SANTA ANA : Program Encourages Parents’ Involvement

It has been only five weeks since 41-year-old Julio Ruiz joined the Santa Ana Unified School District’s parent leadership program, but he says his life has already changed for the better.

Ruiz, one of 42 parents who completed the five-week leadership class on Monday, said the program encouraged him to participate more in his sons’ education and improved his understanding of how the school district is run.

“I’ve got more communication with kids. I’ve been talking with them more about school. We’re closer,” he said.

The classes are designed to increase parents’ involvement in their children’s education and the schooling of their classmates. School officials hope to spur involvement in volunteer work, such as assisting in the classroom, serving on committees and joining or leading parent-teacher associations, said Patricia Gomez, who coordinates the program.

Research shows that when parents are involved in their local schools, students are more motivated and perform better.

Gomez said the idea “is to provide parents with the tools they need to become (effective) partners with us. If they are effective, they will in turn create the opportunity for students to achieve.”

The program’s topics include how to encourage strong study habits in students and how to prompt changes in district policies. Parents also can learn about the types of programs the district offers and make informed choices on which ones might be best for their children.

Parents also receive information from UC Irvine officials on the importance of planning early for their children to attend college and finding financial aid.

Almost 1,000 parents have graduated from the program, which began about four years ago. The classes are conducted year-round in Spanish and once a year in English, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao and Khmer.

For more information or to join a class, call Gomez at (714) 558-5720.