1921 28