The Urban Parent The Urban Parent Advocacy StandardsAdvocacy StandardsParent skills for the 21st Century

Goals:Goals:Deepen parents understanding of

the Parent Involvement that works for the 21st Century.

“100% Parents Preparation” on advocacy and school structure.

Connect school site and district work to student’s achievement.

Acquire skills that assist parents in navigating their children beyond K-12 and into higher education.

Brief History:Brief History: Most “models” are

written by researchers whom have little to no experience living in the communities their model is applied to.

Developed by parents of color living in low-performing school areas within Los Angels.

These parents also successfully navigated their child through the K-12 school system and into institutions of higher education.

What are some ideas you What are some ideas you have about the roles you feel have about the roles you feel parents currently play on parents currently play on school sites?school sites?

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 1: Standard 1: Access to Access to Information and Data Information and Data CollectionCollectionParents need to

have access to timely and accurate information regarding their child’s education in order to best support their child’s academic success.

““An informed parent is a An informed parent is a powerful instrument for powerful instrument for social change.”social change.”

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 2 : Standard 2 : Parents in Parents in Decision-Making Roles Decision-Making Roles

Parents provide leadership in schools by being at the table with teachers and administrators to develop policies, allocate resources, and incorporating input from the community.

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 3: Standard 3: Parents as Parents as Student AdvocatesStudent Advocates Parents need to know

how to navigate and negotiate the school system. We need to support the creation of an environment where parents have access to the information and support systems necessary to be effective advocates by monitoring and directing the education of our children.

““Only when parents know Only when parents know the rules of engagement, the rules of engagement, can they hold the system can they hold the system accountableaccountable.”.”

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 4:Standard 4: Parent Leaders Parent Leaders at Home and in the School-at Home and in the School-CommunityCommunityParents need opportunities to build

leadership and advocacy skills to enhance student-parent-community partnerships. Schools will serve the family and community needs for health and social service and provide resources and information for accessing those services

In Addition:In Addition:Parents will learn

intergenerational and cross-cultural communication strategies

Parents will learn “twenty-first century parenting skills”

Parents will understand the college requirements and financial aid process.

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 5: Standard 5: Effective Two –Effective Two –Way CommunicationWay CommunicationCommunication must

be translated in languages that parents speak in their home., it must be two-way and meaningful.

Parent Liaison roles include helping bridge the open communication between school and home and helping to create effective home/ school relationships.

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy Standard 6Standard 6: : District Level District Level SupportSupportStructures are

provided to build parent capacity that is well-defined, has meaningful participation where dialogue, empowerment and action are critical components of educational reform.

Parent Advocacy Parent Advocacy StandardStandard 7: 7: Friendly Friendly Schools AtmosphereSchools AtmosphereSchools will create

a welcoming environment for people of all cultures, staff will receive customer service training to better serve the community, and their progress will be monitored.

Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?