What is Parent Involvement?

Research shows that students with parents who are involved in their children's education achieve more. Exactly what is "parent involvement?" Some parents have the time available to volunteer in a classroom or serve on committees; others have more limited opportunities. Being involved in your children's education at home is actually the best place to begin.

Below are a few things you can do with your children on a daily basis that will make a difference in their education:

• Encourage your children to develop a reading habit.
• Read to or with your children every day.
• Encourage independent reading every day.
• Make frequent trips to the library.
• Provide your children with appropriate reading and writing materials.
• Take an interest in your children's schoolwork and activities.
• Talk about what they are learning, look at papers brought home from school, and help with and/or review homework assignments.
• Designate a workplace for your children, and identify a specific time each day when homework will be completed.
• Communicate with your children's teachers - through notes, phone calls, and visits. Be aware of your children's strengths and weaknesses and ask what role you can play to help your children reach their potential.
• Play games that help your children read and practice basic math facts and computations.
• Visit locations such as parks, museums, zoos, colleges and universities, and local landmarks with your children. Provide exposure to activities and experiences to broaden their understanding of the work around them.
• Make learning relevant . Ask your children to do things - such as count money, write grocery lists, calculate costs, read menus, read the newspaper, write letters - that require them to use the information they are learning in school.
• Talk to and listen to your children every day.
  

At Your Child's School

• Library/Media Committee - This committee reviews library books and textbooks when concerns are expressed. Two parents at each school are chosen to serve on this committee.
• School Generated Funds/Budget Committee - One parent serves on this committee at each school to help determine fund expenditures.
• School Safety Committee - A parent is selected to work with this committee to help develop and implement a school safety plan.
• Learning Improvement Team (LIT) - The Learning Improvement Team, with two positions for parents, develops a school improvement plan, designed to increase student learning, which is coordinated with the Professional Development Center and the Academic Council.
• PTA, PTO, PAC, or other parent organizations - Many opportunities exist for parents to serve through parent organizations. Attend meetings to get involved; call the school's office for details.
• School functions - Attend special events such as open house, parent/teacher conferences, concerts, and other events. Read the school's newsletter or bulletins or call the school's office for information about special events.
• Parent surveys - Take the time to respond to questionnaires sent to you by your principal. Surveys allow parents opportunities for input and provide valuable feedback to principals.
• Classroom volunteers - Check with your child's teacher to see how you can volunteer in the classroom. If you would like to visit your child's classroom, please notify your principal to make arrangements.
• Use the telephone - Need more information? Call your school and talk to the office staff, principal, or your child's teacher. If you want to discuss your child's schoolwork progress, call and arrange an appointment with the teacher.

Through District Opportunities

• Attendance Zone Advisory Commission (AZAC) - AZAC reviews attendance zones every year and provides recommendations to trustees concerning necessary changes to attendance boundaries. The 15-member committee consists of individuals from the community, appointed by the Board of School Trustees. All meetings are open to the public.
• Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) - An independent 19-member body that monitors compliance with building program goals, advises the Board of School Trustees on capital bond fund construction programs, and keeps the public informed. BOC members are appointed by the Board of School Trustees. The public is invited to attend these meetings.
• Friends of Special Education - A support group for parents with children requiring special services. Parents who have concerns about their child's education, IEP, or services are matched with a parent volunteer from the Friends network whose child has the same type of disability, and who can provide direction and suggestions.
• Sex Education Committee - An advisory committee, consisting of parents and community members, who advise the board concerning the content and materials to be used in classroom instruction, and the recommended grade levels at which the instruction is offered.
• Ad Hoc Committees - From time to time, the board creates committees with the task of studying specific concerns, such as reading or the dropout rate. Parents are often appointed by trustees to serve on these committees.
• Newsletter Mailing List - Some board members send newsletters on a regular basis. If you would like to be included on a mailing list, please call the Area Service Center.

Through Your Board of Trustees

• Parent Advisory Committees (PAC) - Each trustee organizes a PAC designed specifically to encourage communication between parents and board members. Call the Area Service Center or the School Board Office to learn about the time and location of your trustee's PAC meetings.
• Regular Board Meetings - School board meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m.; citizens wishing to address the board at these meetings must sign up to speak by calling (702) 799-5307 or (702) 799-5310 between 7:30 a.m. the day prior to and 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Although the public is encouraged to attend board meetings, they are also encouraged to attend the committee meetings listed above to have greater input on matters of concern to them.