Maryland Parents Make Case for More Involvement, State Board Seat

Maryland parents are asking the state for a more prominent role in setting public school policy, including two designated seats on the state school board.

In preliminary recommendations released late last month, the Maryland Parent Advisory Committee, set up in 2003 by state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick, asks for several steps, ranging from improved communication between parents and teachers and school officials, to parent representation on all education-related task forces or committees formed by the state and school districts.

One of the recommendations would require the state to work with local school systems and schools to produce and administer to parents a satisfaction survey on family involvement. Results from the annual survey would be factored into school administrators’ and...