Lawmakers Consider Bill To Get Parents Involved In Education

by Rob Poindexter – February 7th 2012 08:54pm – Read more Local News

Augusta – State lawmakers are considering a bill that would ask parents to play an even larger role in education.

Portland Senator Justin Alfond is sponsoring a measure to would require every school board in Maine to develop a “Parental Involvement Plan.”

These plans would provide parents with learning and behavior expectations, update parents on student progress, and offer ways parents can help their children succeed.  The bill also requires those plans to be posted on the Department of Education website.  Schools that don’t comply with the law would also be posted on that website.  “Of course parental involvement will not solve all the problems in our schools,” Alfond told members of The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. “It will change the culture of our schools to include parents by giving them a stronger role. In the end I believe the plan will create a larger net to engage more parents in their children’s education.”

Some lawmakers raised concerns about mandating school districts to comply as well as the potential cost of the plan.  Alfond admitted he’s unsure where the money will come from.  “I’m not sure where it’s going to come from,” Alfond said Tuesday, “but I want to work creatively with you and the committee to figure out how we can make sure that we are giving the resources to schools to provide this. Because I think it’s an important investment.”

If the bill makes it out of committee it will head to the full House of Representatives and Senate for a vote.

http://www.wabi.tv/news/27425/lawmakers-consider-bill-to-get-parents-involved-in-education