Chicago Public Schools Encourages Family Collaboration and Engagement in Upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences

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CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) parents and caregivers are gearing up to meet with teachers as the District wraps up its first quarter of the 2024-25 school year. Parent-Teacher Conference Day will be held on Monday, November 4 and presents a valuable opportunity for families to engage with their schools and to become more involved in their children's educational journeys.

"When you have good educators, combined with active and involved parents, and then add students who are empowered, it is the perfect trifecta for a successful educational experience," said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. "That shared understanding of where a student is, how they're doing, and where they are going makes all the difference in a child's learning."

To help parents prepare, the District is sharing a number of tips and reminders, including the three steps below to create a personalized plan with teachers:

1. Help the teacher get to know your child: Share family values and preferred activities; share areas where the child is doing well and note areas where they need help; share what makes them shine; and share any important changes in the child's life or behavior.
2. Discuss academic progress: Ask about recent data (including grades and test results) and what the data say about your child's current strengths and challenges; ask what teachers will be doing this year to inspire academic progress; ask if the child is at grade level in math, reading and other subjects, and what key skills they are expected to learn this year, and examples of what those skills look like.
3. Team up on a plan: Discuss how to support academic skills at home and, if needed, ask for resources; share what helps your child stay motivated at home; ask about the next opportunities to touch base on progress.

Parents should take full advantage of the day to connect and get involved in their child's school, said Ysmary Faria, parent of a 10th-grader at Roberto Clemente High School.

"It's important to know the teacher and how they are teaching our children. That way, we can also be actively involved in our children's development," Faria said. "We should invest not only in our student's learning but also in our own. There are so many resources out there for the whole family."

Some schools in the District empower students to have a more active voice through "Student-Led Conferences." Jonathan Burr Elementary School in Bucktown-Wicker Park has been offering such sessions for three years, with students in Kindergarten through 8th grade using the conferences to present slideshows and explain in their own words their academic performance, growth, and goals.

Kindergarteners have more simple presentations, but nonetheless lean into the opportunity to improve their communications skills. Older students are more selective in choosing the artifacts they present, often using data and concrete examples of their academic progress, along with their social and emotional goals. Some even dress up for the occasion with a suit and tie.

"The student-led conferences are super fun for me and my peers, letting us add pictures of artifacts we are proud of and being able to show them to our parents and teachers, and design the experience ourselves," said John Moulton, a 6th-grader at Burr. "Overall, the student-led conferences let us speak our minds and be independent."

Burr is now working to integrate parents' feedback digitally into the process, which has made a noticeable difference in family involvement, especially in the middle-school years when parental engagement often starts to dip.

"We have seen increases in engagement and participation from guardians," said Burr Principal Amy Klimowski. "When things are student led, we find that we get the most engagement not only from our students, but also from the school community."

Beyond the conferences, parents are encouraged to support learning at home. Some strategies for this include: regularly monitoring student progress by checking the parent and student portal, Aspen, for grades and assessment results; communicating often with teachers to share important information about their child's needs, interests and behaviors; and encouraging regular reading and practice of key skills at home.

The District continues to focus on engaging families and school communities to ensure they are informed, inspired, and ready to partner in their children's education. CPS facilitates parent and community stakeholder groups, leadership training workshops, and learning programs in the areas of academics, social skills, community resources, and capacity building. These engagement opportunities serve to:

• Increase student achievement
• Build partnerships with parents and community
• Effectively communicate District initiatives
• Empower parents to participate in decisions regarding the education of their children
• Encourage parents to take leadership roles within the school community
• Close the communication gap between families and the communities
• Establish a pipeline to resources/services

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend monthly Local School Council meetings and other parent meetings to voice ideas directly related to their school community. Parents can also give the District feedback by contacting 773-553-FACE (3223) or e-mail [email protected]. For more information on opportunities to be involved, visit the District's web page on parent engagement.

Parental involvement and community engagement are cornerstones of the District's latest five-year-strategic plan, Success 2029: Together We Rise, which was unanimously approved by the Chicago Board of Education in September 2024. The plan builds on current practices and strategies over the past three years with a concerted effort to double down on core instruction and interventions to help struggling students. It emphasizes a vision for strengthening neighborhood schools and improving the daily learning experience for all students, especially those who have been historically furthest from opportunity.

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