Ohio Department of Education Families

The purpose of this practice is to create an environment that is welcoming to parents and encourages their involvement in their children's educational lives. The goal is to evaluate schools for their family-friendly atmosphere and policies and provide them with recommendations and technical assistance to improve families’ comfort level with their schools.		Contact: Patty Eber Organization: Hamilton County Family and Children First, Greener School District: Mt. Healthy City Phone: (513) 946-4980   All teachers and families associated with a school Questionnaire completed online by teachers; at home by parents Every two to three years
Parents and teachers are asked to complete the Adapted Community Collaboration Model for Family Friendly Schools published by the Ohio Department of Education in April 2005. A committee reviews staff-member and parent responses to all questionnaires to determine where staff members, parents and principals differ in perceptions of a school’s family-friendly policies; responsiveness to parents; relationships between staff members and parents; and the school environment. The committee makes recommendations to address areas in which significant differences in parent, staff-member and principal perceptions are evident. Teachers complete the questionnaire online; parents complete a hard-copy questionnaire sent home with their child.
This practice is based on the assumption that when schools can make parents comfortable and welcome, parent and family involvement will increase. Principals in a pilot program reported that the process was helpful and gave them excellent ideas for improving their family-friendly practices.
Data entry for parent responses Plan ahead so data entry procedures are in place when questionnaires come back. Getting families and students to return the questionnaire Provide incentives. Getting teachers to complete the questionnaire Make sure principals are onboard so they can encourage teachers to participate. Analyzing questionnaire results Form a committee of experienced professionals and willing parents who will commit time to analyzing questionnaire responses and developing recommendations to improve family-friendly school policies and practices.
Pilots were conducted in several schools before finalizing the questionnaire process.
The local Family and Children First Council chaired an inter-agency committee comprised of agency representatives, parents, parent mentors and parent coordinators. Staff from various agencies donated time to be part of the committee, analyze questionnaire responses and develop recommendations.