Parents have a right to be involved in their children’s education, especially during distance learning.
While we all know school and family partnerships have big impacts on student achievement, many of us, including educators, don’t know that parental involvement isn’t just a “best-practice” it is a right guaranteed by CA State Law.
Rights guaranteed by the California Department of Education supersede any resolutions we approve at the SFUSD Board of Education. Our board resolutions are not laws they are directives to our Superintendent and staff. Many family and community leaders don’t know that.
When I became a Commissioner I immediately began working with SFUSD staff to ensure all California Department of Education Laws are listed on our district website, so families can read them in multple languages. View them here.
Rights, Resolutions… What’s the difference?
While board resolutions are important ways commissioners communicate our values and priorities as a body (there are seven total), district staff are not required to implement them by state or federal law. Neither are they enforceable by the law.
Alternatively, education laws are not up for negotiation with families, labor, or other educational partners. State laws supersede district policies and as a result, if no district policy or district practice we adopt can violate state laws, and schools or districts that fail to comply with the laws can face serious consequences.
An example of a California State Education Law is one stating schools cannot require fees for essential school activities.
Several years ago when my girls entered middle school they came home requesting money to purchase gym uniforms. I quickly informed the principal CONTINUE READING: Parents have a right to be involved in their children’s education, especially during distance learning. - SF PUBLIC SCHOOL MOM
If letter grades count, shouldn't parent rights? - SF PUBLIC SCHOOL MOM - https://wp.me/p4ndvh-2ue by @alimcollins
