Parent & Community Issues

Research consistently shows that parent involvement increases student achievement and self esteem. Children achieve higher grades and test scores, have better attendance at school, complete more homework, and demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors when families are positively involved in their education.

The goal of Parent Involvement is to help parents and family caregivers strengthen their parenting skills. Parents are the first teachers to their child and play an integral role in their development. Increased parenting skills are needed as children progress through stages of development.

Resources

• Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) ManualAsk your PTA president if your school has a copy or if your council has a copy. The PEP manual comes in a blue binder and there is also a Spanish version that comes in a green binder. The PEP manual is full of information about getting involved with your school and helping your child be successful.

  Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) supports PTA's leadership role in parent education. It is a resource that assist PTA leaders in carrying out an effective parent education and involvement program and it is a catalyst to help PTA leaders to develop their own creative thoughts and ideas to bring about parent involvement. It is full of ideas that your PTA can bring together to help their members see how important it is to be involved in their child’s education. The manual is in two parts. The chapters in the first part focus on school-related issues and the chapters in the second part concentrate on basic concerns parents have in raising their children. There is information dealing with early childhood all the way to teens. The chapter on Parents -Teen relationships is very informative in helping you understand the importance of staying involved in your teen’s life.

  This is available for purchase through the California State PTA. You may also download the Guide (Adobe PDF) from their web site.

• Parenting Education Grants Grants are available annually from the California State PTA for use by PTA districts, councils, or units to develop and implement parent education programs or projects. (click link above for information).

• Three For Me
Three for Me is a promise, a promise from parent to school and a promise from parent to child. By signing a promise card, parents commit to volunteer three hours of their time to the school on behalf of their child. Three for Me will help schools and other volunteer based organizations reach volunteer hours never thought possible. Learn how to tap into the many talents and skills that parents are happy to offer. Get Three for Me started at your school, church or organization today and watch your environment change!
• Family Involvement News
Published by the Orange County Dept. of Education (OCDE) - This publication was started in 2004 using the six research-based areas of family involvement as its framework. This issue addresses "learning at home" (October 2005)

Links of Interest*:

• Healthy Fundraising - Promoting a Healthy School Environment (PDF)
• Parent Involvement Tips and Ideas (from Orange Leaves newsletter)
• Parent Involvement - Parenting E-News
• Parent Resources Library (available for check-out from the 4th District office)
• The Family Education Network
• Connect For Kids

If you have questions, please contact