COSTA MESA : Schools Spell Out Goals for Parents

For several years, Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustees have encouraged parents’ involvement by letting them know about courses, curriculum review at school board meetings and parent-teacher organizations.

But now it’s in writing. The board has adopted an eight-point policy that spells out how it will involve parents in the education process, effective this fall.

Although largely a formality, the policy puts a new “emphasis on what we’re doing,” said Dale Woolley, the district’s director of research and student services. “For every point in there, I think you could point to something that’s (already) going on.”

The policy defines parental involvement as contributing to educational programs. It also outlines a set of objectives for the district to meet.

Both parents and district officials are charged with monitoring the objectives, which are:

* To help parents learning about curriculum and classroom methodology.

* To encourage parents to acquire skills for working with students at home.

* To encourage sharpened parenting skills.

* To promote communication between the home and the district.

* To seek out parents with classroom training.

* To inform parents and families about community support services.