The U.S. Department of Education, in conjunction with several advocacy and education organizations, has released a parent checklist aimed at helping to ensure families are equipped with resources to guarantee a high-quality education for their children.
The checklist, produced in partnership with the National Council of La Raza, America Achieves, the National PTA, and the United Negro College Fund, gives key questions parents can ask about their child’s school, what to do next if the child isn’t receiving a proper education, and additional resources that are available.
“We have always known that our parents are deeply engaged in the lives of their children,” Michael L. Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund, said in a telephone news conference June 17. “They want help supporting their kid’s academic success. ... Help is on the way.”
Among other things, the checklist encourages parents to check homework, get their children to school on time, and seek help if their child is behind in school. The checklist also addresses topics outside of academics like safety, nutrition, and health issues.
The checklist, produced in both English and Spanish, follows the Set of Family Rights the department released at the National PTA Convention and Expo in June. Together, these resources are meant for parents and caregivers to create expectations for a child’s education.
“I have never met a parent who doesn’t want the best for their child,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a news release. “However, it can be hard for families to know how to support their child’s education.”