Grand Boulevard Federation

The PPEN developed the Parent Involvement Declaration because they saw that parent involvement varied from school-to-school, principal-to-principal, and parent-to-parent. They know that some rules applied to some parents, but not all parents. They know that not all parents are told the same things when it comes to getting involved. The PPEN decided that it was time to re-define what parent involvement is and should be for parents and for schools, and we know that we as parents need to re-claim what it means to be an involved parent – it’s not a bad thing, nor is it to cause trouble. Thus, the Parent Involvement Declaration is a pledge that describes what parent involvement is and should be, why parents are important assets to their child’s education, and what parents and schools can do to support, embrace, and encourage more quality parent involvement so that we can become a real team for educating our children in and out of school.

Everyone in a school building – from principal to teachers to clerks and building staff – should understand what we are all talking about when we say “parent involvement is important!” Are we all thinking of the same definition when we hear ‘we need parent involvement’? Are we letting parents know about all of the activities they can do or roles parents can play in the school? If we agree that parent involvement is important, then what are we all doing collectively, throughout the school year and through our daily interactions with parents to positively model good parent involvement?

Children go home to parents, grandparents, or guardians at the end of the day, so by not embracing parents to the fullest or even excluding parents, then we’re not working as a team. The document is about supporting parents plus creating parent involvement accountability standards for everyone in the building when it comes to having our children succeed in school.

True, improving parent involvement will take time, and it is tough to change the mindsets of parents and schools, but we cannot give up on what real parent involvement should be because we know it is important for the well-being and education for all of Bronzeville’s children.