Vol. 39, No. 42
November 14, 2005
State Board of Education Approves Model
Policy on Parent/Family Involvement
The State Board of Education today approved a resolution recognizing the value of parent and family involvement in children’s education and directing all of Missouri’s public school districts to adopt new policies that will encourage constructive parent involvement.
The Missouri Legislature enacted a law earlier this year that directed the State Board of Education to adopt a model policy by December 1. Local school districts are required to follow suit and adopt their own policies on parent/family involvement by March 1, 2006.
The law, Senate Bill 480, was sponsored by Sen. Charles Shields, R- St. Joseph. The Missouri PTA lobbied for passage of the law, and PTA leaders worked with state education officials in developing the model policy. The sample policy will be distributed to school district officials and education-related organizations.
The policy emphasizes that all families – regardless of their educational, cultural or economic background – have positive effects on children’s learning and need to be engaged not only in school-related activities, but also in supporting children’s learning outside of school.
"This policy underscores our belief that parents and families can make a significant difference in children’s education and that schools can take tangible actions to encourage such involvement," said Commissioner of Education D. Kent King.
"Getting and sustaining parent involvement is not as easy as it once was. Many schools now serve students from different language and cultural backgrounds. Families face new pressures and distractions. School and parent leaders must recognize these potential obstacles and find creative ways to overcome them.
"I applaud the Missouri PTA for its ongoing efforts to encourage constructive parent involvement policies and programs that are geared to the realities of today’s families and schools," King said.