On Tuesday, October 6, Governor Edward G. Rendell once again proclaimed October as “Parent Involvement Month” in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Parent Information and Resource Center (PA PIRC) and its partners from across the Commonwealth gathered at the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate and acknowledge the many ways that family involvement supports children’s learning and academic achievement. The Pennsylvania House and Senate also introduced Resolutions that honor parent and family involvement.

Families are encouraged to celebrate parent involvement throughout the year. Parents can support children’s education through simple things such as:

• Take time everyday to ask open-ended questions about what your child is learning in school.
• Ask to see their homework, test papers, writing projects and ask questions based on what you observe.
• Read everything the school sends home and be willing to send messages back and forth to the teacher, particularly if your child is struggling with homework.
• If your child has received a poor grade, avoid criticizing and instead ask if there is anything you can do to help their performance.
• Encourage your child to read at home, and set a good example by letting your child see you read instead of watching TV.
• Set rules about game playing or internet activities, encourage your child to focus on completing homework first.

For more ideas on supporting parent involvement, please see Tips for Parents (PDF format) and Tips for Educators/Professionals (PDF format).

WGAL TV8 newscast coverage of the Parent Involvement Proclamation Event - October 6, 2009