Parent Involvement

Parents are valued partners at Poughkeepsie City School District, we believe that successful learning is achieved through strong connections with parents and our community.

Our parents help to ensure the highest levels of student learning through strong partnerships and collective accountability. The excellence in our school system is due, in large part, to the involvement of our parents and their volunteer efforts. By sharing their time, talents and resources as members of PTAs, mentors to students at-risk and on district advisory committees, our parents strengthen the PCSD team.

Over 30 years of research has proven beyond dispute the positive connection between parent involvement and student success. Effectively engaging parents and families in the education of their children has the potential to be far more transformational than any other type of education reform.

Visit the Resources for Parents page of the New York State Education Department

A cooperative relationship between home and school is essential to each student's successful development and achievements. To achieve this wholesome relationship, parents are urged:

• to show an enthusiastic and supportive attitude toward school and education;
• to build a good working relationship between themselves and their child;
• to teach their children self-respect, respect for the law, respect for others and for public property;
• to insist on prompt and regular attendance;
• to listen to the views and observations of all parties concerned;
• to recognize that teachers merit the same consideration and respect that parents expect from their children;
• to encourage their children to take pride in his/her appearance;
• to insist that their children promptly bring home all communications from school;
• to cooperate with the school in jointly resolving, any school-related problem;
• to set standards of behavior for their children and resolve to remain firm and consistent;
• to help their children learn to deal effectively with negative peer pressure.
• to provide a place conducive for study and completion of homework assignments;
• to demonstrate desirable standards of behavior through personal example;
• to foster a feeling of pride in their children for their school,
• to provide support and positive reinforcement to their child.

The National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs and their quality indicators are research based and grounded in both sound philosophy and practical experience. The purpose for the standards is threefold:

• To promote meaningful parent and family participation
• To raise awareness regarding the components of effective programs
• To provide guidelines for schools that wish to improve their programs

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") affords parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records.

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