Families In Schools' Parent Education programs assist parents in understanding how schools work, developing relationships with school staff and other parents, and increasing their college-knowledge such that they increase their efforts as effective advocates for their children’s education. Signature Parent Education programs include: Grade Level Transitions programs (gives parents access to the knowledge and skill building they need to support their children in successful transitions to middle school and high school) and Parent Academies (workshops that guide parents through their parental rights and responsibilities, and gives parents other critical knowledge on how to navigate the school system). 

Grade Level Transitions

Transition to Middle School

The Transition to Middle School program consists of a series of 4 3-hour workshops to assist parents in understanding how middle school is different from elementary school and how they can actively support their children in school and at home by providing more effective and sustainable learning opportunities. In the process, parents are able to establish relationships with one another and school staff as they support their children academically, socially and emotionally during the challenging transition between elementary and middle school.  The curriculum was developed and designed to be taught by a team of teachers, parent educators and parent leaders.  The content is based on needs identified by parents, teachers and students.  The program is recommended for middle schools to support their 6th grade parents.

Transition to High School

The Transition to High School program consists of a series of 4 3-hour workshops designed to assist parents in understanding how high school differs from middle school and how they can effectively support their children during this difficult transition. As in the Transition to Middle School program, Transition to High School can be delivered by a parent educator team that is comprised of teachers, counselors, and parent leaders from the school. Together, the teachers and participants create a community wherein they can collectively identify the needs of their middle school students, and likewise find ways to support their children academically, socially and emotionally. Its mission is threefold: to increase parents’ knowledge about key topics affecting students, develop leadership skills among school staff and parent participants, and develop a community for parents. The program is recommended for high schools to support their 9th grade parents.

Parent Academies

Parent Academies are individual workshops designed to prepare parents for their child’s academic success by providing them information on various education-related issues. Workshops are 2-3 hour sessions and can be delivered as a series or as a stand-alone workshop. Topics are as follows: 

Educating English Language Learners

The program assists parents in understanding the rules and regulations which apply to the education of English Learners in California and in their particular school district.  The information helps parents navigate the various programs and assessments schools use with children who do not speak English as their first language.  Included in the workshop are strategies that parents can use at home to help their children acquire language skills, including primary language skills that transfer into English.  This workshop seeks to provide parents with the knowledge and skills needed to monitor and guide their children's education and English language development.  The long term goal for parents is that they can ensure their children acquire excellent speaking, reading, and writing skills in English so that they can master a rigorous curriculum and are eligible to pursue university or 21st Century career programs upon high school graduation.

Parent's Rights & Responsibilities Under NCLB
Understanding Parent Rights in the Education of Their Children program has been designed to assist parents in understanding their rights and responsibilities under federal education law (No Child Left Behind Act, NCLB).  Under NCLB, parents and schools have a shared responsibility and accountability for student academic achievement.  This workshop seeks to provide parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully partner with schools, to advocate on their children’s behalf, and to ensure that their children receive the highest quality education to which they are entitled, and must have, to achieve lifelong success.  

Best Practices: What to Look for at My Child's School
Assists parents in understanding what inclusive decision making looks like at school, how the cultural assets of all families are of value to school staff and how to talk with teachers and other school staff about the cultural assets parents bring to the table of learning.  Additionally, the program helps parents understand that psychologists have identified forty critical assets for child development and are given tools to help identify which assets parents can influence and which assets are more influenced by school staff and community support.

College Knowledge
Assists parents in understanding the importance of higher education and the academic preparation needed for their child’s success.  The information helps parents understand the California Master Plan, its purpose, the college going process and requirements as well as the financial aid opportunities available for their children.  This workshop seeks to provide parents with the knowledge and skills needed to monitor and guide their children's education as well as the critical role parents play as their children’s college advocate.  The workshop focuses on helping parents move from a perspective of ‘hoping my child attends college’ to one of ‘expecting my child to attend college’.