The Parents' Role

PARENTING

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Assist families with parenting and child-rearing skills, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support children as students at each age and grade level. Assist schools in understanding families”.

As parents, you fulfill a leadership role within your family, your community, and your child’s school. Developing your skills as a parent, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support your child at each age and grade level, will have a positive impact on your child’s achievement.
Developing your skills as a leader will help you assist your school in understanding families.
 

COMMUNICATING

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Communicate with families about school programs and student progress through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communications”.

You have a responsibility to communicate with your child, your community, and your school. It is from you that everyone on your child’s Individual Education Plan team learns about the specific attributes of your child. Information about their learning style, the things that motivate them, and their family culture, medical history and experiences are all important for developing an appropriate Individual Education Plan. Without this information, it is impossible to educate the whole child. Being clear about your concerns as a parent will help the team move forward to develop goals that are in line with your expectations. Talking to your child about their education plan and underlining the importance of self-advocacy will help them to develop an understanding of their own needs. Help them to learn the most effective ways to support their own learning and their well-being.

VOLUNTEERING

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Improve recruitment, training, work, and schedules to involve families as volunteers and audiences at the school or in other locations to support students and school programs.”

Volunteering demonstrates your commitment to improving yourself, your community and your school. Being prepared to work with your school to improve recruitment, training, work, and schedules will help the school to involve families and community members as volunteers at the school and in other locations to support the students and the school programs.
 

LEARNING AT HOME

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Involve families with their children in learning activities at home, including homework and other curriculum-linked activities and decisions.”

You can help your school to involve families with their children in learning activities at home. Those activities include homework and other curriculum-linked activities and decisions. Asking questions about the expectations for each grade and your child’s curriculum will allow you make the most of everyday learning opportunities. Sharing strategies that support children’s learning at home and in the community with teachers, families, and community members will demonstrate how you value education at school, at home, and wherever your child spends time.
 

DECISION MAKING

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Include families as participants in school decisions, governance, and advocacy through PTA/PTO, school councils, committees, and other parent organizations.”

Maximizing your own learning potential through training will allow you to take a more active role in school and community PTA/PTO, school councils, committees, and other parent organizations. Understanding the Special Education system helps you to participate fully in the decisions made by the Individual Education Plan team. It also will positively affect your child’s education and enhance their ability to meet their full potential. Advocating for the needs of your child, family, school, and community through building partnerships helps everyone to build resources, and maximize the potential of the community as a whole.
Understanding your role as a valued member of the Individual Education Plan team, and the school community enables others to appreciate your perspective, and develop your understanding of the roles and responsibilities embraced by all.
 

COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Joyce Epstein’s research has found “Coordinate resources and services for families, students, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups, and provide services to the community.”

You are the parent connecter between your school and the surrounding community. You can help the school build their knowledge of the resources for families, students, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups that provide services to the community. These connections help shape your community and the investments you make as your child develops. They help your team address the challenges of Transition, giving your child the support needed to progress into adulthood.