Parent Involvement in Schools

A Division-wide committee composed of administrative reps from each district, consultants, teachers, volunteer coordinators, and parents, meets several times a year to develop a Division plan to promote parent involvement in schools. The plan revolves around Joyce Epstein's model of parental involvement and addresses the areas of parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and community collaboration.

The committee coordinates workshops for parents around topics relevant to parenting.

Funds are provided to schools toward fostering school-based parent involvement programs.  Applications are available through the school.

The brochure, Strengthening the Home/School Connection, provides information about innovative strategies being implemented in Division schools to foster parent involvement.  Projects are featured on the Parent Involvement web site on a rotational basis.

Parenting Resources folders are distributed to all schools and parent councils every September.  The folders contain a listing of workshops available for parents, a listing of audio/visual and print resources available to parents through Library Media Services, and several parent information brochures, as well as pathfinders and bibliographies.

The Division subscribes to the Parent Institute Newsletter which provides Division schools with material for newsletters and parent communication.