April Mastroluca
For Assembly District 29
Helping Every Student Succeed in School
Nothing is more important to a student’s success in school than the involvement of his or her family.
My children are in the eighth and eleventh grades this year, and it has been my privilege to volunteer in their schools since they began kindergarten. I know it is sometimes difficult for parents to get involved, and this session I sponsored legislation to require many businesses to provide unpaid leave for parents to attend school activities or volunteer in their children’s school. For more information on how this law works, visit www.leg.state.nv.us or call or email me and I will send you a copy of the legislation.
Below are several links with tips on how you can get involved and help your children or grandchildren succeed in school.
• Read your school's website for announcements of upcoming events.
• Attending Open House is a great way to put a face with a name and to get to know your children’s teachers.
• Ask open-ended questions about assignments and homework. Don't ask as soon as your children get home from school; let them unwind first.
• Encourage your children to talk to the school counselor. Counselors can discuss your class choices, college plans and also offer advice on dealing with difficult teachers and students.
• Extracurricular activities are a productive way to get your students more involved in school. If there isn't a club or group they want to join, suggest they create one and find a teacher to help them.
Resources to Help You Get Involved
Clark County School District—You can find and track your students’ grades and get information on how you can get involved in your children’s or grandchildren’s school by visiting www.ccsd.net and clicking on “Parents.”
Nevada State Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC)—PIRC’s website has a wide variety of suggestions of activities parents and grandparents can do with their students. Their website is http://www.nevadapirc.org.
Parent Teacher Association—the National PTA has tips on helping students with homework, instilling a love for reading, and working with teachers to help your students succeed. Visit www.PTA.org, click on “Topics” and then on “Student Success.”
U.S. Department of Education—For a series of online brochures on topics ranging from helping your students with science and math to getting prepared for college, visit www.ed.gov and click on “Parents.”
School Safety—Protecting Kids on the Way to School
Making sure our kids are safe as they go to and from school is critical. The Legislature enacted a law in 2007 that gives school police the authority to issue traffic citations around schools for speeding, double-parking and parking in “No Parking” zones.
If your children walk to school, be sure you have chosen the safest route. Make sure they do not deviate from this route.
