MCPS Launches New Parent Academy to Strengthen and Support Parents’ Involvement in Their Children’s Education

Registration Now Open for Array of Free Workshops Scheduled for October and November

How can I help my child get the most out of homework? What are the high school graduation requirements? How can I help my child succeed in middle school? What is a 504 Plan?

The answers to these questions, frequently asked by parents of children throughout Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), will be among the topics addressed in the array of free workshops for parents being offered for the first time this year through the MCPS Parent Academy.

Parents and other family members are encouraged to register for one or more of the workshops, which are free of charge and scheduled in the evenings at locations throughout Montgomery County to accommodate families’ busy schedules.

Courses will be taught by MCPS staff, community members, and organizations including Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health System, Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, State’s Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, Identity, Inc., and Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Interpreters in multiple languages will be available at the workshops if they have been requested on the registration form, and child care will be provided for children ages 4 through 12.

The Parent Academy was formed in response to parents who wanted to have information and strategies for becoming more involved in their child's education and helping their children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The academy is designed to foster active two-way communication between home and school and build leadership skills so that parents can be full partners and advocates in their children’s education.

The Parent Academy is for all parents, although it was originally developed as part of the MCPS Middle School Reform Initiative. Eighteen different workshops, many of them repeated at varying times and locations, will be offered during October and November. Additional workshops will be added beginning in January 2008. Topics include understanding the school system, computer skills, understanding ADHD, bullying prevention, high school graduation requirements, helping teens make good decisions, helping your child succeed in middle school, and many more. The workshops are located at schools and other sites throughout Montgomery County, and most are scheduled on weeknights at 7:00 p.m.

Here’s how to register for Parent Academy workshops:

Call 301-517-5940 or 301-279-3100 to register by phone.
Download registration forms on the web site.
Fax the registration form to 301-279-3815.
Or mail the registration to the Division of Family and Community Partnerships, 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 508, Rockville, MD 20850.

Registration forms also have been sent to schools for distribution.

Questions can be addressed to the MCPS Division of Family and Community Partnerships at 301-279-3100. More information also can be found at the link below.