How do you get a message across to someone who speaks a different language than you? By getting creative. These parent groups took steps to help parents speaking English as a second language feel welcome at school.
Multilingual Leaders
Many parent groups arrange for translators at their meetings. When the PTO at the International Charter School in Pawtucket, R.I., meets, its leaders can often do this job themselves. The president, treasurer, and secretary speak four languages combined: Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Spanish, and English. The PTO lists the languages spoken by each leader when providing their contact information to parents.
Parent Academy
In South San Francisco, parents at Sunshine Gardens Elementary started the state PTA’s School Smarts Parent Academy, in which moms and dads meet for two hours a week and learn how to be involved with their children’s education.
At the mostly Hispanic school, parents who might otherwise be too timid to take an active role in their child’s schooling learn how the public education system works and how to reach the school board and the superintendent. The academy also teaches leadership skills and how to communicate with your child about school. The school’s principal has reported a sharp increase in involvement with school events.
Language Lessons
At 11 schools in Salt Lake City, parents can take English-language lessons offered by the nonprofit English Skills Learning Center. The program stresses the importance of parents being involved in their children’s education. Parents learn English vocabulary used frequently in a school setting as well as how to join the school’s parent group and how to communicate with their children about their performance in school.
