Parent Empowerment Program
OBJECTIVES
The ACCESS Parental Empowerment Program serves to:
* Train parents and guardians in the use of motivational techniques in the home that enhance the educational achievement of children at school.
* Create an awareness within the community, of values that influence the economic, educational and social growth and development of our youth. economically, educationally and socially.
* Increase the literacy skills of parents in English, math and science through participation in appropriate training courses for better communication with their children and school personnel. This is essential for the parents of non-English speaking students.
* Help parents understand their role in their children's education through increased participation in campus activities.
* Help more children succeed in school by lowering absenteeism and increasing academic performance through increased participation and understanding of the parents.
METHODS
There are three levels of participation: The Parent Executive Council; Parent Leadership Training; and workshops and seminars. An integral component of the program is heightening community awareness and involvement in increasing the numbers of under-represented minorities in the science and mathematics fields. Community support and involvement is critical to the success of students participating in the ACCESS Center's programs and activities.
Many parents are hesitant about coming to the school to become involved in their child's education. Fears may be based on limited or negative experiences with schools. By bringing the program to the community, ACCESS will enlist the support of community leaders and representatives to encourage parent participation.
IMPLEMENTATION
I. PARENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Three to four parents of middle school students are selected to form the Parent Executive Council. The Council is responsible for developing a mission statement regarding the family/school partnership, and designing a structure that supports the statement which is based on the needs of the program and school. Members of the parent executive council attend monthly meetings and are responsible for encouraging (via mailings, phone calls, community meetings and home visits) parent and community participation in the ACCESS-funded programs cited here. All parents of students enrolled in the program are required to participate in at least one parent activity of their choice during each academic semester their child remains enrolled.
II. PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Parents who have participated in activities sponsored by the ACCESS Parent Empowerment Program have an opportunity to become parent leaders. A select group of parents receive training as leaders for other parents in their current school, or as models for parents in other schools, especially as their children progress through the school system. This activity is designed to create a cohort of parents who can ensure continued parent involvement at their child's school, and who can work with parents at other schools to establish ACCESS parent empowerment components. A training handbook will be developed for use by parent leaders who will conduct future training sessions with parents of new students.
Parents learn to be tutors to their child in the areas of math and science. Parents will also learn how to serve as a resource for other students and their parents. The tutorial session focuses on instructional techniques in math and science, and assists parents in understanding how to facilitate their child's learning. Parents who complete the tutorial are eligible to serve as volunteer tutors at their child's school.
III. WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
This component will be comprised of a series of workshops designed to give parents wide ranging knowledge of the educational system. The parent executive council guides the specific workshop according to the needs of the community. They are held in the community rather than at the school, demonstrating the willingness of the school to reach out to the community. Below is an outline of topics to be presented in these workshops and seminars.
A. Parent Educational Enrichment
1. Parents are trained to negotiate the public school system.
2. Parents are encouraged to become involved in School Based Management.
B. Class Performance Monitoring
1. Parents help their children select classes.
2. Parents keep a record of their child's academic performance.
C. Academic Achievement Support
1. Parents trained as academic counselors for their child to act as:
a. Trouble-shooters.
b. Problem solvers.
2. Parents become the primary advocate for their child's education as a:
a. Partner.
b. Participant.
3. Facilitation of parent's understanding of post secondary education.
a. How to prepare for college.
b. Preparing for SAT's.
c. Study skills.
d. College survival skills.
D. Parent Literacy Training
The Parent Literacy series is a parent education program consisting of workshops. These workshops include lecture, hands-on activities, discussion and video on topics such as:
1) early adolescent development,
2) science and math concepts,
3) the development of children's self esteem,
4) teaching responsibility, and
5) helping with homework.
This literacy series can be conducted in English, Spanish and other languages as necessary. The facilitator teaches parents how to make the home a supportive, learning environment and will work with parents to bring about parent participation in school. The series provides a flow of educational information to parents. The purpose of this component is to provide parents with a well designed interactive activity which assists them in enriching the process of learning for their child.
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive, Administration Building, # 819
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Phone: (323) 343-5173 Fax: (323) 343-6418
"To Make Learning Come Alive"