We’ve talked a lot about parents taking a proactive approach to their children’s education, from reading and math readiness to social skill development. There is a second phase to this hands-on approach to schooling that begins the day your child walks into their kindergarten classroom for the very first time.
Employing regular and open communication between home and school is a vital aspect to the success of any child’s education. Parents who engage with their children’s teachers to find the best ways to educate their kids not only improve the possibility of their child having a better education, they also gain perspective to the realities of their child’s classroom, their school environment and the complexities of as teacher’s daily work.
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was founded in Washington, DC in 1897, and for more than 100 years has bridged the gap between educators and parents to improve the overall education process and results for kids in the US. Recently, the Family Engagement in Education Act was introduced to Congress, incentivizing school districts to “meaningfully engage families to close the achievement gap.” According to the PTA website,
http://www.pta.org/Index.asp, on May 5, 2010 Congresswoman McCarthy (D-NY) and Congressman Platts (R-PA)introduced the bill to the House of Representatives on the basis of research that “demonstrates that family engagement in a child’s education increases student achievement, improves attendance, and reduces the dropout rate.”
Most school districts today have a PTA to help educate and empower teachers and parents together to improve their school district. If you don’t have a PTA in your schools, you can start the process by filling out a simple form on the PTA website at
http://www.pta.org/findLocalPTA/sendmail2.... Continue to be proactive with your child’s education even after they start school by joining your local PTA or PTO or starting a new chapter in your district. There is no downside to staying involved with your child’s education, and your teachers and schools will benefit from active and informed parents.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 12:26PM
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