One of the biggest challenges facing school districts across America is the lack of parental involvement.  Research proves when parents are involved in their child’s education, students achieve more.  The East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the Stupski Foundation are working on a parental involvement program aimed at developing partnerships between parents and teachers; partnerships that are meant to improve student performance.  “This is an attempt to engage parents and get them involved in their child’s education,” said Rene’ Greer, East Baton Rouge Parish School System Chief of Staff.

     The Parental Involvement Project is being launched at 53 Title-1 schools this school year.  System-wide expansion of the project is the ultimate goal.  The project consists of individual partnership visits between teachers and student families at 40 elementary schools prior to the beginning of the school year, and an extended mentoring program for 6th, 8.5, and 9th graders in 9 middle schools and 4 high schools.

     Back to School Planning Committees for the participating schools have been formed to coordinate and execute the partnership visits with families.  These committees are made up of school principals, teachers, parents, and representatives of area churches and community organizations.

     The school system has asked elementary teachers in the participating schools to come back to work three days early, August 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, for training and to meet with students families prior to the first day of school.  At the middle and high school levels, teachers have been asked to come back to work one day early, August 4th, for training and to meet with the families of the student they will mentor.  Beginning in the 2004-2005 school year, every 6th, 8.5, and 9th grader in the participating middle and high schools will have a teacher mentor who will support them throughout their life in that school.

     After the partnership visits have occurred and the mentoring program has been established, the committees are encouraged to remain active and become new parent organizations, or strengthen existing ones, at the schools.  For more information about the program or to get involved, contact Marlon Cousin, East Baton Rouge Parish School System Parental Involvement Specialist, at 922-5593.

     The school system has asked the leaders of the faith-based community and local churches for their help in spreading the word about the project in what is being called “The Spirit of Education” week, July 26th through August 1st.  Church leaders have also been encouraged to serve on the Back to School committees in their area, and to open the doors of their facilities to host the partnership visits between teachers and families.

     “The effort is to reach as many people as possible; the retiree whose children are grown, the single person who has no children, the parents of children in private schools, and the parents of children in public schools,” Greer said.  “Whether people have children in public schools or not, in order for Baton Rouge to become the vibrant community we all want it to be, it is vitally important we have a strong public education system.”  (See accompanying news posting:  North Highlands Parental Involvement Project)