The Arkansas Guide for Promoting Family Engagement Through Age Eight

Family engagement is more than simply inviting parents to school once or twice a year; it is a continual process of working together for the benefit of students. Jackie Govan (Director, Head Start State Collaboration) and Jamie Morrison Ward (Curricula Concepts) present the Arkansas Guide for Promoting Family Engagement, a resource educators can use to help promote parental involvement and explain the importance of childhood development to the caregivers in students' lives. The Guide also contains information about putting together action plans for getting families to play a role in their children's education.

This course was recorded at the AETN studios in Conway, Arkansas on June 14, 2016.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirement of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Introduction

This course includes a PDF, a PowerPoint, and a video with graded questions. The PDF and PowerPoint discuss in detail Arkansas Acts 603 of 2003 and 307 of 2007 and their implementation and application within the school. In the video, a group of experts from around the country answer the question, "What is parental involvement?" Experts also discuss the implementation and application of Arkansas Acts 603 of 2003 and 307 of 2007, the federal NCLB definition of parental involvement, and what research says about quality family engagement.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Administrators' Roundtable

Family and community engagement in schools is much more than parent-teacher conferences and organizing fundraisers. In the state of Arkansas, involving families in public schools is mandated by law. This professional development course features school administrators discussing the legal requirements of family and community engagement in Arkansas schools and the difficulties and successes of that implementation.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Elementary Roundtable

Family and community engagement 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 families understand the importance of family engagement and ideas on how families 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 family and community engagement program.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

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 family engagement, and what great ideas they have implemented to involve families on a regular basis.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Applications - Middle School/High School

As a student transitions from elementary school to middle school and high school, family engagement changes. This course shows what family and community engagement looks like in middle school and high school, what teachers can do to encourage family engagement, and tips for promoting a positive and inviting school environment for families. 

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

School Health Services: Health Ed - School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) Programs

A quality school-based mental health program is comprised of more than just contracted therapy sessions with visiting mental health professionals. Comprehensive, formalized mental health programs can provide students with the services and resources needed in order to remain healthy, thriving learners. This course provides administrators and other school leaders with a detailed outline of the steps that need to be taken in order to assess and improve upon their current mental health services so that they may maintain students' health and safety. 

This course with Dr. Elizabeth Kindall, Arkansas Department of Education Mental Health Services Coordinator, was recorded on September 30, 2014 in the AETN studies in Conway, Arkansas.

Guiding Children Successfully, Episode 1: Effective Motivation for Children

Dr. Wally Goddard discusses three ways to successfully motivate children. Dr. Goddard describes what motivation is, problems with certain types of motivation, and how to effectively motivate children.