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Three education trends San Diego parents need to know this school year
SAN DIEGO – With thousands of kids heading back to school in San Diego County as early as this week, California State PTA and Ninth District PTA offer the top three education trends parents need to know:
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS KEY TO STUDENT SUCCESS -- Decades of research proves family engagement is key to kids’ success in school, and in life. Parents’ engagement in children’s lives – reading together, monitoring homework, ensuring attendance, working with teachers, asking questions about your child’s day and joining PTA — impacts student success far more than parents’ income, education or ZIP code. Students with engaged families attend school regularly, perform better in school, earn higher grades, pass their classes, develop better social skills and go on to college and other educational opportunities.
“While family engagement takes many different forms, each and every one of them means a real difference for students,” said California State PTA President Justine Fischer. “Parents can play a huge role in their kids’ success by getting engaged, staying informed and simply being present in their child’s life.”
HEALTHY KIDS ARE BETTER LEARNERS – There’s a critical link between health and student achievement. Families, teachers and researchers know that our kids can’t grow, learn and succeed when they’re not healthy. Parents can help ensure healthy children – and successful learners – by providing nutritious meals and health care, staying on top of health developments, and staying in touch with your local PTA for the latest information on health issues and programs at your children’s schools.
EDUCATION CHANGES STRENGTHEN PARENTS' VOICES – From a recently revised education-funding formula to updated standards for teaching, learning and assessment, California's schools are undergoing historic changes. Understanding how the education system works and keeping up on changes increases the likelihood of parent and community involvement, which increases student success. PTA members are involved with decision-makers locally, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., as changes are proposed and developed. California State PTA has great education resources for parents and families such as the statewide School Smarts Parent Engagement Program, which has graduated more than 170 parents and family members in San Diego County alone.
“Just like the ABC’s, family engagement, student health and the changing landscape of education all go together to spell success for California kids – it’s that simple!” said Fischer.
For more information on these three education trends and changes – including free family resources such as California State PTA's
Parents’ Guide to Student Success, cosponsored by the California Department of Education – please visit capta.org or cde.ca.gov and click the "Parent Portal."
About California State PTA
California State PTA connects families, schools and communities, reaching millions of families in California through members, local associations, allied agencies and coalitions. PTA is the nation's largest volunteer child-advocacy association working to improve the education, health and welfare of all children with the motto “every child, one voice." PTA advocates at the local, state and national levels for education and family issues. PTA is nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial. For more information: www.capta.org.
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