Let Teachers Make House Calls

Parental involvement in schools provides a valuable boost to teachers and administrators and especially to the children. Costa Mesa school officials recognize its importance and have a promising plan to send some teachers to students’ homes if the parents can’t make it to the schools. The challenge is finding a way to pay for the proposal.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District, which includes Costa Mesa schools, has applied for state grants to help pay to send teachers from five schools to pupils’ homes. State officials should recognize the value of this experiment and fund it.

The officials say they intend to go ahead with some type of home visit program even if they don’t get state funding because they understand its importance. The enthusiasm is commendable; the state money would help make it a reality.

Teachers from Pomona, Wilson, Rea and Whittier elementary schools and TeWinkle middle school would visit homes of students where parents have been unable to make much contact with their children’s teachers. Sometimes it’s because of language problems. Sometimes it’s due to both parents working long hours, unable to arrange time off.

Parents who do manage to find the time to attend conferences with teachers can understand the goals of the class more easily and help with homework. Their interest in education also provides a valuable example for their children, underlining the importance of academics.

The home visit program began in Sacramento and registered so much success in increasing parent participation and raising grades and test scores that the Legislature decided to expand the program. Grants can be as much as $40,000 for a school, paying for teacher training and visits to the homes.

The grant givers in Sacramento should realize the value of the home visit program to schools such as Costa Mesa’s.

Reaching out to parents is an important part of a school’s mission.