"When it comes to a breakfast of ham and eggs, the chicken is involved but the pig is committed." This humorous quote captures the differences between parent involvement (the chicken) and parent engagement (the pig). It can also serve to describe the struggles facing schools working to build strong family partnerships.
When you "involve" parents, ideas and suggestions come primarily from the school. The school typically identifies priority areas and recruits parents to assist, based on these priority areas. Parents who are involved serve the school's agenda by- volunteering, parenting in positive ways and supporting student learning at home.
When schools engage parents, ideas come primarily from the families and communities based on their needs and priorities. The parent is considered a leader who is critical to identifying a shared vision and goal. When we engage parents, we have the potential to create a shared community, where families and educators work alongside each other to support and enhance student learning.
The Alabama PIRC is committed to working with schools and families across Alabama to ensure that all of our students achieve success. We help schools give families the tools that they need to be fully engaged. We work with families to help them understand the importance of the role they play in their children’s education. If you would like more information about the Alabama PIRC and the services we provide, call us today at 334-567-2252 or visit our website at www.alabamaparentcenter.com.
Special thanks to AZPIRC for contributing the first three paragraphs! Read their blog at http://azpirc.blogspot.com/
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