What You Can Do

Tips for Parents and Family

Make sure students receive individual attention in safe schools, in smaller learning communities within large schools, in small classes (18 or fewer students), and in programs that provide tutoring and build on what students learn during the school day.

• Parents can provide useful information about their child and give insight on their child's habits, strengths, special talents, and weaknesses to help the teacher maximize the child's success.
  
  
• Parents can monitor students' academic progress in school throughout the year, checking with teachers and advisors to make sure that students do not fall behind academically.
  
  
• Parents can recommend students receive extra support through extended learning time, such as tutoring, as well as summer, Saturday, and before- and after-school classes to succeed in challenging courses. 

Act early so students do not drop out with high-quality, universal pre-school and full-day kindergarten, strong elementary programs, and middle school programs that address the causes of dropping out that appear in these grades.

Get involved in students' learning at school and at home in new and creative ways. Engage children in healthy behaviors and stay actively involved in their education from pre-school through high school graduation.

• Meet the teachers. Tell teachers about your children's interests and hobbies. Make a date to visit your children's classrooms—don't wait for back-to-school night or parent-teacher conferences to open the lines of communication. Provide teachers with your phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
  
  
• Get to know all the school employees. Whether it's the librarian, school counselor, nurse, cafeteria worker, or bus driver, education support professionals generally know all of the students in the school, and their relationships with your child will continue from year to year as your child moves from one grade to the next.
  
  
• Join the PTA or parent groups. As a group, participate in school events, such as back-
  to-school night. See how parents can help the school reach its goals.
  
  
• Check in daily with your children. Review what they learned in school, determine set times for homework, and reserve time to read with them-even if it's just for fun.
  
  
• Check your school's Web site regularly. Make sure your children are learning what they need to know to meet the standards set for their grade level. Many schools make class schedules and homework materials available online for parents to view.
  
  
• Parents and teachers must create a partnership and work as a team when it comes to the education of a child.
  
  
• Parents should familiarize themselves with teachers' goals for the year. What's the expected homework load for each night/week? Find out what regular tests or assessments are required and what support is available to assist students with special needs.

Involve the entire community in dropout prevention. Advocate for family-friendly policies that provide release time for employees to attend parent teacher conferences. Advocate for work schedules for high school students that enable them to attend classes on time and ready to learn.

Make sure educators have the training and resources they need to prevent drop outs, including professional development focused on the needs to diverse students and students who are at risk of dropping out.