MIAMI, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Two powerful educational organizations are mounting a campaign this week to get more parents involved in their child's education including making themselves more knowledgeable about the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act.
College and university deans, administrators, researchers, faculty, teachers parents and parent advocates are working toward integrating parent involvement into all teacher education programs.
"When parents and teachers work together within a school's well-structured parent involvement program, there are profound benefits for students, as well as parents and educators," said President Shirley Igo of the Parent Teachers Association.
The PTA and the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education are starting the campaign with a three-day Washington symposium entitled "Partners for Student Success 2002: National Summit on Parent Involvement in Teacher Education."
"This summit emphasizes the collaborative work that needs to take place between institutions of higher education, schools and parents to help make parent involvement a crucial component of all teacher education programs," Igo said. "Effective partnerships will result in overall quality education in our schools."
The two organizations are trying to provide tangible action items and strategies to increase parent involvement.
The organizations are suggesting parents make sure they understand the new federal education act, which for the first time nationally requires annual testing to measure annual yearly progress known as AYP.
They also recommend that parents ask questions of principals and teachers including when and where tests will be given, the standards that their children must meet, what strategies teachers are using to prepare and how will they learn the results.
In the event of a failure, it said parents should find out what programs are available to get them more involved and help their children in the future.
In other areas, University of South Florida officials Thursday described the use of family members as guest lecturers in teacher education courses, providing students with a feel for the barriers and keys to effective family involvement.
University of Texas at El Paso officials discussed a family involvement course for future teachers which gives a theoretical foundation to family involvement along with hands-on involvement with parents and teachers.
Parent training programs are being developed at the University of Texas-El Paso under which students conduct parent training programs, including panels, work shops and small-group discussions in rural areas.
Students also organize "parent power nights" at several schools.
