Parent University is a series of parenting workshops designed to appeal to parents of all ages of children, social backgrounds and educational status. The Parent University philosophy, like other types of education, is an ongoing and lifelong learning process. A Parent University can be on a Saturday, an afternoon, an evening or online. The numbers and topics of workshops are based on meeting the unique needs of families in our community.
Student disengagement in the classroom has reached an alarming level. One of the major reasons is that parents are disengaged from their child's educational experience. A recent study revealed that one in four parents of high school students never walk through the doors of their child's school for the entire four years they attend, meaning they never attend a back-to-school event, parent-teacher conference, sporting event, school assembly, drama production much less any volunteer activity.
With society and the family undergoing major changes, families and schools must realize they need each other in partnership. Educators must engage parents in new and meaningful partnerships for learning.
One avenue to meet this need is the Parent University. The intent of the Parent University, through a variety of class offerings, is to encourage, support and inform parents so they can take a more active role in their children's learning, ultimately resulting in increased student engagement in the classroom. Involving parents in training allows teachers and parents to establish a common understanding that can help them work together more effectively.
Equip parents with needed skill and knowledge that will ultimately result in parent engagement.
Research tells us that when schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but throughout life. In fact, the most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent the student's family is able to become involved in their children's education at school and in the community.