Working Together with the School for Your Child’s Success

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Your family can work together with your child’s school to support their success or resolve issues. Below are steps to consider. It is helpful to work together with your child's school to help them do well in their education. There are a lot of ways your family can do this:

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• Speak up for your child: If your child is having problems at school, it is important to stand up for them. Talk to the teachers, counselors, or principals about any special needs your child has and what they need to do well. 
• Be positive about school: Show that you think school is important and that learning is exciting. Talk to your child about what they did in school and ask about their day to get them talking and interested. 
• Support the school's goals: Take part in fundraising or help with school programs. This helps the whole school community do well. 
• Go to parent-teacher conferences: These meetings let you meet your child's teachers, talk about how they're doing, and ask any questions or share any concerns you have. 
• Join the parent-teacher association (PTA) or parent advisory council: These groups let parents share their thoughts and ideas about school rules and plan events to support the school community. 
• Volunteer at the school: You can help out by volunteering in the classroom, library, or at special school events. This shows that you care about your child's education and helps you build relationships with the teachers and staff. 
• Stay informed: Check the school's website and read any newsletters or updates so you can know about important things happening at school, like events or changes to what your child is learning. 
• Talk to the teachers: It is important to keep talking to your child's teachers. If you have any worries or need help with something, you can tell them. This way, you will know when your child has tests or big projects coming up.
• Help with homework and studying: Make sure your child has a good routine for doing homework and studying. Give them a quiet, neat place to work. It is also important to encourage them to finish their assignments on time and ask for help if they need it.
• Go to school events: It is nice to go to events at the school, like open houses, science fairs, and performances. When you go, it shows that you support your child and the school community. 

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Remember, every school has different ways to get involved. Start by talking to your child's teacher or the school office to find out what you can do to work with them. 

• Call: You might start with the school office. The phone number is usually on the school’s website.
• Talk: You can meet in-person with someone from your child’s school, like the school secretary, a teacher, or someone at the school you trust.
• Email: Schools or teachers have an email address you may use. 
• Text: Sometimes teachers or schools have a phone number or an application your family may use to send text messages.

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Schools usually have information about how to contact them on their website or on the documents they send home. The websites usually have a translation feature to view the information in the language you prefer.  

It is good to keep trying even if the school is slow to respond. It is always okay to contact the school more than once. It is important to recognize that each school may have their own ways of responding and communicating with families. You can check with your child’s teacher or school to find the best way to contact them.  

It can be helpful to talk with teachers throughout the school year. You do not need to wait until teachers contact your family. The teachers at your child's school enjoy hearing from families. You can support your child's education by starting the conversation!

You can start by scheduling a meeting, calling, or sending an email. You should communicate with your child’s teacher throughout the school year. Here are some examples of when you might want to talk with teachers:  

• When the new school year starts
• When you have concerns about your child’s learning
• During Parent-Teacher conferences

When the School Year Starts  

At the start of the school year, it may be helpful to get to know your child’s teacher and the school.  

Things to discuss with the teacher:

• Where are you from? What languages do you speak?
• What does your child need to be successful in school? What does your child dislike or like? How do they learn best?
• What is the best way for teachers to contact your family?
• What special customs, traditions, holidays, or trips may impact your child's learning or attendance? What activities or sports does your child enjoy?

Questions you can ask:

• What is the best way to contact you? 
• What should I do if my child is going to miss school? 
• How will you communicate with me about my child’s progress? 
• Are there any upcoming events or projects I should know about? 

When You Have a Question or Concern about Your Child’s Learning 

You can contact your child’s teacher whenever you have a question or concern about your child’s education. 

Contact the teacher:  

• Email, call, text, or send a written note.  
• Share what you want to talk about. 
• Tell the teacher when you are available. 
• Share how you prefer to meet or talk. This can be a meeting at the school, a phone call, or a video chat. 
• Tell them if you do not feel comfortable using English. The school can provide an interpreter or other kinds of help. 
• You can also ask someone you trust like a friend, family member, or community leader for help. 

Questions you can ask:

• What can I do to support my child’s learning? 
• What other resources or help are available for my child at the school? 
• Do you know any resources or organizations who can help?

During Parent-Teacher Conferences  

Parent-teacher conferences take place at least once each school year. It is a meeting where parents or caregivers and teachers talk about their child’s academic progress. Some schools may give families the option to meet online.

Teachers may share information about the child’s grades and discuss any issues. You may discuss any questions or concerns you have. When you talk to your child's teacher, make sure you are honest about what you are worried about. If you are not, the teacher might not know anything is wrong or be able to help.

To prepare, you may tell the teacher if you are not comfortable using English or if you need an interpreter. You can also think about what questions you want to ask and write them down. Learn more in our checklist on parent-teacher conferences.

You can visit the Parents 2 Partners resources page to see the video about parent-teacher conferences that is available in different languages.

Questions you can ask:

You can find Questions to Ask in our checklist on parent-teacher conferences below. 

There are many people at your child's school who are there to help your child learn and grow. Here is a list of some of the different people that may be at your school. It is important to know that the titles or the roles of school staff can be different at each school.  

