Boston Public Schools launches Parent University

BOSTON – Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has announced that registration has begun for Parent University, a new learning experience specifically designed to help parents increase their understanding of how children learn and develop; what their children should be learning; how to help their children get what they need to succeed; and how to bring other parents together to work for school improvement.

The opening session of Parent University will be held on Saturday, October 31, at UMass Boston, and there is no cost for parents of BPS students to participate. The program, which features more than 30 classes (including 10 in Spanish), will focus on four content areas: (1) parents as teachers – provides a clearer understanding of how children grow and learn and the teaching and learning approaches in BPS; (2) parents as advocates – provides the knowledge and skills parents need to advocate for their child, understand the standards and expectations for learning and support learning at home; (3) parents as leaders – provides the opportunity for parents to develop the skills necessary to assume leadership roles in their schools and community  (4) parents as learners – provides the opportunity for parents to build upon their own skills for personal and professional growth.

“We know that when parents are engaged in their children’s learning, the outcomes for students improve, which is why deepening partnerships with families is a core strategy in our ‘Acceleration Agenda’ to achieve academic excellence for all of our students” said Dr. Johnson. “Parent University is a key strategy we are using to strengthen family engagement and embrace parents as true partners in the work of educating our students and transforming our schools.”

Developed by the BPS Office of Family & Student Engagement and funded with support from private donors and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, Parent University will feature three full-day Saturday learning sessions (October, January and May), with additional sessions to be offered throughout the year at schools, libraries and community centers. As parents complete classes, they can earn Parent University Points (PUPs), and in June the district will hold a graduation event for parents who have earned ten PUPs.

Parent University is one of several strategies the district uses to engage families and the community in support of student achievement. In addition to supporting full-time Family & Community Outreach Coordinators (FCOCs) in 31 schools, the Office Family & Student Engagement works with all BPS schools to help organize School Site Councils, plan activities to engage families in their children’s learning, and help parents and school staff communicate with each other. Several team members are specially trained to work with families with limited English and families who have children in special education programs. The district also hosts numerous welcome events each year for families, including the Countdown to Kindergarten Celebration, the Back-to-School Jamboree, and the Middle O! Middle School Orientation. Additionally, in 2008, Dr. Johnson created the new Welcome Services department to provide additional support and assistance to students and families entering the district and to those making critical transitions within the system.

For more information, or to register, visit www.bostonpublicschools.org/parentuniversity or call the Office of Family & Student Engagement at 617-635-1683.