CHARLESTON, WV—Thursday, October 2, 2008, will mark the official announcement of West Virginia Parent Involvement Month. The proclamation by Governor Joe Manchin will help West Virginia parents and educators celebrate the important role parents play as teachers and advocates of education for their children. The formal reading of the proclamation will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Governor’s Reception Room in the West Wing of the Capitol.

West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia, in partnership with the West Virginia PTA and the West Virginia Department of Education’s Parental Involvement Task Force, has been working with the Governor’s office to make this designation. “Because education research shows that student achievement improves when parents get involved, we wanted a special way to acknowledge and encourage parents who get involved with their children’s learning,” said West Virginia Parent Connections director Anita Deck. “The Governor’s proclamation underscores the value and importance for parents. And, really, something as simple as talking to your child about what happens at school and what they’re studying can make a big difference in how well the child does. When parents make it clear that education is important, children respond by becoming more engaged.”

Deck, with Debbie Gurtis of the West Virginia PTA and Dr. Pam Cain of the state department of education, has helped with planning for special awareness activities that will take place in October. One of these is an art project for students who participate in 21st Century Community Learning Center programs across the state. Elementary, middle, and high school students from these after-school programs are creating artworks that illustrate the importance of parent involvement in education. Members of the West Virginia Board of Education will select winners from each school level. One student from each level will receive an iPod, and the images will be used on postcards and in other ways to help promote parent involvement.

Tips for Getting Involved with Education: Here are a few suggestions for ways busy parents can get involved in their children’s education—it may take less time than you imagine.

• Contact your child’s teacher early in the school year, and stay in touch for the rest of the year.
  
• Ask the teacher what your child is learning at school and how you can help at home.
  
• Talk with your child every day about what happens at school, activities that are interesting, and homework assignments.
  
• Encourage your child’s curiosity and creativity.

About West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia: WV Parent Connections is one of the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Their purpose is to help schools and school districts adopt parent involvement activities that lead to improved student achievement and stronger partnerships between families and educators. WV Parent Connections serves the state of West Virginia; more information is available at its Web site: http://wvpc.edvantia.org. The parent organization for WV Parent Connections is Edvantia, a nonprofit education corporation, founded in 1966, that partners with education agencies, foundations, publishers, and service providers to transform education through research and development. Edvantia provides clients with a range of services, including research, evaluation, professional development, and technical assistance.