Family Center Handbook - Granite School District

home and helping to create effective home/ school relationships.
• Parent Liaisons will have the ability to work with all races of people.
We enhanced and expanded on Type 5 because a major stakeholder was left out of the two-way
communication. This was the Parent Liaison role that is the key to fostering relationships with
parents and open communication between schools and communities.
Our Type 5 correlates to Joyce Epstein’s Type –2, “COMMUNICATING: Communicate with
families about school programs and student progress through effective school-to-home and home-toschool
communications.”
Type 6: District Level Support
Structures are provided to build parent capacity that is well-defined, meaningful participation
where dialogue, empowerment and action are critical components of educational reform. This
mid-level structure will be fully funded and led by parent councils that will:
• Provide parents with training and capacity building opportunities to effectively engage in
school reform at the local and district level.
• Provide parents with information and resources to meet the needs of the whole child.
• Enable parents to support students and schools programs.
• Create opportunities for collaboration in providing training and services jointly with
parents such as in areas of: college fair, parenting classes. School leadership and
PLC’s.
Also, it very important that there be support at the District Level. We are looking at the district with a
critical eye. We are hoping to see the District develop a forum that is led by parents, as we can’t
continue with the status quo. There are many people in high places that are still limited in their
perception of parent involvement. Parents at the district level need authentic roles that look similar
to the ones described in appendix.
Type 7: Friendly Schools Atmosphere
Schools will post welcome signs throughout the school in many languages including English.
The staff of each school will provide mandatory customer service every year for the entire
school. Parents will be asked to fill out a survey on services rendered.
A friendly school atmosphere was also left out of the six keys that were adopted by the State
of California. The number one complaint in urban schools from parents is that the school staff
is rude and unfriendly. This is the major reason parents stop participating or volunteering at
local schools.
Please see the Appendix Section (separate PDF) to this article which includes
recommendations for training and leadership, a sample Parent Report Card, accountability
procedures, assessment measures, etc.