parents and schools to create closer ties

The Age, Caroline Milburn, 25 February 2008

The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Ms Julia Gillard, has announced that the Federal Government will set up a national Family-School and Community Partnership Bureau in a bid to make schools ‘more welcoming to parents.’

According to a 2006 government report by the then Department of Education, Science and Training, schools that experience high levels of parental involvement have better academic results and attendance and behaviour records.
The report, which evaluated 61 government and non-government schools nationwide, also found that family-school partnerships ‘improved educational outcomes for students’ and ‘had a positive impact on and engaged parents not
usually involved in the school.’

Leading parent groups the Australian Parents Council (APC) and the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) believe that parental and community involvement is a key ‘breakthrough in improving student performance’
and reengaging parents.

APC Executive Director, Mr Ian Dalton, believes that neither schools nor parents should fear prospective partnerships.
He says that ‘a good family-school partnership is not about developing a culture where parents tell the school how to educate their  children; it’s about informing and engaging parents so they can work alongside the school and support
the educators.’

Ms Gillard said that the two national parent organisations will be provided with $800,000 over four years to implement
and run the bureau, in a bid to better improve relationships between schools, their parents and school communities.
The APC and the ACSSO will also conduct research and develop pilot programmes to encourage higher levels of
parental and community participation in schools.

For further information on the Family-School and Community Partnership Bureau, visit the Australian Parents Council website.

 

 

 

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