A significant amount of research indicates that when parents are involved in school decisions and activities, student achievement increases, behavior problems are reduced and better school outcomes are noted. During the 2005-2006 school year, parent representatives of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) worked with staff members from the Special Education Regional Resource Centers (SERRCs) to implement statewide training so parents could learn about OISM and how to become effective partners on their schools' building leadership team. In addition to parents, school administrators and SERRC personnel also attended.
- Through group discussion, training participants identified various ways to facilitate meaningful parental involvement with OISM and other school activities. Suggestions included:
- Informing parents of activities they can become involved in by putting the information in school newsletters and adding a "Parents' Page" to local school Web sites;
- Scheduling team meetings that accommodate parents' work schedules and child care issues;
- Providing parents with an e-mail address and phone number of the school's lead parent representative, so they have someone they feel comfortable with to ask questions or discuss concerns;
- Communicating with parents using clearly defined terms and acronyms;
- Surveying parents periodically for input on behavior and literacy practices that schools are addressing through their SIG;
- Addressing topics of high interest to parents at leadership team meetings, such as dress code, homework, discipline and building goals;
- Empowering parents by helping them understand their roles and responsibilities on the building leadership team and that they are equal members of the team; and
- Developing a statewide OISM Web site for parents and educators that provides information about the model, highlights district implementation activities and offers best practices for engaging parents as effective educational partners.
"Being a member of the building leadership team gave me a better understanding of what kids are actually doing in school and why they are doing it," said Trisha Hopkins, parent of a student at Bazetta Elementary with Lakeview Local Schools. "It is really big for me to understand the language and the tests that the school uses. At parent-teacher conferences, I feel so much more confident and understand what the teachers are saying."
Dennis Chupak, principal at Bazetta Elementary, said, "Having parents on our building leadership team has been so beneficial because they bring the parent perspective and point of view to things we are discussing, which is so critical. Educating all children is difficult work. It takes the parents and school working together."
For more information on how to ensure meaningful parental involvement in OISM and other school activities, please contact Amy Freeman with OCECD by e-mail at afreeman@pm.noacsc.org or by phone at (419) 523-5951.
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