Parent and Family Involvement in NC Schools

Parent and Family Involvement

Learning Opportunities

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Parent and Family Involvment is Key!

Family and community involvement can have a powerful and positive impact on student outcomes. According to A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory 2002), students with involved parents, no matter what their income or background, are more likely to:

Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher level programs;
Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits;
Attend schools regularly;
Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school; and
Graduate and go on to post secondary education.

Parent and Family Involvement: A Guide to

Effective Parent, Family, and Community Involvement in North Caroline Schools describes the 8 essential elements of effective parent involvement. Click on the title above or the image (at right) to download the guide (pdf).

For your convenience, as you plan parent involvment activities, we have identified ECAC training and workshop opportunities that specifically relate to the 8 elements listed below. Check back often for more listings. We will also be adding supporting handout materials that can be downloaded.

Communication
Parenting
Student Learning
Volunteering
Advocacy and Decision-Making
Training
Community Collaboration
Student Health

Communication:

ESP-123-Effective School Partnerships are as Easy as as 1-2-3! This workshop outlines steps that parents can take to become their child’s best advocate. Families will have a better understanding of how children learn and develop, receive tips on communicating effectively with their child’s teacher and other school personnel and receive information on parents’ rights and how to assert them. (NC PIRC)

Positive Parent/Teacher Conferences. This workshop will give families’ practical tips to help prepare for parent / teacher conferences. This session will foster a understanding of the purpose of parent/teacher conferences, tips on setting goals for the meeting, identify which questions are important to ask, explore communication strategies to help with gathering information, and resolving differences of opinion.(NC PIRC)

Effective Communication Between Home and School. This workshop is designed for parents and families who have children with disabilities or special needs and includes the tools and strategies for keeping communication between home and school on the right track. Topics covered include the elements of communications, documentation and letter writing, listening and skills for building positive home-school relationships. (NC PTI)

Parenting:

Helping your Child with Homework. This session examines the purpose of homework for students and its link to family involvement and student achievement.Families will understand the importance of homework, how homework can improve their child’s learning, tips to help organize homework space/time/supplies, and how homework can improve school/home communication. (NC PIRC)

Bring the Village Home. This is a series of workshops based on the research based parenting skill-building program Effective Black Parenting. Families will be able to identify characteristics that encourage successful outcomes for children, explore culturally sensitive strategies to help children make positive choices and gather additional skills in discipline. (NC PIRC)

Parenting in a TV Age. This workshop will explore strategies that will help parents analyze the media and teach their children how to get the best out of TV. Families will learn five basic things children should know about TV, understand how commercials target and sell to children, learn how to set family standards for TV watching, and ways to utilize TV as a educational tool. (NC PIRC)

Discipline with Love: Coping with Common Behavior Problems: This workshop explores the meaning of discipline, the importance of establishing family guidelines and rules, and the value of routine in children’s lives. Families will understand how discipline differs from punishment, learn strategies for establishing and monitoring effective family rules and understand how routines can increase a child’s confidence and competence and decrease a child’s need to resort to challenging behavior. (NC PIRC)

Growing up Safe: Parent’s guide to School & Community Safety. Provides families with strategies for reducing the likelihood of violence occurring in the lives of their children at school and in the community. Families will learn the early warning signs of problems, learn strategies for preventing violent behavior and learn how to help students who engage in or are victims of violent behaviors. (NC PIRC)

Just For Dads. Examines the important role of males in children’s education and outlines the characteristics of effective male involvement. Families will understand what research says about how to involve males, explore the ten ways men can be involved in a child’s education, and understand the characteristics of effective male involvement. (NC PIRC)

Teaching the Value of Respect. Examines the meaning of respect and how respect helps children relate effectively and civilly to others. Families will understand what respect for self and others mean, understand how their child’s behaviors affect others, understand how a child’s choices affect the child and others and, gain strategies to help teach their child what respect sounds and looks like. (NC PIRC)

Positive Behavior Supports. Learn skills that will help parents and teachers to identify and understand challenging behavior while creating an atmosphere for positive change and support. Discover how Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Behavior Supports can work at school and at home. (NC PTI)

Life is a Journey - Transition to Adulthood. This workshop will help parents and students to prepare for the future. Beginning at age 14, students and schools must begin the jory in planning for life after high school. Learn how to write Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) and how to include your child in this important process. This workshop will include information and strategies for students preparing to work after high school and students going on to college and other educational settings. (NC PTI)

Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology (AT) is not just about electronic equipment - but more about discovering the tools to support your child in their learning and at home. This workshop explores AT devices and services, both high and low tech tools, evaluations and how to include AT in your child's IEP (Individualized Education Program) as appropriate! (NC PTI)

Student Learning::

Preparing Your Child for Testing. What can I do to help prepare my child for testing? This workshop provides families with tips to use now to help prepare their child as well as what to do the day of the test and what questions to ask after the test. Parents will learn how to provide support and help in creating a positive test taking experience! (NC PIRC)

