Become Your Child’s Advocate at School

As an elementary school principal, I often find parents who want the best for their child but aren’t confident of their rights and responsibilities when communicating with their child’s teacher and school. As a result, parents often feel left out and confused about their child’s education. Here are 10 guidelines and tips on how parents can be effective advocates for their children.

1. Always schedule an appointment (30 minutes) with the principal and/or teacher prior to your arrival. This ensures you have their complete attention.

2. Always give enough information about the meeting topic that everyone comes prepared with data and facts. This will permit everyone to arrive ready to find solutions, and a more meaningful conversation will result.

3. Come to the meeting prepared for a conversation, rather than an attack. Often, the parent who attacks first wastes time and energy based on incorrect or limited information.

4. Prior to the meeting, create a written list of your questions, concerns and possible solutions. Remember, these people are not your enemy. Most educators are searching for opportunities and ideas to better support your child.

5. If your child is a special education student, it is vital that you attend Individualized Education Program, or IEP, meetings and actively participate. Know your rights and use an advocate (they’re free to you) if you ever feel uncertain or concerned about the services your child is or is not receiving.

6. When a teacher communicates about your child’s progress, always ask to see authentic data. This might be student work samples, a program’s progress-monitoring data or common assessment results. Never accept a teacher’s word for what your child’s progress looks like. We all have to be held accountable with the use of data that progress monitors every child. You need to see it.

7. Understand your child’s report card. Sometimes there are items on a report card that are not clear, always asking the teacher for clarification. Look for meaningful comments, such as “needs to…” or “excels at…,”so you can have meaningful conversations with your child at the end of each day.

8. Every elementary school student should receive a progress report about every six to eight weeks. Again, look for evidence and data that supports the grade. As a guide, a teacher should take one grade, every week, in every subject. Most schools have an online program where you can monitor your child’s grades, missing assignments and behavioral interventions.

9. Never place the school in the middle of a divorce or family dispute. The teacher and school can only use legal documents to prevent the other parent from visiting or picking up a child. Try to keep the school a safe, neutral place for your child to learn and build trusted relationships.

10. Get to know your child’s teacher. Teachers will spend more time with your child over nine months of schooling than anyone else. Are they a parent? What are their interests outside of school? Praise them, help them and support the rules and high expectations they have for your child.

Most teachers are competent and have high expectations for your child and themselves. If you are lucky enough to have a teacher who is strict but fair, highly organized, committed to improving their teaching practices and creates lessons that motivate your child, let them know how special they are to you and your child.