The purpose of the Florida Parent Checklist is to support parent’s involvement in their child’s educational progress by identifying actions and linking to resources that:

• Strengthen the child’s academic progress, especially in the area of reading;
• Strengthen the child’s citizenship, especially social skills and respect for others;
• Strengthen the child’s realization of high expectations and setting lifelong learning goals; and
• Emphasize communication between school and home.

Academic

• Support reading with age appropriate home activities.
• Ensure that your child has a consistent time and place to do homework.
• Ensure that your child has access to materials needed to complete assignments.
• Discuss school work regularly with your child.
• Attend workshops on helping your child at home.
• Visit the local library and encourage your child to check out books of interest.
• Read to/with your child on a daily basis.
• Set an example by reading in your home and discussing what you’ve read with your child.
• Ask your child to explain his/her math homework.
• Emphasize the importance of education and doing one’s best in school.
  
  

Resources:

• • Just Read, Families! (Fldoe.org/academics/standards/just-read-fl/families)
  • FloridaShines.org (Floridashines.org/)
  • Floridastudents.org (Floridastudents.org)
  • AskALibrarian.org (Askalibrarian.org)

Citizenship

• Teach and reinforce positive behaviors such as respect for self and others, hard work and responsibility.
• Ensure that your child has a regular routine.
• Encourage your child to accept responsibility for his/her actions.
• Ensure that your child is in attendance and on time to school each day.
• Monitor and promote your child’s participation in extracurricular and after-school activities.
• Monitor your child’s television viewing.
• Reinforce the school’s behavioral expectations.
  
  

Resources:

• • Positive Solutions for Families Brochure (Flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/revision07/schoolwide/schoolexamples/Parent-Community%20Buy-In/Positive%20Solutions%20for%20Families%20)

Setting Goals

• Express the belief in your child’s ability to be successful.
• Encourage your child to set short- and long term- educational goals.
• Celebrate academic accomplishments.
  
  

Resources:

• • Help Kids Start to Think About Careers (Kids.usa.gov/teens/jobs/)
  • Financing Future Education Goals (Floridashines.org/go-to-college/pay-for-college)

School to Home Communication

• Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher(s) in person, by telephone, through email or writing.
• Prepare for and attend parent-teacher conferences and/or other individualized student meetings, such as Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or Academic Improvement Plan meetings.
• Attend open houses, science fairs, plays and musical performances, field trips, sporting events, curriculum nights and other school activities.
• Volunteer in the school setting when possible.