SPAN urges Governor and DOE to implement parent engagement programs in Abbott districts.  Study after study has shown that parent engagement is critical to student success.  The NJ Supreme Court recognized this reality when it ordered schools in Abbott districts to engage parents in school-level decision-making.  Yet SPAN continues to be discouraged to see how far we are from the promise of Abbott for many students.  Until we create school communities where parents are welcomed, respected, and included as equal partners, the promise of Abbott will not be fully realized.  That’s why we must ensure that the families of children in Abbott districts play a critical role in school improvement.

Abbott schools must be supported in their efforts to enhance their capacity to partner with families in systems-change and improvement efforts.   Families lose interest in partnership with programs when they perceive that their participation is token.  We must find workable ways to meaningfully involve families in planning, establishing policy, and making decisions.  Implementation of the National PTA’s Standards for Parent Involvement is long overdue, not only in Abbott districts, but throughout schools in New Jersey.  To see the National PTA National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs, go to http://www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1118251710359.html

SPAN urges Governor Corzine to take the lead in bringing Abbott families to the table, listening to their ideas, and respecting their knowledge, wisdom, and commitment.  Re-establish functioning district and school leadership teams that include significant numbers of parents representing the full diversity of the school community.  We know that working with families can be challenging and time-consuming.  It takes time to share information, to make sure everyone is on the same page, to reach consensus.  It can be frustrating and messy.  But democracy is messy.  Democracy is time-consuming.  And the value of democracy, of including the real stakeholders – the parents – far outweighs the disadvantages. 

By including families as key players in the process, we will increase the likelihood that the decisions Abbott schools and districts make will be good ones, decisions that contribute to a better future for our children.  As James Madison said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own government must arm themselves with the power that knowledge brings.” 

It is the legal, constitutional, and moral obligation of the state of NJ to arm parents of children in Abbott districts with the knowledge, skills, and legal and regulatory tools they need to ensure that their children will grow up prepared to take their rightful place in our communities, state, country and world.  Implementation of the parent engagement programs called for by the Supreme Court is a critical first step in the right direction.