1. Can We Talk? Speaking Up for Your Child to Help Them Succeed
Welcome – and Share Purpose for the Session – Parent Advocacy
Speaking Up for Your Child and Every Child
Parents are advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success
The parent advocate you have been looking for is you
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2. Outcomes
Discussed how to effectively talk with teachers and principals and advocate for their child
Learned about the importance of parent involvement to help my child succeed
Shared tips and networked with other parents
Review the outcomes for the session.
This session provides an opportunity for you as a parent to talk with other parents. Together, parent-to-parent we will:
Simplify the school process for working with the school to help your child
Discuss and develop steps to take action
Share tips and learn from each other
Make contacts with other parents
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3. Nearly half of the new jobs created in the
next 10 years will require some kind of
college education—whether it’s
community college, a four-year college, or
technical school. If the trend continues,
there will be fewer and fewer jobs
available for those with only a
high school diploma.
Share statements on slide.
At this session you will learn about the Wilson County Schools commitment to helping every student leave high school prepared for college and career success. We need your help. As parents and educators we have to work together. In today’s world, our children have a greater chance of achieving their dreams if they continue their education beyond high school.
More education pays off. Did you know that the average college graduate will earn $2.1 million dollars over a lifetime? That’s nearly double what the average high school graduate will make. It is important for every child who wants to go to college to be able to do so and to know what it takes to succeed in college and earn a degree.
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4. Agree
Disagree or
If my child is struggling in school, I know who to contact to share my concerns.
Read the statement n the screen to the parent and ask them to hold up the card the best describes how they feel. (agree/ disagree)
Then ask if anyone would like to share.
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5. I feel comfortable advocating for my child.
Agree or
Disagree
I feel comfortable advocating for my child.
Read the statement n the screen to the parent and ask them to hold up the card the best describes how they feel. (agree/ disagree)
Then ask if anyone would like to share.
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6. Insert Picture
Share an experience where you had to advocate for your child.
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7. What the Research Says Parent involvement has a positive
impact on students’ academic
achievement, behavior, and
attitudes about school and work
The U.S. Department of Education defines parent involvement as the participation of parents in regular, two-way communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.
Dr. Karen Mapp, Harvard University and Dr. Anne Henderson, Annenberg Institute – two top national researchers on the effect of examined over 30 studies that specifically addressed the connection between student achievement and parent involvement activities. The bottom line is that
over many years of research proves that that parent involvement has a positive impact on students’ academic achievement, behavior and attitudes about school.
We know –
Parents are their children’s first and most influential teacher.
The home is where language and learning begins and values are taught and nurtured.
Families, schools, and community groups all contribute to student achievement – and the best results happen when all three are working together.
When parents are involved in school, children do better in school, they go to better schools.
The continuity of family involvement at home has a positive influence on children as they progress through a complex education
System. This suggests that the more families support their children’s learning and educational progress, the more their children
do well in school and continue their education after high school graduation.

8. Family Engagement Core Beliefs
All parents have dreams for their children and want the
best for them.
Core Belief 2
All parents have the capacity to support their children’s learning.
Core Belief 3
Parents and school staff should be equal partners.
Dr. Karen Mapp, and Dr. Anne Henderson outline core beliefs that support family engagement and support that parent
Involvement has a positive impact on student achievement and success.
Share the core beliefs.
Families of all cultural backgrounds, education, and income levels encourage their children, talk with them about school, help
Them prepare and plan for higher education, and keep them focused on learning and homework. In other words, all families
Can, and often do, have a positive influence on their children’s learning.
The relationships between family and involvement and student performance holds for families of all backgrounds. The ways parents are involved matters, too. Improved performance is most strongly connected to parent involvement that is focused on learning, developing students’ skills in specific subjects, and steering students toward more challenging classes.
Close working relationships between teachers and families are also related to improved performance.
Core Belief 4
The responsibility for building partnerships between home and school rests primarily with school staff. Especially school leaders. .
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9. Road Blocks to Family Engagement
Take five minutes to identify family
engagement barriers at your school.
Each group will share one road block.
Large Group – facilitator will share directions for small groups – and that we will have 15 minutes for the activity.
