Comprehending the Continued Parent Involvement in their Children’s Education

The Nevada Department of Education emphasizes that providing a positive outcome for how students navigate school is a shared responsibility between schools and families. As students prepare to head back to class, there are ways parents can stay engaged and present in their kids’ education.

For Dana Page, washing dishes typically marks the end of her busy day. “Life is not perfect, but you know, we get so busy,” she said. She often finds herself with barely enough energy to take a drink of water or focus on herself, let alone stay actively involved in her kids’ education. “I haven’t been very good actively with the school,” Page admitted.

To compensate, she encourages her children to participate in activities she can join in. “I let them join different sports, different activities,” she explained. “But life’s reality is really you have to work.”

Recent research from the America First Policy Institute indicates that student academic performance in public schools has reached a 30-year low. To restore the quality of education, the institute suggests that states promote accountability in school districts, with increased parental involvement being a key factor.

“We absolutely have no engagement,” said Anna Binder, emphasizing the need for parents to speak up, especially at Title 1 schools. Binder, chair of the school organizational team at Fay Galloway Elementary in Henderson, a Title 1 school, shared her experience. “I have to stand out on the quad and beg parents at pick up to go back in and go into the library,” she said.

One way parents can get involved is by visiting their child’s school website. Binder pointed out that every school in Clark County has a school organizational team (SOT). Information about these teams can usually be found under the About tab on the school’s website. Here, families can learn about school meetings, agendas, and how to express concerns or make suggestions.

The American Psychological Association has found that parental involvement in education is positively related to children’s emotional and social adjustment, underscoring the importance of parent involvement for student success.

Every Clark County school has a school organizational team that meets once a month. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity to get to know the principal, key staff, and other parents.

The Clark County School District (CCSD) provided the following statement about SOTs:

“A school organizational team (SOT) is a group of members of a school community, including parents/guardians, that serves as an advisory body to the school principal by providing advice and assistance in the development and execution of the School Plan of Operation in accordance with NRS 388G.540 through NRS 388G.760. Each year, the principal determines the size of the school organizational team for the following term, which begins on October 1. SOT members serve one-year terms from October 1 through September 30 with no term limits.”