Parental Involvement: Administrators' Roundtable
Parental involvement in schools is much more than parent-teacher conferences and organizing fundraisers. In the state of Arkansas, involving parents in public schools is mandated by law. This professional development course features school administrators discussing the legal requirements of parent involvement in Arkansas schools and the difficulties and successes of that implementation.
Parental Involvement: Elementary Roundtable
Parental involvement in elementary schools is much more than parent teacher conferences and organizing fundraisers. This professional development course features a panel of experts discussing how teachers can help parents understand the importance of parental involvement and ideas on how parents can be involved in the child's education in all areas, and not just in the classroom. They also discuss the difficulties and successes of implementing an effective parental involvement program.
Parental Involvement: Middle School Roundtable
This professional development course features a panel of teachers and administrators discussing the challenges and unique requirements of parental involvement at the middle school level. What tools do middle schools have to reach parents? What is the role of a parent at this transitional age? Panelists also discuss the challenges of communicating to parents and students about sensitive social and developmental issues.
Parental Involvement: High School Roundtable
This professional development course features a panel of teachers and administrators discussing the challenges and unique requirements of parental involvement at the high school level. The panelists, who are also parents themselves, discuss topics such as: What tools do high schools have to reach parents? What is the role of a parent at this transitional age? How does a parent's responsibility change as they prepare their child for the real world? Panelists also discuss the challenges associated with reaching at-risk students and frustrated parents who have lost hope for their child's academic success.
Parental Involvement: Applications - Elementary
This course is designed to provide teachers with practical ideas and inspiration for maximizing the impact that parents can make. Teachers and educational leaders from across the state of Arkansas discuss what teachers can learn from parents, how changes in our culture have affected parental involvement, and what great ideas they have implemented to involve parents on a regular basis.
Parental Involvement: Applications - Middle School/High School
As a student transitions from elementary school to middle school and high school, parental involvement changes. This course shows what parental involvement looks like in middle school and high school, what teachers can do to encourage parental involvement, and tips for promoting a positive and inviting school environment for parents.
Family & Community Engagement: Inviting Caregivers & Community Partners Into School
It is vitally important that we take deliberate, intentional steps toward creating a collaborative network of support for our students. Becoming partners in our advocacy for educating the whole child influences student success and strengthens relationships throughout the community. In this course, parental involvement consultant Dave Shepard introduces steps educators can take to invite caregivers into the daily operations and activities of schools. Melissa Dunbar-Gates moderates discussions on broadening the definition of parental involvement toward a more inclusive, community-based definition that encompasses all types of caregivers.
This course, which meets the scheduled parental involvement requirement of Act 603 of 2003, features conversations with caregivers and community partners, advice from experts, descriptions of state initiatives, round table discussions, and heartwarming success stories.
From Extra to Essential: Family Engagement in Arkansas Schools
Today’s classrooms are filled with children of many ethnicities, cultures, and languages. To fully support our students, we must tap into the range of assets, experiences, and perspectives within our families and communities. Research shows us that when schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and enjoy school more. What are we doing in Arkansas to co-create with parents, guardians, and invested community partners in our students’ development, wellness, and learning?
In this course, host Alyson Courtney and Arkansas Department of Education’s Freddie Scott take us on a tour around the state and through the Essentials of engagement. These Essentials are: Communication, Equity, Safe and Friendly Schools, Innovation, Leadership and Support, and Partnerships and Relationships.
This course meets the requirements of Act 603 of 2003 for the 2022-23 school year.
My Child, My Student: Parents and Teachers Communicating - Reducing Chronic Absenteeism
This course features Jonathan Crossley, 2014 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Mr. Crossley discusses chronic absenteeism and suggests strategies that teachers can use to help students be successful. In addition, Mr. Crossley addresses the underlying meaning of chronic absenteeism and why it matters. He also offers suggestions for teachers as they communicate with parents about the importance of regular school attendance among students.
This professional development session was recorded on October 23, 2014 at the AETN studios in Conway, Arkansas.
The Six Components of Parental Involvement for Teachers
This course, which was recorded on January 15, 2015 at Western Yell County High School in Havana, Arkansas, features Dr. Beverley Romanin, former teacher and administrator and expert parent involvement consultant. The presentation features an overview of Dr. Joyce Epstein's Six Components of Parental Involvement, which include the concepts of parenting, communicating, volunteering, students learning at home, school decision-making, and collaborating with the community.