More Than Fifteen Ways to Get Involved in Your Child’s Education

1. Ask your child what was the best thing that happened at school today!
2. Volunteer to help with classroom projects.
3. Come read to students.
4. Help with lunchtime supervision at school (at some schools this is a paid position!)
5. Come to Back-to-School night or conferences and talk to your children’s teachers.
6. Listen while your child explains their schoolwork.
7. Volunteer to help in a school garden or do an art project with the kids.
8. Chaperone or drive on field trips.
9. Engage with your school’s parent-teacher group (PTA, PTSA, or PTO)
   1. Attend PTA/PTO meetings
   2. Help your school’s PTA/PTO plan fun events for your school community.
   3. Attend PTA/PTO events such as family movie nights, multicultural fairs, and holiday parties.
   4. Become a member of your PTA/PTO
   5. Help your school’s PTA/PTO raise funds for field trips, teacher mini-grants, assemblies, and community-building events
10. Participate in meetings of the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) at your school or the District English Learner Advisory Council (DELAC) at the district level. ELACs at each school are responsible for advising the principal and staff on programs and services for English learners.
11. Attend School Site Council meetings and be part of your school’s decision-making about curriculum, school performance goals, and disbursement of School Improvement Plan (SIP) and other funds.
12. Make a gift to the Sunnyvale Education Foundation or volunteer with the Foundation.
13. Talk to your teacher and principal and let them know your thoughts, suggestions and compliments!
14. Come to Sunnyvale School District Board of Education
15. Join DELAC or your school’s ELAC or School Site Council.

Talk to your child’s teacher or your school’s principal to find out about volunteer opportunities at your school. Note that all volunteers must fill out the District’s volunteer form.

Article by Lighthouse Blue Consultant Dyan Chan.