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Schools have different ways to tell parents about school programs and their children’s learning progress.

• Open Houses: Open Houses are times for parents to meet their children’s teachers, see their classrooms, and hear about what work their children are doing. These are usually held at the beginning of the school year.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Parent Teacher Conferences are meetings between parents and teachers. The teacher meets privately with each child’s parents to discuss the child’s progress or behavior in the classroom. Usually teachers ask for at least one conference during the school year in the fall. However, if a child is having serious learning or behavior problems, a teacher will ask parents/guardians to come for a conference at other times during the year. They can also ask for a conference any time there is a problem. Parents can call the teacher or write a note to the teacher asking for a conference. Often conferences are held before or after the school year.
• Written Materials: Written materials are mailed home or brought home by the children. For example, schools may send the following materials home, such as:

• • School Calendars about classroom assignments, classroom activities, holidays, or school
  • Newsletters explaining what is happening in school classrooms
  • Surveys asking parents for their ideas
  • Permission forms for students to take field trips
  • Announcements for school meetings, conferences, honor assemblies, school closings

Sometimes, parents/guardians must answer written messages. For example, you must sign a permission form before your children can go on a field trip.

• Phone Calls and the Internet: Phone calls and the internet are other ways schools communicate with Teachers often use the telephone to talk to parents. Sometimes, you can have a parent-teacher conference over the telephone. Teachers can also use apps such as ClassDojo to communicate with parents. Some schools have homework hotlines. Parents call a specific phone number and hear a message about their children’s homework assignments. Most schools also have a school website with information about school programs, classroom activities, homework, assignments, grades, and how to email a teacher.

The district board of education shall provide all kindergarten to 12th-grade Multilingual Learners (MLs) enrolled in the school district pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-46 with all required courses and support services defined in (b) through (h) below to prepare MLs to meet the NJSLS for high school graduation. This may also include tutoring, after school programs, summer programs, and remedial services as needed by MLs. All district boards of education shall also provide appropriate instructional programs to eligible preschool MLs based on need according to the New Jersey Preschool Program Implementation Guidelines, 2015. Your child’s educational experience will include the full range of required courses and activities offered on the same basis and under the same rules that apply to all students within the school district.

Report cards tell parents/gaurdians how their children are doing in school. Report cards list each subject children study. For each subject, there is a grade. Parents and guardians receive their children’s report cards several times per year. Children usually bring the report cards home. Some schools give report cards to parents/guardians at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Other schools send the report cards to parents/guardians in the mail. 

Grades: Most schools use grades to tell parents how their children are doing in each subject:

A - Very good work
B - Good work
C - Average work
S - Satisfactory
D - Below average work (poor work)
N - Needs Improvement
F - Fail the subject

A, B, C, and D are passing grades. The grade F means that the child does not pass the subject and may be required to retake the course in middle school and high school. If a student does not pass a subject, they may have to take the subject again or do extra work to earn a passing grade.

Teachers determine student grades. Teachers take into consideration the children’s schoolwork, class participation, homework, and tests to help them to determine what grades the children have earned. Teachers monitor student participation in class to determine how well they have learned the subject matter.

Interim Reports: Some schools give interim or progress reports. Parents/guardians receive these reports between report cards. In some schools, parents of every student receive an interim report. These interim reports tell parents how their children are doing in each subject. These reports tell parents about problems or successes their children are having in each subject.

Each district board of education shall send progress reports to parent(s) of students enrolled in bilingual, ESL, or English language services programs in the same manner and frequency as progress reports are sent to parent(s) of other students enrolled in the school district (N.J.A.C. 6A:15).

Progress reports shall be sent in English and the home language of the parents unless the board of education can demonstrate and document in the three-year plan required in N.J.A.C. 6A:15-1.6 (a) that the requirement would place an unreasonable burden on the district board of education (N.J.A.C. 6A:15).

Parents/guardians can find more information about their school/school district and the school/school district performance in the New Jersey School Performance Report. The performance reports are used to increase the accountability of school districts and to keep parents and communities informed on how their schools are doing. The School Performance Report can give you information about how well students from your local schools are doing academically. It can tell you what percentage of high school students graduate, how they compare to other districts, how students perform on NJ state tests.

