Debate: Should parents be involved in all school decisions?

NEA Today, Apr 1996 by Bennett, Dick, Uderos-Blackburn, Gloria

Should parents be involved in all school decisions?

YES

In this era of education reform and transformation, it's important that schools garner the support of those most affected by change: the parents of our students. And the best way to garner that support is to involve parents in school decision making.

Teachers have always asked parents to support their children's school work at home. We've always consulted parents about discipline problems and solicited their support in motivating recalcitrant students to learn.

But most school employees have stopped short of asking parents to help define a school's mission, choose curricular materials, or shape a school's budget. Somehow, they reason, that's not a parent's job. I disagree.

Parents can contribute unique viewpoints based on personal experiences and professional expertise. And because they learn so much about the school community through their involvement, parents become better advocates for their child within the school and for their school within the community.

My own school, Odyssey, regularly involves parents in decision making. Four years ago, when we designed the school, several parents helped develop the school's philosophy and structure. Today those same parents, who are involved in many school activities, remain our strongest supporters.

Odyssey involves parents in a variety of ways, perhaps one of the most unique being to help teach classes. We schedule quarterly enrichment courses, which expand on the interests of staff and students--and ask teachers, students, members of the surrounding community, and parents to teach them. So far, parents have taught classes in chess, community service, calligraphy, and construction.

A parent sits on our management/ coordinating team, one parent schedules our enrichment class period, parents participate on our student support committee, and parents are regularly consulted about school decisions.

Although we offer opportunities for parents to work on the building management teams, there are many reasons why some parents can't get involved. So Odyssey gathers input from parents in other ways, input that is later used to make school decisions.

We constantly request feedback from parents--at open houses, on conference night, in our newsletter, in surveys, and in regular meetings and focus groups. We also solicit specific recommendations from parents through grade level teams. We use random sampling and phone some parents to invite them to attend focus groups.

Parents are honest and pleased that we seek their opinions. They respond in a caring, supportive way. In fact, last year many parents commented that teachers were working too hard, that they didn't want us to burn out.

Some fear that parents will take over, ignore the expert opinions of school staff, and force decisions that staff members don't support. We have not found that to be true.

Most parents don't want the final say--they just want to be able to offer some input. And we've found that when they're involved in the decision making process, they're more supportive of the final decision.

One example: Last year, we debated whether to go to a block scheduling plan with 90-minute classes. We asked parents--in focus groups, privately, and through the PTSA and booster clubs--what they thought of the idea. We found that they were concerned about a lack of time for music groups within the school day.

Having that feedback allowed us to modify the plan to meet their needs. The parents who raised the concern were pleased, a lot of students benefited from the decision, and most staff felt the input helped us make the best possible choice for everyone.

Parent involvement in decisions builds support for instruction. Such involvement also builds interdependent personal connections and trust between the staff and home, and allows the work of the school--learning--to proceed as a collegial enterprise, with staff and parents sharing the same goal.

Bottom line: The more that parents are involved, the more student achievement improves.

Dick Bennett teaches an integrated humanities curriculum to ninth and tenth graders at Odyssey School, an alternative school in Greece, New York. He's past president of the Greece Teachers Association and the current NEA Learning Lab facilitator for his district.

NO

As a youngster growing up in central California, I remember "room mothers," moms who helped the teacher prepare for class parties and other special occasions. Back then, that was pretty much the limit of parental involvement.

But times have changed. In 1990, the Kentucky Education Reform Act created radical changes in schools in my state. One such change--the creation of school-based decision making councils--too often puts parents where they don't belong.

These councils--made up of three teachers, two parents, and an administrator, the first two groups elected by their peers--involve parents in all decision making policies at a particular school by inviting them to serve on any or all committees that develop those policies.