Focus on Parent Involvement
Winter 2006 Vol. 14 No. 2
Parents: 'Not another school cut'
by Paul Socolar
Last spring, as many Philadelphia schools got word that they would be losing teaching positions, parent groups across the city started to speak up about the threat of more overcrowded classrooms.
The staffing reductions announced last spring turned out to be the harbinger of much bigger budget problems to come. By fall, a $73 million budget shortfall was hanging over the School District.
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Four charters that try new tools for parent involvement
by Dale Mezzacappa
Wissahickon Charter School in Germantown employs a parent outreach coordinator and formally acknowledges all kinds of parental activities – from reading aloud at home to raising money to chaperoning trips.
The Folk Arts – Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) in Chinatown, which seeks out families from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, has language interpreters on staff and offers parents simultaneous translations of meetings.
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What the District is doing: programs supporting parent involvement
by Hannah Davis
In an effort to strengthen the relationship between parents and the schools, the School District has set up programs to increase parental involvement in their children's education and school.
The School District's Office of Family Engagement and Language Equity Services (OFELES) has put forth a number of programs to give parents tools they need to help students flourish in school. Below is an outline of initiatives that support parents as they navigate through the School District.
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Table of Contents
Theme articles
- Parents: 'Not another school cut' by Paul Socolar
- Five groups take different paths to empower parents and families
- Citywide parent group has a new leader and new support from the District by Sheila Simmons
- Four charters that try new tools for parent involvement by Dale Mezzacappa
- What the District is doing: programs supporting parent involvement by Hannah Davis
- Can you read this? Some District materials aren't easy by Cortney Bruno
- Parents play many roles at John Welsh School by Ron Whitehorne
- Students examine parent participation in West Phila. High School by Tiffany Fogle and Lawrence Jones
- District seeks to ensure principal support for parents by Paul Socolar
- Let's talk: McKinley teachers, parents want a welcoming climate by Cristina Gutiérrez
- Understanding many facets of parent involvement
- Debate on parenting triggered by Cosby still rages by Yulanda Essoka
- Rejecting the school discipline blame game by Ron Whitehorne
Other news & features
- Coalition reaches out to target dropout rate by Paul Socolar
- Chronology of the District's deficit
Notebook news
- Fall 2006 Clarification
Cartoon
- Winter 2006-2007 Cartoon by Eric Joselyn
In our opinion
- Parents at the table
From our readers
- Broaden program to make condoms available in all District high schools
- Princeton Review did make a difference at Sayre High
Eye on special education
- Revival of a task force gives power to parents by Paul Socolar
Activism around the city
- Olney students seek model for going small
- Bringing together groups for youth-driven change
School snapshot
- School Snapshot
News in brief
- Mayor Street convenes education task force by Hannah Davis
- Project 720 state grants support five high schools by Hannah Davis
- Scrabble is coming to a school near you
En español
- Cuatro escuelas chárter involucran creativamente a los padres por Dale Mezzacappa
- Dimensiones de la crisis de abandono escolar por Paul Socolar
- Los padres tienen muchas funciones en la Escuela John Welsh por Ron Whitehorne
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