Helping your Child with Homework. This session examines the purpose of homework for students and its link to family involvement and student achievement. Families will understand the importance of homework, how homework can improve their child’s learning, tips to help organize homework space/time/supplies, and how homework can improve school/home communication. (NC PIRC)

Reading and Your Child. This workshop outlines the skills that children need to become good readers, and how families can support their child’s reading progress. Families will understand the basic structure (phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary) and how it relates to important reading skills. Participants will also learn the basic vocabulary of reading, learn what questions to ask in order to understand how their child is progressing, and identify key strategies to support their child’s reading at home and in the community. (NC PIRC)

Helping a Child who is an English Learner with Reading. This workshop outlines steps that Spanish-speaking families can take to help their children become better readers. Spanish-speaking Families will have a better understanding of why speaking, listening, writing and reading Spanish is important to a child’s literacy. Participants will learn to relate their child’s school experiences to their own and share those stories with their child. Families will gather tips to support their child with homework, and learn how to access community resources. (NC PIRC)

Reading is a Family Affair. This workshop will help families create opportunities at home to provide positive interaction that will increase reading achievement. Families will learn how to create an enriching environment at home to encourage reading, along with ways to create activities at home that will develop and improve their children’s reading skills. (NC PIRC)

It's MY IEP! Beginning at age 14 and continuing to graduation, students with disabilities who receive special eduction services must be invited to become involved in planning their education program. This workshop discusses the ways students can participate in their IEP (Individualized Education Program) from expressing their interests and dreams to setting an agenda and facilitating a meeting. Parents, families, and teachers will learn how to support the student to more actively and effectively participate. (NC PTI)

I'm Growing Up! - Moving from Early Intervention to Preschool Services and/or Kindergarten. This workhop includes important informaiton for parents of children from 2 1/2 through 5. Prepare for the big move from Early Intervention Services into school-age rights and services (beginning at age 3) and continue building a strong educational foundation for your child. Learn about the school-age special education process and role and responsibilities in that process. Become better prepared to particpate on the IEP Team and develop and appropriate program for your child. This workshop is easily modified and can be used as two separate workshops for children to 3 and also ages 3-5. (NC PTI)

Volunteering:

Developing a Family Friendly Culture in Schools. This workshop will help teachers, administrators, and support staff explore ways to improve the communication between families and schools. School personnel will learn what components make up a family friendly school, develop a school profile on family-friendly strategies and identify strategies for implementation of a

family – friendly plan. (NC PIRC)

Advocacy and Decision-Making:

ESP-123-Effective School Partnerships are as Easy as as 1-2-3! This workshop outlines steps that parents can take to become their child’s best advocate. Families will have a better understanding of how children learn and develop, receive tips on communicating effectively with their child’s teacher and other school personnel and receive information on parents’ rights and how to assert them. (NC PIRC)

No Child Left Behind. This workshop outlines the four pillars of the “No Child Left Behind” Act, the relationship the law establishes between testing and accountability for students, and its concept of parent choices. Families will understand the meaning of proficiency according to the ABC’s of testing, understand the four pillars of “No Child Left Behind”, and understand how NCLB provides information and choices for parents. (NC PIRC)

No Child Left Behind and Title I. Explore the impact of NCLB on Title I schools and parents. Families will learn the purpose of Title I, understand the responsibilities of schools and parents under Title I, and learn about compacts and what should be included. Participants will also understand the parental choice and options under NCLB. (NC PIRC)

Problem Solving for Teens. This workshop identifies strategies that parents can utilize to help their teen make positive educational and personal decisions. (NC PIRC)

Supplemental Services under No Child Left Behind. This session gives an overview of Supplemental Services for families who have children in schools in improvement. Families will understand what school in improvement means, understand what are Supplemental Services and who is eligible. Participants will learn who can provide supplemental services, how the list of providers are chosen and generate questions to ask in choosing a service provider. (NC PIRC)

Becoming Your Child's BEST and Most Effective Advocate! Strong advocacy skills are critical for parents to ensure their child benefits from his or her education. This session is designed for parents of students with disabilities and includes the steps to help them effectively advocate for their childs needs and develop positive relationshiop with educators and other professionals. Remember, YOU are an equal partner in your child's education! (NC PTI)

Informed Effective Parents. This workshop provides parents and families with a broad base of information about special education laws such as IDEA ( Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004), FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and others. Also included are tools and strategies for writing effecitve IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), effective communication skills, letter writing and documentation, and steps to follow if you disagree with decisions. (NC PTI)

Writing Effective IEPs. This workshop will help you identify your child's strengths' and needs, and use evaluation information to prepare for writing an Indivualized Education Program (IEP). Learn how to actively participate in writing the IEP and navigate the "maze" of forms and paperwork. Tune up your skills and identify strategies to ensure that your child's IEP is implemented and changed as he or she grows. (NC PTI)

EVERYONE Belongs!: Inclusion This workshop discusses the philosophy, legal issues, barriers and strategies related to the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classroom settings. Particpants will have a better understanding ofhow to partner with teachers and other professional to create inclusive school environments for their child, including children with significant disabilities. (NC PTI)

