Get Involved!
It is the best way to impact your child’s education
Whether it is a parent reading in class, a local bank sponsoring a student-run financial institution, 50 businesses contributing to the annual employee celebration, or a volunteer tutoring a child, support of Pulaski County Schools is evident. We understand the role our parents and community plays in strengthening the quality of school programs, providing positive adult role models, and impacting student success. Through our volunteer and business partnership programs, we provide multiple opportunities for you to experience the personal reward of being involved in the life of a child.
As a model for the state, our schools boast strong parent teacher associations, organized volunteer programs, and dedicated individuals who have received multiple honors for their involvement in the lives of children. The theme for the Pulaski County School System’s parent and community volunteer program this year is “From Playgrounds to Proficiency.” The Pulaski County School System is seeing a shift from the parent’s role of raising money for playgrounds to the role of raising achievement to proficiency. There are many examples of how parents in the district are impacting student achievement. This is the most powerful role parents can play for their children in education.
Pulaski County parents are heavily involved in the early reading initiatives. Parents are trained to be tutors and reading mentors in programs such as Great Leaps, Paired Reading, and Real Men Read. Through these programs students are increasing their reading skills by several grade levels in a short period of time. These reading efforts would not be possible without the help of parents. These programs require one-on-one partnering to be successful. Elementary reading achievement scores are the highest ever, higher than state average, thanks to efforts such as these.
The success of the reading programs is the most glaring example of how parents are improving student achievement but parents are involved in academics in many other ways. Parents plan career and agriculture curriculums, are responsible for building student pride in academic achievement through academic showcases, assist with academic teams, serve as testing proctors, conducts RIF days, and engage portfolio conferencing with students.
All regular schools in the Pulaski County School System are under the governance of site-based decision making (SBDM) councils. SBDM councils have authority over curriculum, assignment of staff time, assignment of students, determination of school schedule and space, instructional practices, discipline, extracurricular programs and policies, parent involvement, and staff hiring at each individual school. Since the SBDM councils at the individual schools have the power to make these very important decisions, it is crucial for parents to understand the process and get involved in SBDM meetings and committee work.
Get involved as a SBDM committee member. All schools have committees that work on specific issues such as curriculum, discipline, and facilities. These committees make reports and recommendations to the SBDM council for policy consideration. This is a way to work on issues that interest you without being a SBDM council member.
It is important to become involved in the decision making process. Parents have the opportunity to make their child's school the best it can be.