51����

Parent volunteers have long played a vital role in public schools. From serving on the PTA to planning the class party, parents that give of their time, energy, and talents are often responsible for making the public school system what it is for the students. However, few parents who immerse themselves in class volunteer projects realize the far-reaching benefits those few hours provide. Check out these ten ways parental involvement improves school performance for students and schools.

Positive Early Start

Parents are the first teachers which children have, according to a report in the Tahlequah Daily Press. This gives parents the unique opportunity to positively influence students before the first school bell ever rings. By tackling those early learning issues head-on, parents are also better prepared to get involved with their children’s schooling once they head off to public schools.

“There is an obvious difference in children who have participated in activities from an early age,” Susan VanZant, the principal at Greenwood Elementary School in Oklahoma, told the Daily Press. VanZant added that the advantages can continue if parents remain in contact with the teacher throughout their child’s schooling.

“The teacher is always the first go-to person, especially with questions about curriculum,” VanZant explained. Teachers can also be the best contact for questions about discipline, behavior, and social issues unless another school employee is specifically appointed for this purpose. For example, Greenwood

As discussion continues over how to fix Chicago’s troubled school system, one topic remains conspicuously absent from the equation – the truancy trend in Chicago’s youth. A recent investigative report by the found that during the previous school year, 32,000 students in the Chicago school system missed four weeks of class or more. Those statistics have many educators concerned since truancy affects students and schools on many different levels.

This video reports on truancy in the Chicago Schools.

The Impact of School Truancy

According to the , truancy can impact students and communities in a variety of ways. Statistics from the newsletter show:

• A recent sampling of Miami court records showed that nearly three-quarters of prosecuted teens had been truants.
• Two-thirds of teens arrested for truancy have also tested positive for drug usage.
• A large portion of violent crimes in San Diego (44%) occurs during school hours.
• Nearly 10 percent of 15-year-olds are truant at least once a week in this country.
• Minneapolis was able to cut daytime crime by more than two-thirds when police began going after truant students.

There is little doubt that truancy impact both students and communities in many negative ways. However, keeping kids in school can be easier said than done – particularly in areas of extreme poverty where parents are more interested in keeping food on the table than keeping kids in school. In

School holidays have become a focal point in some Florida school districts of late, as a Muslim organization has asked school administrators to consider adding two Muslim holidays to the school calendar next year. The request, which is under serious consideration by the school board, is not without its share of controversy. This is particularly true in light of the fact that many schools have done away with all holidays containing religious roots. Should Muslim holidays be recognized by U.S. public schools? Read on for information from both sides of the issue.

Details of the Request

The request to add Muslim holidays to the Florida school calendar was made by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). The request has been directed to the Broward School District Diversity Committee. reports that two holidays are included in the request: Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan) and Eid-al-Adha (the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). Both of the holidays fall on different days each year, depending on the lunar calendar.

Members of CAIR argue that Muslim students who celebrate these holidays with their families are forced to choose between their religion and their academic responsibilities. In some cases, students must miss examinations or other important classwork to stay home for the holiday. The school district currently allows students an excused absence if they take off days for the holidays. However, those urging for school closure say the excused absence does little to

When a child struggles academically, the problem may be out of a parent’s scope of expertise. This may be the time to consider a tutor to help a student over the rough patch. How do you know which tutor will be able to offer the most help to your child? Ask these ten questions before determining which professional best meets your child’s needs.

Which subject is causing the most difficulty?

Before considering a tutor for your child, it is important to identify the specific areas in which your child needs help. This typically involves a conference with the teacher to determine which subjects are causing your child the most difficulty. Reading should be evaluated first since reading troubles can also cross into other subjects. According to Education News Colorado, math and science are also common subjects requiring tutoring.

Does my child face organizational or academic challenges?

For some students, school issues are pointedly academic, such as the child who is struggling with reading or sums. However, if you notice your child is performing well on tests but showing more difficulty with homework, the cause of the problem could be more organizational than academic. Does your child have trouble keeping track of assignments? Does he complete assignments but fail to turn them in? Organizational issues may require a different type of tutoring than academic problems.

This video sets out criteria you should look for when choosing a tutor.