Positive Behavior Supports. Learn skills that will help parents and teachers to identify and understand challenging behavior while creating an atmosphere for positive change and support. Discover how Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Behavior Supports can work at school and at home. (NC PTI)

Life is a Journey - Transition to Adulthood. This workshop will help parents and students to prepare for the future. Beginning at age 14, students and schools must begin the jory in planning for life after high school. Learn how to write Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) and how to include your child in this important process. This workshop will include information and strategies for students preparing to work after high school and students going on to college and other educational settings. (NC PTI)

Writing a Good 504 Plan. Students with disabilities who need supports and services to benefit from their education, but do not receive services under an IEP, may be eligible for a 504 Plan or Accommodation Plan. An effective 504 Plan inlcudes modifications in the classroom, on tests, and in other areas. Related services can also be obtained through a 504 Plan. Learn what Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is, how it can benefit your child and how to request a 504 meeting with your child's school personnel. (NC PTI)

Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology (AT) is not just about electronic equipment - but more about discovering the tools to support your child in their learning and at home. This workshop explores AT devices and services, both high and low tech tools, evaluations and how to include AT in your child's IEP (Individualized Education Program) as appropriate! (NC PTI)

Training:

Why Don’t They Come? This workshop is designed for teachers, administrators and other school personnel to examine barriers to family involvement. Participants will have an increased understanding of the possible barriers to family involvement, learn strategies that support increased family engagement, and develop a plan to improve family involvement. (NC PIRC)

What Parents Need to Know About Technology and Internet Safety? The focus of this workshop is to help parents gain a clearer understanding of the dangers and benefits of technology particularly the internet. (NC PIRC)

Encouraging Family Involvement in Secondary Schools. Provides an overview of the six types of partnerships and strategies for sustaining family involvement throughout a child’s school career. Families will have a better understanding of the benefits of family involvement in high school and discuss the types of parental involvement and learn tips for involving teens more in the partnership with school. (NC PIRC)

Middle School Mania. This workshop offers special help for middle school parents who are coping with the rapid changes of adolescence. This workshop will discuss how to help children withstand peer pressure and how to communicate with teens and preteens. Participants will explore ideas to help teens communicate with adults. Families will have a better understanding of peer pressure, explore strategies for communicating with teens and preteens and receive tips to help teens communicate effectively with teachers. (NC PIRC)

Tips for Improving Home-School communication for English Learning Families: Participants will explores ways to effectively and respectfully communicate when families and school personnel do not share Spanish as a native language Spanish-speaking families will understand the roles of school personnel, understand and learn to advocate for strategies that help bridge language and cultural differences between home and school. Participants will understand practices that can help them effectively support their child’s learning, and ideas that they can use to plan and enhance their involvement at school. (NC PIRC)

Literacy is for ALL! Literacy really is for all, including students with mild, moderate or significant disabilities. This workshop will explore the components of reading and literacy rich environments in detail. Tips and strategies that students, families and educators can use to enhance a child's literacy learning will be provided and particpants will also learn how to include literacy on the IEP (Individualized Education Program).

Community Collaboration:

ESP-123-Effective School Partnerships are as Easy as as 1-2-3! This workshop outlines steps that parents can take to become their child’s best advocate. Families will have a better understanding of how children learn and develop, receive tips on communicating effectively with their child’s teacher and other school personnel and receive information on parents’ rights and how to assert them. (NC PIRC)

Growing up Safe: Parent’s Guide to School & Community Safety. Provides families with strategies for reducing the likelihood of violence occurring in the lives of their children at school and in the community. Families will learn the early warning signs of problems, learn strategies for preventing violent behavior and learn how to help students who engage in or are victims of violent behaviors. (NC PIRC)

Becoming Your Child's BEST and Most Effective Advocate! Strong advocacy skills are critical for parents to ensure their child benefits from his or her education. This session is designed for parents of students with disabilities and includes the steps to help them effectively advocate for their childs needs and develop positive relationshiop with educators and other professionals. Remember, YOU are an equal partner in your child's education! (NC PTI)

Student Health:

Growing up Safe: Parent’s guide to School & Community Safety. Provides families with strategies for reducing the likelihood of violence occurring in the lives of their children at school and in the community. Families will learn the early warning signs of problems, learn strategies for preventing violent behavior and learn how to help students who engage in or are victims of violent behaviors.

Parenting in a TV Age. This workshop will explore strategies that will help parents learn to analyze the media and teach their children how to get the best out of TV. Families will, learn five basic things children should know about TV, understand how commercials target and sell to children, learn how to set family standards for TV watching, and how to utilize TV as a educational tool.

What Parents Need to Know About Technology and Internet Safety? The focus of this workshop is to help parents gain a clearer understanding of the dangers and benefits of technology particularly the internet.

Coming soon: Descriptions of workshops from ECAC's health projects

Health Care Transition (from Pediatric to Adult Health Care)
How to Be an Effective Health Care Advocate
Medical Home
Care Notebook