Connecting School and Home: Supporting Parents to Build Student Achievement

Last fall, the school of education at Mercy College opened the Bronx Parent Center, where professors are training parents to play a more active role in their children's schooling. In its first year, the center served close to 600 parents. PS 85 is one of two public elementary schools in the Bronx that is partnering with the Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.-based college to offer parent-engagement support. Workshops teach parents strategies for helping their children build academic, behavioral, and social skills. The program continues to expand, and the college hopes to triple the number of parents they work with this school year. This video was produced as part of a special Commentary section on the role of parents in K-12 schools.