Each small group
Ask participants to say their name, school/s children attend
Road Blocks to Parent/Family Involvement
Discuss and identify road blocks to parent involvement at your school.
PAC members will help their group be prepared to share one roadblock with the whole group.
Write road blocks on chart paper
Below are examples of road blocks to parent involvement that may help guide the discussion.
Lack of time
Child care
Work schedule
Feeling intimidated
Not feeling welcome
Lack of transportation
Language and cultural differences
Not understanding the system
Feeling they don’t belong
Not sure how to participate
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10. Keeping Up with The School
School Website
Newsletters
Information That Comes Home
PTO Meetings
School Events
Parent Portal
Make sure the school knows you.
All about relationships between home and school.
Make school a priority, not just when there is a problem.
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11. Teachers and Principals
Know who they are.
What is best way to contact them?
What is the best time?
Keep in touch on a regular basis.
Send short s, notes, to keep them informed.
Discuss the importance of knowing the teachers and principal.
When you have questions or concerns, ask the teacher first.
Keep track of dates of meetings, phone calls, s, notes, work samples.
Teachers want the best for your child and will work with you to help your child.
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12. How can I advocate for my child?
Monitor your child’s performance
Take advantage of resources for parents
Take notes
Talk with your child’s teachers
Ask questions
Keep calm, cool, and collected
As parents, we can help our children in their journey by talking with them about their subjects. The brochure outlines some action steps for parents. Encourage your children to work hard and take the most challenging courses. Additionally, encourage your child to take advantage of resources and supports at school. Every school offers interventions, after-school programs, re-teaching opportunities and more.
Monitor your child’s performance. Use Parent Portal to keep up with your child’s grades.
Talk with your child’s teachers, school counselor, and principal. Find out how your child is doing and what you can do to help.
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13. Assistant Superintendent
Advocacy Steps
Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Principal
Teacher
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14. Advocacy Scenarios Table Talk Discuss a scenario
Brainstorm action steps
Large Group – Film Clips – showing parent advocacy scenarios
Set the context and share tips
Scenario 1 – Parent walking into the principal’s office to talk about an issue
Scenario 2 – Parent wants to know how her child is doing in school by asking questions during a parent/teacher conference
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15.
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16. Take a few minutes at your table to the discuss the scenario.
Use the guided questions sheet for your table discussion.
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17.
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18. Take a few minutes at your table to the discuss the scenario.
Use the guided questions sheet for your table discussion.
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19. Organize your thoughts Cool, calm, collected Active listening
Ask questions
Do keep an open mind
Visit the school, often
Organize your thoughts
Cool, calm, collected
Active listening
Take notes
Encourage your child to respectfully speak up themselves
Home
School
Share the ADVOCATE tips, that were developed by the Parent Advisory Council.
Also share the other resources available in the packet.
Questions parents can ask.
WCS Advocacy brochure
Who to contact page
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20. Parent Action Plan I have a concern… I will take these steps
I would like
my child to…
I will take these steps
to help my child…
3 Minutes
Guide parents to the Parent Action Plan handout – which has three columns.
I have a concern… (what is the issue?)
I would like my child to…(what is the goal for my child?)
I’ll take these steps to help my child…(what do I do as a parent to advocate for my child?)
Walk parents through the first two examples…
My child doesn’t seem to understand algebra and is failing the course.
I have a meeting with a large team of teachers to discuss my child’s educational needs.
Provide parents with 3-4 minutes to quietly write down a concern, goals for their child, and action steps.
10 Minutes
Ask if anyone is willing to share a concern, goals for their child and discuss action steps to resolve the issue. As a group brainstorm other steps that the parent may consider.
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21. “Two Top Tips”
Large Group - Two Top Tips – to summarize and bring the group back together.
Each table share 2 top tips from their small group discussion, that will be helpful for other parents.
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22. “Teachers, no matter how dedicated or
effective, cannot make sure your child
leaves for school on time and does their
homework when they get back at night.
These are things only a parent can do.
These are things that our parents must do.”
- President Barack Obama
We must work together. We all have dreams for our children. Together we have to help our children dream big and aim high.
Yes, we are stretching our students to read and do math at advanced levels, take rigorous courses, and be better prepared for college and their future careers.
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