• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

District Survey Says Parents Seek More Online Interaction: Irving ISD: Respondents Want E-Mail, More Information Online

Posted on: Sunday, 18 June 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Katherine Leal Unmuth, The Dallas Morning News

Jun. 18--A recent Irving school district survey of parents shows many would like increased e-mail contact and the ability to check their child's grades and attendance online.

More than 2,000 people filled out the parent involvement survey on computers at open houses or online this spring. Most respondents were parents of elementary students. There were 1,253 responses in English and 772 in Spanish.

"I have an e-mail address!!!" wrote one parent. Another requested "regular e-mail alerts."

The survey results also reflect differing views and needs from parents based on language. About 35 percent of the district's students have limited English proficiency.

The district plans to use the results to generate ideas on how to increase parent contact with schools. Most respondents expressed a need for better communication.

"They really want much more communication between school and home," said Judy Rudebusch, the district's director of special services. "They want more information about homework: 'How can I be involved with helping my child with homework?' "

Those responding in Spanish emphasized a desire for parenting and English classes so they could help their children. They also asked for more bilingual help at the schools.

"I think the school is doing a good job, but the barrier I have with being involved in the education of my child is language," one parent wrote in Spanish.

"I think the school can teach the parents how to teach their children," another parent wrote in Spanish.

Ms. Rudebusch said the district is working to secure more grants so it can expand ESL classes offered to parents. Next year, the district also plans to begin using a program geared at getting parents involved in helping their middle school children with homework.

A number of working parents also requested more evening programs.

Some respondents in English expressed some frustration about a general lack of parent involvement or volunteering at their schools or noted they felt the district was focusing on Spanish speakers.

"I don't know if the schools can help the parents of these children," a parent wrote. "Because of the demographics of this community there is a language barrier."

"The majority of the students are Spanish speaking and sometimes there is more desire to accommodate them and less is done for the English speaking students," one comment said.

Spanish-speaking parents tended to give schools higher marks than English-speaking parents. But overall most parents said their school had contacted them about their child's progress and about how to become involved.

In a question about how parents can become involved at school, many responses in English noted the PTA. The group was barely mentioned by Spanish-speaking parents.

Ms. Rudebusch said the district is looking at innovative ways to encourage involvement beyond traditional avenues such as the PTA. She said in future years of the survey she hopes to compile more suggestions and get more parent participation.

"We need to provide parents a voice," she said.

E-mail kunmuth@dallasnews.com

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

More News in this Category