Why Parents Need to Advocate For Their Students

Why Parents Need to Advocate For Their Students (Even In Really Good Schools)

• PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. • PTA Motto: “Every Child. One Voice. ”

“I see the one voice as a symphony of instruments playing in harmony to create a unifying voice speaking for all children, rather than a chorus singing one note in unison. ” – Michelle Gluck, former MCCPTA Education Chair

Advocacy in MCPS • Examples of Parent Engagement on a County-Wide Basis: • Special Education/Learning Disabilities; Gifted and Talented; Teacher-Student Ratios; Class Availability; Quality of Instruction; Language Barriers; Facilities; Anything Safety Related • What Examples in the Magruder Cluster?

Magruder Cluster Examples • Opening Emory Grove Holding School • Resurfacing of the Magruder Field and Track • Biology Option for Rising Freshman

Questions Parents and Guardians Ask • Is the School Meeting our Expectations? • What Happens in Other Schools? • • What is the Coursework like? How are Students Grouped? What are the “Enrichments” – field trips, etc. ? • How is My Child Doing? • What kinds of Data Reports do other Parents Receive?

Advocacy 101 • Choose Battles Wisely! • Be Prepared. Do Your Homework! • MCPS -- Office of Shared Accountability; Other Schools/PTAs • Find Allies and Be Open to Alternatives! • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead • Acknowledge Progress as Fiercely as you Raise Concerns!

Opportunity for Advocacy • February 16 th, 2017, 7 pm – Magruder Cluster Meets Board of Education • Tentative Location – Shady Grove Middle School

Items on our List : Magruder Cluster -Academic Areas • Parent access to curriculum – Elementary, Middle, and High School • Ambiguity of student achievement in elementary school • Differentiation in the “Advanced” and “mixed model” approach at the middle school • Parity in the feeder middle schools • Course rigor (and fidelity) at the high school

Items on our List: Magruder Cluster -Morale/Community-Building Elements • Climate Surveys reinstated – Elementary, Middle, and High Schools • Assistant Principals at the elementary schools • Better Support for Special Education/Mainstreaming Programs in the middle school • Transparency/Information for parents regarding student “ 4 year plans” in the high school

Items on our List: Magruder Cluster -Sustainability/Safety-Related Areas • Safe passage for “walkers” to school • Part of the Magruder Cluster Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Testimony • Access to personal devices during school day • Safety/security of staff and students in the middle and high school

What I’ve Learned • Not all parents are equipped to advocate for their students (or know what questions to ask). Take the “village approach!” • Many times, it takes patience to figure out “what is the real barrier? ” • Work through the channels but don’t underestimate “Power of the Parent. ” • Always give your “audience” the chance to do the right thing. • Always strive to be part of a solution.