Public Education Initiative: Parental Involvement

"It Takes a Parent"


Cobb County parents gain helpful knowledge at Georgia Appleseed's NCLB-Parent Involvement workshop The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation's extensive focus on assessment and data was based upon the theory that providing parents with information about student and school performance would empower them to take action to improve the educational outcomes both of their children and of all children.

National Appleseed's landmark report, "It Takes a Parent," found that, in fact, the parent involvement provisions of NCLB are being largely overlooked. Information received by parents about their children and schools is often confusing and overwhelming, and parents do not know how to use it effectively to become better "consumers" of public education.

"It Takes a Parent" offers many recommendations based on its findings, including the development of strategies for communicating with and engaging parents, prioritization and funding of more comprehensive professional development around parent involvement, and encouraging schools to leverage their limited resources by engaging community organizations.

"It was excellent. It should be made available to as many educators as possible!"
—Habersham Educator Attendee Georgia Appleseed's Parental Involvement Initiative is intended to effect change based on the findings and recommendations of "It Takes a Parent." Its goal is to promote parent involvement as a central component in efforts to improve student achievement in Georgia. Its approach is multi-dimensional, incorporating strategies for training, professional development and public awareness, pro bono professional expertise and extensive collaboration. The target audience includes educators, parents, policy makers, and community leadership, all recognized as vital constituents in achieving strong, effective parent-school partnerships that benefit all children.

Education Advisory Council

Georgia Appleseed is guided on issues of educational interest and importance in Georgia by its volunteer Education Advisory Council (EAC), comprised of senior education leaders and community leaders from throughout Georgia with expertise in public education. Learn more about the EAC.

Project: Increasing Effective Parental Involvement

NCLB-PARENT INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOPS

From Valdosta to Cleveland, from LaGrange to Statesboro, over 800 parents and educators benefited from "NCLB Parent Involvement" workshops presented by Georgia Appleseed.

Theresa Brower, Georgia Appleseed's Parent Involvement Project Manager, and Cathy Henson, Chair of Georgia Appleseed's Education Advisory Council, traveled to school districts throughout Georgia to lead workshops to increase parents' understanding of their rights and responsibilities under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and to enhance parents' ability to effectively use the data NCLB generates.

Based on follow-up surveys, over 90% felt the workshops prepared them to be better advocates for their students.

NCLB-PARENT INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP VIDEO

New! "It Takes a Parent: Strengthening Effective Parent Involvement" is now available on video!

In order to share this vital information with a much broader audience, Georgia Appleseed has partnered with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) to produce a forty-minute training video based on the workshop content.

Targeted to parents and educators, the video workshop will:

Facilitated workshops
Georgia Appleseed is collaborating with Georgia PIRC and Communities in Schools to train facilitators and disseminate the "It Takes a Parent" training video throughout the state. The video’s most beneficial application is within a facilitated workshop.

VIEW "It Takes a Parent" workshop video online by clicking here.

Top education leaders applaud "It Takes a Parent: Strengthening Effective Parent Involvement"

Click here to see the "It Takes a Parent" 5-minute promotional video, an ideal tool to show at meetings of the PTA, School Council, School Board, and at staff development presentations, in order to promote the workshop to key stakeholders. Audiences will hear leaders of the Georgia PTA, Georgia PIRC, Communities in Schools, Georgia Department of Education, GA Partnership for Excellence in Education, and the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement commend the important goals of the workshop.

Contact PIRC or Georgia Appleseed (see above) to obtain a copy.

PROFESSIONAL CURRICULA

An additional strategy, with broader, systemic impact, has been the creation of professional development training around parent involvement. Over the past year, Georgia Appleseed has collaborated with Georgia's Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) to develop curricula training modules that enhance education leader skills in parental engagement and communication, using NCLB data.

According to GLISI's Senior Executive Director Deb Page, "We are extremely grateful for the support and collaboration of Georgia Appleseed. These modules are being used to support school leaders statewide, and are being adopted by colleges and universities which prepare leaders."

Read national and local reaction to "It Takes a Parent"

Read Giving Parents Options: Tips for Informing Parents and Implementing Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services Under No Child Left Behind

Georgia Appleseed's parent involvement initiative has been generously funded by the Georgia Power Foundation, Wachovia Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Knowledge Forum - September 2007

Georgia Appleseed's September 7th Knowledge Forum on Parent Involvement Under NCLB provided an exciting opportunity to focus on parents' critical role in student achievement and school success, and discuss ongoing and future efforts to maximize parent participation effectively under NCLB.

View details, photos, and videos.