Parent / teacher engagement in DCPS

[Anonymous]

Our eldest is in a private K-8 in DC. We are considering public for our second.

Our friends with a child in a WOTP DCPS said that they are not allowed in the classroom and the extent of parent-teacher engagement is two 15 minutes parent-teacher conferences a year. Is this your experience?

We understand that one area there is a meaningful difference between public and private elementary school is parent-teacher engagement. But this is less engagement than we expected. Is this the norm?

[Anonymous]

That is the norm for default one-on-one interactions, but most teachers send biweekly newsletters, host occasional events open to parents (e.g., book parties, coffee hours, cultural events), occasionally ask for parent volunteers and respond to parent communications (including requests for additional meetings).

[Anonymous]

you don’t want more engagement with teachers. Take it from someone whose kid has issues you don’t want your kid to have … no news is good news!

OTOH if your kid does have issues, I’ve found teachers and admins to be very accessible. Even now in MS if I have a question about an assignment I always hear back quickly.

[Anonymous]

There can be way more interaction if there's a reason for it.

[Anonymous]

You have the legal right to request a teacher meeting. They have 30 days to comply so realistically you could meet one time per month if your schedule is flexible.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that's unreasonable or frankly an issue unless there are mitigating circumstances requiring more interaction in which case there would be. I have been asked into the classroom to help explain cultural traditions, as have other parents, especially in lower elementary, but I cannot imagine why anyone would want to be in their child's classroom. And it's a huge pain for teachers who then have to deal with a bunch of kids who might want their parents there.

Schools should be safe, third spaces for kids and a firewall between family and school assuming everyone is safe and happy and engaged is a good thing.

That said if the school and community are good there will be a lot more informal interactions through events and activities and community engagement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have the legal right to request a teacher meeting. They have 30 days to comply so realistically you could meet one time per month if your schedule is flexible.

Source?

[Anonymous]

Generally, you aren't allowed in the classroom just to drop in -- is that different in private school? But there will be class parties, etc, when you can come. If your student has an IEP, they are required to let you or a delegate come observe.

Parent teacher conferences are short (but multiple times a year). For my no-issues child, that's plenty. For my kid who struggles, teachers have been happy to talk more often/for longer.

[Anonymous]

Never crossed my mind to want more interaction. I barely make it to the two meetings. I want no e-mails and no calls if possible. I'm not the one going to school.
My limited experience is that the teachers are very responsive and even the principal.

[Anonymous]

Have a meeting and you’ll quickly find out you don’t really have good questions and your kid isn’t special. Barring big problems of many flavors.

You could email questions to the teacher. But the end-of-the-day daycare Qs about what the kid ate for lunch or if kid used the bathroom just isn’t necessary any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have the legal right to request a teacher meeting. They have 30 days to comply so realistically you could meet one time per month if your schedule is flexible.

Source?

+1

I’ve never heard this and hope this isn’t true. I can’t imagine how teachers who get any work done if they spend planning periods meeting with each parent.

[Anonymous]

The difference is that at a Private school they care what all the parents think. At a public school, the parents can think or feel whatever they want and nothing will necessarily change.

I have found teachers to be quite responsive at my kids' charter and public schools because they are caring professionals who want the best for my kids.

But at Private schools, the admin is on the side of the parents. Not so at public schools, so Parents do need to be careful not to anger admins or teachers both because you want them to work with you and because you don't want them to take out their frustrations on your kid / not give them the best assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference is that at a Private school they care what all the parents think. At a public school, the parents can think or feel whatever they want and nothing will necessarily change.

I have found teachers to be quite responsive at my kids' charter and public schools because they are caring professionals who want the best for my kids.

But at Private schools, the admin is on the side of the parents. Not so at public schools, so Parents do need to be careful not to anger admins or teachers both because you want them to work with you and because you don't want them to take out their frustrations on your kid / not give them the best assignments.

Confusing. Are teachers caring professionals or people you don’t want to piss in case they retaliate?

[Anonymous]

Parents don't realize that you will not see what you are trying to see while sitting in the classroom. For starters, your child's behavior and class engagement will change because you are there.
Teachers don't want to be gawked at by parents either. They are trying their best to teach kids from all levels and the last thing they need is to feel like they are being evaluated by a parent sitting in their room.
Depending on your kid's age, your presence could also be embarrassing. If your kid is older than 7-8, they will be embarrassed with you sitting in their class, its no longer " cool".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have the legal right to request a teacher meeting. They have 30 days to comply so realistically you could meet one time per month if your schedule is flexible.

Source?

+1

I’ve never heard this and hope this isn’t true. I can’t imagine how teachers who get any work done if they spend planning periods meeting with each parent.

This is true but for IEP meetings. They often don’t like to share this fact because there would be so many meetings.

Generally the schools I have worked in always required a response to emails within 48 hours. If you need a meeting I can’t imagine a teacher turning you down, though they might suggest a phone call or video call.