Make sure your emergency contact information is complete and up-to-date so your child’s school can reach out to you. Speak with your child's school’s main office to verify and/or update your home address, cell phone number, email, etc. Use Find a School to locate your child's school contacts.

Parent coordinators are available to help you! Get to know the parent coordinator at your child’s school, and get in touch for guidance and information about school programs, resources, trainings, events, and ways to get involved. Use Find a School to locate your child's school contacts, including the parent coordinator.

Schools hold various events throughout the school year that provide opportunities to connect with your child’s school community. For example, you could attend family workshops, informational sessions, and events to showcase student classwork. There is a way for you to participate regardless of what your schedule is. Speak with your parent coordinator about upcoming events and activities. Use Find a School to locate the parent coordinator at your child's school.

Schools host parent teacher conferences four times a year and it is important for families to attend. This is your chance to meet with teachers and ask questions about your child’s progress. It can be helpful to write down questions ahead of time. Here are some examples:

• What does my child do well, and what does my child struggle with?

• How do you challenge my child?

• How do you support a child who needs extra help?

• What books would you recommend my child read at home?

• How does my child get along with classmates and adults?

• How many days of school has my child missed or been tardy?

Parents/guardians can make a positive difference in their child’s education and school community by actively participating in the Parent Association (PA) or Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). All parents/guardians are automatically members of the school PA/PTA! Through PA/PTAs, you can network, exchange ideas, work together to solve school concerns, and affect school policy and budget decisions.

Ask your parent coordinator about your school’s next scheduled PA/PTA meeting and reach out to other parents to learn more about how you can help your child’s school.

Parents can serve their school communities as elected parent leaders at the local, district, and citywide levels. PA/PTAs, School Leadership Teams, Citywide and Community Education Councils (CCEC/CECs), and Presidents’ Councils have elected positions.

The next elections for CCECs and CECs will be held in the spring of 2021.

Schools need diverse parent voices in order to understand what the school community needs and to decide what programs and policies will help keep their community healthy. Join a School Wellness Council:

1. Ask your parent coordinator if your school already has a wellness council. If so, contact the council leader to find out how to get involved.

2. If your school does not have a wellness council, speak to your principal or the parent coordinator and let them know you are interested in starting one.

3. Email wellnesscouncil@schools.nyc.gov for help. Staff from the DOE Office of School Wellness Programs can reach out to your school to help them start a council and apply for a grant.