Wow, this sure is a controversial issue. I read the article and some of the posted comments.

I believe that if a school is trying to get more positive parental involvement, this system would fail them miserably. Nobody wants to be judged, least of all for their parenting skills. Alienation is the only outcome I can see.

My heart breaks for the neglected kids, the overworked or uneducated parents, the harried teachers.

I agree with developing a system that identifies at risk children and offers an intervention program. But it probably needs to be approached from a "let's team up for Bobby's sake" point of view.


My son's middle school uses a team teaching approach. There are Blue Team and Orange Team teachers. During 8th period every day, all of the 8th grade teachers meet with their team to discuss curriculum, problem areas, struggling students, etc. By collaborating in this way, there are multiple sets of eyes on each student and problems or concerns can be found and remediated quickly.

Everything is so subjective. So much depends on what personal views are. For me, I wouldn't feel involved with my son's education if I wasn't volunteering in the school in addition to the usual homework help, asking questions about his day, reading to him daily, etc. But for alot of parents, making sure their kid even gets to school is as involved as they will ever be and truly believe they have no duty to their child, their school, their community or beyond to do more.
The point was brought up about how do you grade parents? Do you use a curve for the single mom who works two jobs but not for the double parent home where the mom doesn't work outside the home?
There was another good point made about who exactly is going to be reading these report cards. We have some parents who expect their kindergartner to tell them when they have brought papers home and never open a backpack all year. This whole program would pass them right by.
I get SO frustrated, as I'm sure most of you do, when people start slinging excuses as to why they can't do this, that or the other. Sometimes, even giving them "baby steps" to involvement doesn't even work.

I truly don't see where grading would work for anyone. Is there some consequence for poor grades? The more I'm typing and thinking, it really just smacks of judgment on people.
I don't know that I've learned anything from this article but I do like the segment in the video from the school that does more of a parent survey. I think this may be what our principal has been thinking about. Plan of action? Not really.
I don't know if there will ever be a magic cure all for involvement. Perhaps we need to shift our energies towards better education of parents before they become parents. I wonder if the parenting/life skills classes often offered in high school even teach about involvement/volunteering. If this class could be required, that would mean that every high school student in America would have it instilled in their minds that involvement is expected and is our duty as parents.
Sorry if I'm rambling, it's the week before my two book fairs and my brain is a tad scrambled.

On Today the subject of parent involvement was discussed. I know many of us are looking for ways to better involve or inspire parents to be involved. How can we as PTO/PTA learn from this article? Do you have an action plan you are willing to share after reading the article?

Should Parents Get Grades and Homework? - allDAY - msnbc.com