Parent U taking sign-ups for second semester

Published Dec. 9, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Parent University is launching second-semester registration, as officials celebrate a $250,000 donation that will keep the classes going for the foreseeable future.

The classes for parents, designed to guide them in helping their kids learn, debuted in fall 2008 as part of Superintendent Peter Gorman's push to get families more involved in schools. Almost 3,500 parents have taken classes this fall, and the district is now taking online sign-ups for winter/spring courses.

So far, classes that help parents figure out academics have proven the most popular, including sessions on getting the most out of parent/teacher conferences, helping kids with reading and math, and preparing them for state exams, said Executive Director Jerri Haigler.

CMS is adding a new course called “High School 911,” for parents who need help understanding graduation requirements, course registration and how to get help if their kids are foundering.

“I just love the idea,” said Mecklenburg PTA President Joni Trobich, who said many parents are clueless when their kids veer off course for graduation. “It is an emergency. If you don't do something, they're going to be gone.”

On Tuesday, Wells Fargo announced a $250,000 grant to sustain Parent University, which runs on private donations rather than tax money. That keeps it safe from budget cuts, Gorman noted.

Haigler said it takes $100,000 to $150,000 a year to pay for catalogs, other materials and meals to help attract families. Parent University has collected a total of $569,500, including the newest gift and $250,000 in start-up money from Wachovia, which was bought by Wells Fargo.

To ensure the classes are reaching low-income families who might not show up for PTA meetings and other school sessions, Parent University has been holding more classes in houses of worship, community centers and other neighborhood settings, Haigler said. It's also increasing the number of courses offered in Spanish. This spring there will be 50 topics in English and 16 in Spanish.

Coulwood Middle, a northwest Charlotte school where about two-thirds of students come from low-income homes, has the largest Parent University participation, Gorman and Haigler said.

Principal Bob Folk said he incorporates the classes into monthly meetings where families get a free meal and a chance to talk to the principal and teachers. “The impact is tremendous,” he said.

While most agree that parent involvement boosts student success, it's hard to measure the academic value of Parent University. However, CMS is working with the UNC Charlotte Institute for Social Capital to survey parents before and after the classes about the school-related activities they take part in. The goal is to figure out whether the courses change parent behavior.

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