Parents as advocates for school improvement, afterschool programs and increased funding

Parents are the natural advocates for their children, but they are also one of a school’s most prized resources and can be an afterschool program’s strongest supporters. 

According to Parents for Public Schools, a national organization working to elevate the role of parents in public schools from passive consumers to active participants, “parent advocates raise school standards, solve problems and advocate for their community."  Principals and teachers have long known they can accomplish more of their goals faster when parents become their advocates.

Parents advocating for improved conditions and better accountability for their children’s schools are also the best equipped and most engaged supporters for quality afterschool programs.  In October 2012, the Afterschool Alliance researched parent engagement in afterschool programsand found that “engaged parents bolster participation of youth in programs, support the quality of afterschool programs, and are a constructive influence on parent involvement at home and at school.”  Parents are assisting as volunteers, voicing their concerns and developing a culture of support for the community.  Perhaps most importantly, though, parents are mobilizing as advocates, and their mobilization is effectively sustaining or increasing the financial support for both schools and afterschool programs.

When funding is on the line—for schools and afterschool programs alike—parents are often the most effective advocates—especially when they’re organized and prepared to mobilize ahead of time.

"When it comes time to mobilize, any Title I principal would already have a cohort of parents willing to go to the mat to advocate," said Rolonda Smith, executive director of Parents for Public Schools of Greater Cincinnati, in a recent interview with Education Daily.  "Why not work every day toward that so when times come around and you need that support or backing, all you have to do is press one button, and it will ring 400 phones?"

With a general understanding of where and how to channel their efforts, parents can make the difference and potentially save their child’s afterschool programs from devastating cuts or closure. 

How can parents help advocate for your afterschool program? It’s important to let parents of afterschool participants know that they don’t need to invest a lot of time or energy in order to be a strong voice for afterschool.  Here are some ideas to get parents started advocating right away for afterschool programs in your community:

• Call or email your city council representatives– Let them know that afterschool programs are important.
• Circulate a petition– Have fellow parents, friends, neighbors and other community members sign a petition showing their support for afterschool programs.
• Host a parents night at your afterschool program – Work with the leaders of your afterschool program to host a parents night, so that parents and other community members can observe the program in action.  A Lights On Afterschool event is a great way to start.
• Organize a letter writing campaign– Encourage parents, neighbors and program volunteers to write letters in supportof afterschool to local elected officials, such as the mayor and the city council.
• Set up a site visit for local elected leaders– Work with your afterschool program leaders to plan an afternoon for localleaders to visit the program and see how afterschool works.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper or a guest post on a neighborhood blog– Tie the benefits ofafterschool programs to other local issues that people are talking about: bullying, crime rates, healthy food andphysical activity, test scores, etc.