Lawmakers hear case for parental involvement in child’s education

SIOBHAN McDONOUGH

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 | 3:54 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Teachers urged Nevada lawmakers on Wednesday to pass a bill funding programs that promote parents' involvement in their children's education.

Programs could include English classes for parents at their children's' schools, advocates of AB57 told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

"Parental involvement and quality teachers are the most important factors in a child's education. Couple those two, and we'd be home free," Nevada State Education Association president Elaine Lancaster said.

Lancaster said that with a growing number of non-English-speaking parents with children in Nevada schools and increasing job demands on all parents, children are being shorted.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, is sponsoring AB57, which would appropriate $2 million for grants to be distributed by the state Department of Education.

"There's a number of parents who are having difficulty with the language. Many of the parents get a bad rap because they're not helping children," he said.

"These are parents who are embarrassed. It's not that they don't want to deal with the child. They just don't have the skills."

Penny Brock, state director of the National Right to Read Foundation, opposed the idea of language programs for parents at schools.

"We should be spending the $2 million on the education needs of the child and not the parent," she said. "Why should we spend $2 million to teach parents English when we have so many kids that can't read. They can go to the Community Colleges."

Brock cited a 1999 national assessment that said 79 percent of fourth-graders in Nevada public schools have below-level reading skills.

But Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said there's value in offering language classes for parents.

"One of the long-term solutions is making parents feel comfortable at the school and learn the importance of being involved," she said. "It would help reduce the dropout rate.

"If you think parents are uncomfortable with public schools, can you imagine them going somewhere where they offer higher education to learn English? It's better to provide services at the schools in the neighborhoods where they live. These programs involving parents help everyone - the schools, parents, children."

Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, said the concept is a good one but wasn't sure the dollars were available.

"It's a good thing getting people involved. Every community needs this," he said. "But I just don't think we have the $2 million."