❏ In the classroom

Teachers 

After elementary school, students begin having different teachers for each subject. Middle and high school teachers focus on specific subjects, like English Language Arts or math. Whenever you have a concern about your child’s progress in school, speak with the teachers involved. 

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English Language Teachers

English language teachers teach students who get extra help from the school to improve their English skills. They help students learn to understand and communicate in English. They can tell you about your child's English language skill levels in listening, speaking, reading, and writing English as a new language. They can also tell you about the progress your child is making to learn English.

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Intervention Specialist  

Intervention specialists or Special education teachers also known as SPED (Special Education) help children with disabilities and their families. They work closely with other teachers to coordinate students’ learning.   

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Teacher Aides or Teacher Assistants

Teacher assistants help teachers in the classroom. They may also help students with classroom activities. Some schools have teacher assistants who speak more than one language to help families and students who use other languages. At some schools, teacher aides can be parents or other family members.  

❏ At the school

Family Ambassadors or Family Liaisons 

They help families and schools work together to support children’s learning.  

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School Principal

The principal is the leader at the school. They are responsible for connecting with families and the community. School principals make important decisions and changes at the school.

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Assistant Principal or Vice Principal 

Assistant principals help the school principal run the school. They may also manage student discipline and attendance.  

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School Office Staff 

The front office staff may have one or more people available to greet school guests and help families. 

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Attendance Secretary 

The school attendance secretary keeps daily records of students’ attendance. They work with families and schools to make sure students attend school. 

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School Nurse 

The school nurse helps students when they are sick. They manage care plans for students who need healthcare. 

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School Social Workers 

School social workers can help address mental health concerns and connect families to resources. Both school counselors and psychologists may also help with mental health concerns.  

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School Counselors 

School counselors can help students develop academic goals and skills. In high school, they can help students learn about college and other options available after high school. They also provide mental health support to students.   

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School Psychologists 

They can help students with special learning needs or disabilities. Families may meet with the school psychologist to explain test results or to help plan their child’s education. 

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Librarian 

The librarian helps students find information from books or the internet. They may help students access computers and other technology. Some school libraries have tutoring, homework help, and computers for students.

❏ School Leaders and Groups 

School or District Administrator

The school or district administrator oversees the programs and services offered at the school or district. The district administrator oversees all the schools in the district.  

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Parent Teacher Association or Parent Teacher Organization

The parent teacher association or organization helps families work with the school to make changes to support children’s learning. They may send letters to families or host events and fundraisers.  

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School Board 

The school board is a group that makes decisions about how schools use resources and funding. They are elected by the community. Families can attend school board meetings to take part in the discussions.  

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School District

A school district is a group of schools that work together. They are usually in the same city, town, or county. Where students go to school is based on what school district they live in. You may request to have your child go to another school in the district or another school or district if your child’s school does not offer a program that your child needs.

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Download: Who is Who at the School (Word) or Who is Who at the School (PDF)

In Ohio, teachers must meet with families at least once every school year. Of course, teachers may have more than one of these meetings each year. This is usually called a parent-teacher conference. During the meeting, the teacher may share information about your child’s grades and their learning. You can also ask questions or share concerns about anything. Parents can contact teachers anytime to discuss issues, not just during conferences. It is important to attend parent-teacher conferences as much as possible.  

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Remember: Teachers try to meet with all parents and caregivers. If you are invited to a meeting, it does not mean your child is in trouble. You and the teacher both want the best for your child. You can work together to support your child. 

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Use this checklist to prepare for your next parent-teacher conference!  

✓ Before the Conference

• Let the teacher know if you have any issues meeting at the time they picked. It may be helpful to share the reason because the teacher may be able to help.  
• Request an interpreter if you are not comfortable using English. You can ask the teacher or the school for help.
• Check if your child has any questions or concerns that you can ask about during the conference. 
• Write down any questions you want to ask the teacher so that you remember them.
• Look at anything the teacher sent home about what they are teaching or school events. 

What should you bring to the conference?  

• Examples of your child’s work that you have questions about
• Paper and pen, if you like taking notes, or use an electronic device
• Your child if you would like
  • It is up to you to decide if it is best for your child to attend the conference. You may also ask your child’s teacher if it is okay.
  • Keep in mind that your child should not be expected to interpret or translate.
  • If you need to bring other children to the meeting, check with the teacher to see what your options are.  
• An open mind and a smile

✓ During the Conference

• Be on time or early for the meeting. The teacher may have other meetings before or after yours.
• Relax, stay calm, and be yourself.  
• Ask the most important questions first. 
• Discuss any concerns you have about your child’s learning.

• If your child receives services like English classes, you can ask about your child's progress in those classes. 
• Check on your child’s attendance. You can ask if your child has any absences or tardies that were not reported.

• Remember, it is okay to ask for explanations of anything you do not understand.

• Clarify the best way to contact the teacher.

• Make sure the teacher knows the best way to contact you.  

✓ After the Conference

• Talk about the conference with your child.  
• Talk about the positive points and be direct about any problems.

• Tell your child about any plans you made with the teacher.  
• Stay in touch with the teacher during the school year.