Parents/guardians can help school administrators make decisions about school programs. Schools invite parents/guardians to attend meetings for a variety of parent groups. Parents/guardians can give ideas and share advice about programs in their children’s schools when they attend these group meetings:

• Parent Advisory Councils are groups of parents/guardians who give advice and ideas for improving special programs such as Bilingual Education and English as a second language. Each district board of education implementing a bilingual education program shall establish a parent advisory committee on bilingual education of which the majority membership shall be parent(s) of MLs.
• School Improvement Committees/Teams develop plans for how the school personnel, parents, guardians, and community can improve student.
• Parent-Teacher Associations or PTA’s plan programs to earn money for a school. For example, a parent-teacher organization might plan a book fair to sell books. PTA’s can use the money they earn to buy classroom materials.

Attend Activities

Schools often invite parents and guardians to special school activities. These activities give teachers, parents, guardians, and children a time to get to know each other. It is very important that you attend these types of school events and support your children whenever possible.

Sometimes, parents and guardians come to school to see their children in activities such as:

• Sports Events to see their children play sports such as soccer, volleyball, or
• Plays and Musical Presentations to see their children act, sing, or play an
• Assemblies such as graduations or honor nights to see their children receive honors and

Schools also invite families to school to learn new information. Some of these activities are:

• Curriculum Nights show parents/guardians what their children will learn during the school year. The teacher may also explain what students have to learn for promotion to the next grade or to
• Parent Workshops give parents/guardians ideas about raising their Parents/guardians can learn how to help their children be healthy and successful. For example, a workshop may be about how to keep children in school and not drop out. Parent/guardian Workshops can also teach parents/guardians how to help their children learn. For example, parents/guardians can attend a workshop to learn how to read books to their young children.
• School Orientations are meetings for parents/guardians and new students. Often orientations are held for parents/guardians of kindergarten, eighth grade and high school freshman (9^th grade) Parents/guardians receive information about

the new school their children will attend. For example, parents/guardians may learn about the new school’s dress code. Parents/guardians may also learn how to help their children choose courses.

Sometimes schools have social activities for parents/guardians and families in the community such as international fairs, parent appreciation day, and school pride day. Families come to the school to have fun and enjoy themselves. For example, they can taste different foods from many countries at an international food fair.

Schools often invite parents and guardians to special school activities. These activities give teachers, parents, guardians, and children a time to get to know each other. It is very important that you attend these types of school events and support your children whenever possible.

Sometimes, parents and guardians come to school to see their children in activities such as:

• Sports Events to see their children play sports such as soccer, volleyball, or
• Plays and Musical Presentations to see their children act, sing, or play an
• Assemblies such as graduations or honor nights to see their children receive honors and

Schools also invite families to school to learn new information. Some of these activities are:

• Curriculum Nights show parents/guardians what their children will learn during the school year. The teacher may also explain what students have to learn for promotion to the next grade or to
• Parent Workshops give parents/guardians ideas about raising their Parents/guardians can learn how to help their children be healthy and successful. For example, a workshop may be about how to keep children in school and not drop out. Parent/guardian Workshops can also teach parents/guardians how to help their children learn. For example, parents/guardians can attend a workshop to learn how to read books to their young children.
• School Orientations are meetings for parents/guardians and new students. Often orientations are held for parents/guardians of kindergarten, eighth grade and high school freshman (9^th grade) Parents/guardians receive information about

the new school their children will attend. For example, parents/guardians may learn about the new school’s dress code. Parents/guardians may also learn how to help their children choose courses.

Sometimes schools have social activities for parents/guardians and families in the community such as international fairs, parent appreciation day, and school pride day. Families come to the school to have fun and enjoy themselves. For example, they can taste different foods from many countries at an international food fair.

Sometimes the school needs help with school activities. Schools ask parents/guardians to volunteer for different activities.

For Classroom and Learning Activities you might volunteer to:

• Talk to a class about your job or your country of origin
• Go on a field trip with your child’s class if they ask for chaperones
• Read to a class during Dr. Seuss Week or listen to students’ recitals

For School Programs you might volunteer to:

• Help with a school dance
• Bring in refreshments for a parents’ meeting
• Plan a fund-raiser
• Help translate written materials.

There are many ways for you to participate in schools. Schools need your help, ideas, and participation in your children’s education. You are a very important part of your children’s education. You are always welcome at school.

Schools may list volunteer opportunities in the school newsletter, on the school webpage, or in a special announcement sent home from the school.

