Engaged Parents...Are Others Watching?

[Anne Foster of Parents for Public Schools adds another Parent Voice with this post. See Anne's bio below, and welcome aboard, Anne. - Eds.]

"High student achievement in diverse public school settings is taking place in many school districts across the nation, and we should take note and see how they are doing it. One of the measures of success is how well a school district brings a diverse group of parents into partnership with the schools."

It was a cold, cloudy, February morning in Portland, Oregon, as about 250 parents from Portland Public Schools gathered at daVinci Middle School (which has an art focus) for the annual Parent Leadership Conference sponsored by Community and Parents for Public Schools of Portland.

It's a given that each of these parents could have found other things to do with their weekend, but it's good news for Portland Public Schools and students that these parents chose to come and learn how to be strong advocates for their children's education. The parents were a very diverse group, and some conferences were translated into Spanish and Somali. Workshops included Understanding the US Educational System; Parent Involvement at Your School; and How To Help Your Student Become Successful. The crowd was relaxed and seemed comfortable with its diversity. Conversations were flowing over coffee and danish, and lunch was shared at the end.

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith and other community leaders attended and took questions from the parents. Questions were sincere and targeted to the quality of public education being offered in Portland. Superintendent Smith seemed anxious to relate to the parents and to answer their questions. A parent asked how the district is addressing the need for the recruitment and development of a diverse staff. The superintendent explained the district's recruiting plan as well as its work to increase the depth of cultural knowledge as a school district.

Another question centered on how the district is communicating with families who do not have computer access. District staff explained that they are actively working with this situation, by including hard copies of communications pieces that are distributed through local schools, even as they communicate with some families via computer.

Such are the issues that schools in the United States must address as our population becomes ever more diverse. There are many issues that parents care about.

These parents and their concerns reminded me of those I encountered as an elected school board member in Richardson (Texas) ISD. That district was once largely homogeneous but today has students who represent over 100 native languages. Like Portland, Richardson is a community where public education is highly regarded and supported, and where schools are finding ways to be successful with all students. High student achievement in diverse public school settings is taking place in many school districts across the nation, and we should take note and see how they are doing it. One of the measures of success is how well a school district brings a diverse group of parents into partnership with the schools.

As a school board member, I sometimes had parents approach me about not wanting their children to go to a certain school where "those parents don't love their children." I was always grateful for the opportunity to assure them that I had met many parents but never one whom I felt did not love their children. They might be from another culture, they might not speak English, they might be poor, and they might not know how to navigate their children's education. All of those issues are completely separate and different from loving their children. In fact, I found that they loved their children very much and wanted to be part of their educational process. They needed to be welcomed and shown how to do that.

Schools benefit when parents are engaged and knowledgeable about how to partner with schools for the success of their children's education. Public schools belong to everyone, but parents have an urgent need to see schools succeed. They can't wait for a better school or a bond election to pass or an improved curriculum. They're on a time frame with their kids, and the window is finite. A quality education assures their children of better opportunities and a better life.

Our public schools should seek ways to engage parents to become knowledgeable and actively involved in their children's schools. Schools can't have too many partners today to do a job that is increasingly complex and difficult. Parents should be among the key partners in schools and should be involved in decisions that affect their children. Savvy school districts such as Portland and Richardson already recognize this and will continue to enjoy success because of it. Are others watching?

Anne Foster is Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools, a national organization of community based chapters working with public school parents and other supporters to improve and strengthen local schools.