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Parents: Know your rights

Did you know that parents and caregivers have legal, guaranteed rights to school and student involvement?

It’s true: These laws and rules were created and put into effect by families, teachers and concerned community members and groups like the PTA who want the best for our kids.

NEW LAW STRENGTHENS OUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD IN SCHOOL DECISIONS

California’s new school-funding law – the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) – strengthens our voice in major funding decisions that affect our kids and schools. School districts are now required to seek out parents’ input and implement our decisions through Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP), which focus on eight key areas of student success.

REGULATIONS REQUIRE PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Reading_webParents’ rights are outlined in detail in California Education Code. Our rights include:

  • Visiting a school for classroom observation
  • Participating in parent-teacher conferences
  • Volunteering
  • Monitoring student attendance
  • Receiving student testing results
  • Determining school selection
  • Ensuring safe school environments
  • Reviewing curriculum
  • Monitoring their student’s academic progress
  • Having access to their students’ records
  • Helping to establish and review standards
  • Participating in the development of school rules
  • Being informed about psychological testing
  • Participating in councils and committees
  • Contributing to policy development.

These rights are overseen and upheld by the California Department of Education.

FAMILY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP ACT GIVES YOU TIME TO GET INVOLVED

The groundbreaking Family-School Partnership Act encourages parents and caregivers to get involved in children’s school activities by providing rights to time off work.

Under the Act, if you work in a business with 25 employees or more at the same location, you have the legal right to request and take time off up to 40 hours per year to participate in school- or preschool-sponsored activities like classroom volunteering, back-to-school nights and field trips. Hours off are provided through vacation usage, personal leave, compensated time off or unpaid time.

For full details on the Act and your legal rights, contact the California Department of Education.