Parents: You can help us ensure every student is successful

College and career readiness is an important emphasis throughout our students’ educational journeys, and it’s important to involve our parents in that process.

Starting February 25 through March 8, all middle school campuses will host a Middle School Parent Workshop. These special events, coordinated by the Office of Innovation and Postsecondary Programming, will provide information about college and career readiness resources, opportunities to receive college credit in high school, graduation requirements, and much more. Please check with your child’s school for details.

We have also been creating more opportunities to better equip our parents and ensure that our schools welcome them with open arms. The number of schools enrolled in our Family Friendly Schools Certification Program is at a record-high – we went from 61 schools to 122 last year. We now have more than 170 in the running for certification this school year.

Through HISD’s Family and Community Engagement Parent Workshops this year, we have impacted over 8,000 families through parent workshops focused on strategies to support learning at home, giving them opportunities to have active participation in their schools through parent organizations, and obtaining feedback on their perception of their school climate.

And since Parent University kicked off in September, we have hosted 16 sessions across multiple campuses that have reached over 2,200 families and provided access to 200 community organizations. Parent U topics have ranged from exploration of pathways and programs to learning how to get involved in the academic process. All have one goal in mind: to better prepare our parents to serve as strong advocates in the education of their children.

The next Parent University is right around the corner! Sign up now for the February 21 session, “Supporting Your Child’s Safety, Social, and Emotional Growth.” The Interventions Office will be offering a special presentation on dyslexia services, including an overview of primary characteristics, the process to request screening for students, and general resources for use at home.

Free dinner, interpretation services, and childcare will be provided. Learn more at HoustonISD.org/ParentUniversity.