Parent Help & Info

A. Introduction - What is the CPU?

B- Parents Rights in Education

• Yes, Parents! You Have Rights! (espanol)
• Parent Involvement (espanol) and Parents Rights (espanol)
• Parents' Rights in Education (espanol)
• NCLB Parents Rights (espanol)

C. Building Trusting Relationships (that work!)

• Steps for Advocates 
• The Chain of Accountability
• Trusting Relationships
• Home-School Relationships (espanol)
• The Parent-Teacher Team (espanol)
• PTA National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

D. Working with Local School Councils

• What are LSCs?  (Que es el LSC?)
• LSC Powers and Duties
• Attending LSC Meetings
• LSC Organizational Meeting
• LSC “Cheat Sheet”
• LSC Budget Process

E. CPS structure

• Organizational Chart
• CPS Phone Directory

F. CPS policies 

• CPS policy website
• NCLB Parent Involvement Policy

• Students and Parents Rights and Responsibilities
• Access to and Confidentiality of Student Records
• Student Code of Conduct
• Education of Homeless Children
• Bilingual Education
• Student Promotion (Elementary)
• Student Promotion (High school)
• Homework
• Health and Physical Activity
• Physical Discipline (General)
• Physical Discipline for Students with Disabilities

CPS School policies

• Enrollment and Transfer of Students
• Controlled Enrollment
• Probation
• Closing schools
• Consolidating Schools
• Renaissance 2010
• Governance of Alternative and Small Schools

G. Tools and Strategies for Advocates

Know the Law

• Filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
• Sample FOIA letter
• How to contact Public Access Counselor (Illinois Attorney General)
• Open Meetings Act (PURE's LSC Guide, Lesson 2, pp. 31-41)
• Whistleblower Protection (PURE's LSC Guide, Lesson 1, p. 48)
• Filing an Office for Civil Rights Complaint
• Small/alternative schools lawsuit

• Speak Out! How to Testify at the Board of Education
• CPS Public Participation Policy
• Sample LSC Public Participation Policy
• Why and How Parents Should Organize to Improve Schools (espanol)
• How to Start a Parent-Teacher Organization
• Parent Involvement: Everyone Can Do Something! (espanoi)

Get help!

• Call PURE! 312-491-9101
• Government/agency contact information

PURE has several tip sheets for parents who have just learned that their child is being sent to summer school.

• What to do if your child is not promoted.

• How to help your child move up to the next grade after summer school.

• "What is a Portfolio" and "Parts of a Portfoiio," which can help you gather evidence needed for a waiver request if CPS decides to hold your child back after summer school. 

PURE can help parents who have questions or concerns about the promotion policy, Please call our office at 312-491-9101 or e-mail us.

We are also looking for families who might be interested in participating in a legal strategy opposing the CPS promotion policy. Please contact us via e-mail or phone.   

Planning your No Child Left Behind parent involvement program for 2007-08?

PURE’s workshops are a perfect fit.

PURE’s Active Parent  Programs...

• Help parents understand state learning standards and the ISAT and benchmark assessment tests
• Encourage child and family literacy
• Help bring home and school closer together
• Develop effective parent leaders

Here's the list of fees for PURE's workshops (Alternative plans are available on a case-by-case basis)

Here's the list of workshop topics in English and Espanol. Workshop categories include: 

• Home-School Connections
• Healthy Families
• Parent Leadership
• Special topics (Basics of No Child Left Behind;How to Apply to Magnet Schools)

You can use this Faxback form to request workshops or more information, or use the "contact us" link on our web site.

Read what school professionals and parents say about PURE’s workshops. 

Download the full Active Parent program brochure:

• in English
• en Espanol

The Home-School Journal is a model developed by PURE as one tool for effective communication between teachers and families, especially where internet access is less common.

In the U.S., we have a variety of rights from a variety of sources. Parents have a lot of rights as individuals and special rights as parents of school children.

Read a summary here. 

The U. S. Department of Education has created guidelines” for parent involvement programs required by the No Child Left Behind Act. The guidelines spell out in detail the responsibilities of the state, school district, and school in carrying out parent involvement activities.

Click here for a summary of these guidelines.

How to testify before the Board of Education

The Board of Education gives the public an opportunity at every monthly meeting and at special public hearings to provide input into decision making. This is one important opportunity to affect the quality of our schools and our children's education.

Click here for details and tips about testifying at the Board of Education. 

What is the parents’ role in Looking at Schools?

The No Child Left Behind Act encourages parents to observe in their children's classrooms to become better informed about the curriculum and to help contribute to school improvement planning.

Click here for tips and ideas to make the most of classroom observation.

Click here for a basic flyer for PURE's new workshop for parents: find out how you can help your child succeed in school using the benchmark assessment parent reports.    

How to know when and where an LSC meets and what business they will conduct