Successful students come to school ready to learn.  Successful students have good study habits. There are many ways parents/guardians can help their children do well in school. You can help even if you speak very little English. You do not have to know English to help your children. Here are important things you can do to help your children’s learning:

• Dress for the Weather: Make sure your children’s clothes are appropriate for the weather outside. For example, if it is cold outside, they should wear warm clothes such as coats, hats, and gloves. If it is raining, they should have umbrellas.
• School Uniforms and Dress Codes: In some schools, students must wear uniforms to school. For example, a uniform might be white shirts and blue pants or skirts. Other schools do not require school uniforms, but they do have dress codes. Dress codes are special rules about the clothing children can wear to school. For example, in some schools, boys cannot wear hats inside and girls are not allowed to wear skirts that are very If your children are not dressed appropriately for school, some schools will send the children home to change into clothing that meets the dress code.
• School Supplies: Children need to bring school supplies to class. School supplies are include paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, and erasers. Sometimes, children need other supplies such as rulers, scissors, or glue. Usually, teachers will give students a list of the school supplies they need for class. If you are not able to buy the supplies, tell the teacher.

Homework is an assignment that teachers give students to do at home. There are different kinds of homework assignments. Children may:

• Finish assignments started in class during the day
• Do assignments that practice or review something they learned in school (such as reading or math)
• Do special projects, such as book reports, research papers, science experiments, or create PowerPoints
• Study for a quiz or a test.

Teachers decide how much homework to give each night. Not all teachers give the same amount of homework. Older children usually have more homework than younger children. Here are some things you can do to help your children with their homework:

• Homework Time: Children have many daily activities such as chores, appointments, after school programs, and homework. You can help your children schedule a special time for homework. It is best if homework is done at the same time every afternoon or evening. During homework time, you should turn off the television and video/computer games. Children need a quiet place to do their homework. Create a special area where they can do their homework.
• Looking at Homework: You should look at homework to make sure your child has completed the assignment and see if it is neat. Have your children explain their homework to you. You should ask your children questions about their homework.
• Problems with Homework: Sometimes, children cannot finish their homework because they do not understand it. If parents/guardians understand the homework, they can help their children with those areas they find confusing. But, parents/guardians should never do the homework for their children.

Many parents/guardians feel that they cannot help their children with homework. Sometimes parents/guardians do not understand much English or do not understand the subject. If parents/guardians cannot help their child with a homework problem, they should write a note or call the child’s teacher or call a classmate for help. Parents/guardians can tell the teacher their child had a problem finishing the assignment. Sometimes, children can get extra help with their homework assignments at school before school, after school, or during recess.

Sometimes, children do not want to do their homework. They may prefer to watch TV or play instead of doing their homework. Often, teachers will call or write a note to parents/guardians if a child is not doing homework. Teachers and parents/guardians must decide what consequences to apply to children who do not do their homework. Teachers will usually give a child who does not do their homework a lower grade. You should always encourage your child to complete all their homework, even if they do not want to do it.

You can encourage your child to do homework by talking with them about it. Even if you do not understand the work, you can ask questions such as:

1. Do you understand what you are supposed to do? After you or your child reads the directions, ask the child if they understand what they need to If your child does not understand, help explain it to them. If you do not understand, contact one of your child’s classmates or the teacher for help.
2. Do you have everything you need to do this assignment? Sometimes your child will need supplies for homework like colored pencils, protractors, calculators, or reference books. You may have to purchase them. If you cannot afford to buy them, contact your child’s teacher, guidance counsellor or principal for other purchasing options.
3. Does your answer make sense to you? Have your child explain his or her answers. Sometimes, it helps children find mistakes when they explain their work to someone else. By explaining their work, you can also see if your child did all their homework and understands the work.

The Library: For some homework assignments children may need materials from the public library. All library materials can be used in the library. If your child wants to take materials home or use the library computers, you must have a library card. You can apply for a library card at the library.

Reading and Talking Together: Children who read at home do better in school. It is a good idea to have family reading time in your home. During reading time, you can read to your children, your children can read to you, or everyone can read by themselves. It is important for your children to see you read. If you do not read English, you can read to your children in your native language.

If reading is difficult for you, then tell stories to your children. You can tell stories about your family when you were young and about when your children were babies. Your children can also tell you stories. You can tell stories in your native language.

Family Learning Activities and Family Resource Centers: Many schools and community organizations offer family learning programs in the evening and on weekends. Parents/guardians and children can attend these family activities together. Your family can learn about subjects such as math, science, reading, and computers. You will usually receive materials to take home for more learning.

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