Ah, another school year. And like lots of other parents, you’re wondering how to involve yourself in your school’s goings on. It’s not enough to know your child’s teachers and help your child with homework. If you’re a parent looking for deeper ways to get involved, here are some ways to become a parent influencer at your child’s school:
1. Local School Boards
- Role: School boards are responsible for setting educational policies and approving curricula for their districts.
- Influence: You can attend school board meetings, participate in public comment periods and join school board committees or advisory councils. Engaging with board members can help you voice your opinion and influence decisions.
DAVIDSON COUNTY School Board Meetings
RUTHERFORD COUNTY School Board Meetings
WILLIAMSON COUNTY School Board Meetings
2. Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Organizations (PTOs)
- Role: PTAs and PTOs provide a platform for you to collaborate with teachers and administrators.
- Influence: These organizations can advocate for changes or additions to the curriculum, organize meetings to discuss educational priorities, and work on school improvement initiatives.
3. Community Feedback
- Role: Schools and districts often seek feedback from parents and the community through surveys, focus groups and public forums.
- Influence: Parents who participate in these feedback mechanisms can help shape curriculum choices and educational programs based on community needs and preferences.
4. Curriculum Review Committees
- Role: Some districts have curriculum review committees that include parents, teachers and community members.
- Influence: Parents involved in these committees can directly contribute to reviewing and recommending changes to the curriculum.
5. Tennessee-Level Involvement
- Role: While local school boards have significant authority, state education standards and policies set by the Tennessee Department of Education provide a framework for curricula.
- Influence: You can influence state policies through advocacy, contacting state legislators and participating in public comment periods on state education standards.
6. School-Specific Initiatives
- Role: Individual schools may have their own processes for curriculum development and adjustment.
- Influence: You can engage with school leadership and participate in school-level discussions to influence specific programs or curriculum components.
7. Parent Rights and Opt-Out Provisions
- Role: Parents have the right to review curriculum materials and, in some cases, opt out of certain activities or content.
- Influence: By exercising these rights, you can impact how and what is taught in your child’s classroom.
While the extent of parental influence on Tennessee public school curricula can vary, there are multiple channels through which you can actively participate and advocate for educational preferences and priorities. Engagement at the local level, through school boards and PTAs, as well as through state-level advocacy, provides you various opportunities to affect curriculum decisions.
