Five Tips for Getting Involved this School Year

According to a report by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, “When schools, families and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer and like school more.”

To help you get started, here are five ways to get more involved with your child’s school this year:

Do your homework. For younger children, empty their backpack daily and read any notes sent home from school. As kids reach middle school age, ask to see their agenda each night. And for those often reticent high school teens? Keep the lines of communication open. Know what classes they're taking, what projects they’re working on and keep up with their grades. Get to know their friends and encourage actual conversation with one another in a relaxed setting. You never know what you might learn over a pizza or some frozen yogurt.

Join the PTA. For a nominal fee, parents can become part of the PTA at their local school and open the door to a sea of information. It’s a great way to get involved and get to know teachers, administrators and other parents.

“PTA membership at Mimosa is just $5,” said Wendy Buice, PTA president at Mimosa Elementary School and a mother of two students. The $5 fee goes mostly toward dues for Georgia and National PTAs. For more information on the Georgia PTA visit them online.

Foster open communication with teachers and counselors. Since most faculty members have limited phone access, email may be the most time efficient way to accomplish this necessary component of becoming involved in your child’s education. Teacher emails are listed on each school’s website.

Read teacher blogs and websites. Though it’s not a requirement, many Fulton County teachers keep a blog or classroom website. Mountain Park Elementary Principal Stacy Perlman said it's a great way for parents to stay up to date on what’s happening in the classroom and the projects and assignments a student might be working on. Teacher blogs for all Fulton County Schools can be accessed through the individual school’s website, all of which are available online.

Volunteer. Whether you have an hour on a Saturday or can devote one morning a week, schools rarely turn away parent volunteers. There really isn’t a better way to get to know the people who influence your child everyday than by working elbow-to-elbow with them. Most schools hold evening or weekend events so parents with fulltime jobs have opportunities that won’t conflict with their daytime commitments.

For more ideas and a list of parent resources from Fulton County Schools, visit the system online.