How to be an Education Advocate
Family involvement in education means the active participation of families, legal guardians and caring adults in their student’s school lives. Family involvement is most effective in partnership with teachers and other school staff.
Studies have shown that family involvement is key to student academic achievement. Education advocacy is an essential part of being actively involved in your student’s education.
This publication will give you tools to become an advocate. You can choose what style fits you best. You can decide where you can make the biggest impact in your student’s life.
You can be an advocate on major, ongoing issues, such as the creation of an educational program for a student with severe disabilities. You can also be an advocate for something that might take just one phone call, like making sure a student in a new district gets the chance to take part in sports.
Whatever you decide, the most important thing is to be an active participant in your student’s education to ensure their academic achievement. Your advocacy actions not only can benefit your student but may also result in long lasting school improvements and benefits to other students.
3 Keys for Good Advocacy
The keys to being a good advocate are:
- Developing good relationships with school staff. School-family partnerships are critical for student achievement.
- Learning how the public school system works and about the education policies and laws that apply to different situations.
- Communicating ideas in ways that others can easily understand.
There are many ways to be an advocate. You can be an advocate on big or small things— the most important thing is just to be involved in the education of your student.
What is an Advocate?
An advocate sounds like a very official word, but all it means is a supporter, an ally, or someone who stands up for another who maybe cannot do it alone.
Most people remember individuals who advocated for them. Maybe it was as simple as a small encouragement in school, a positive review of their work when they were struggling, or words that inspired them to reach beyond what they saw as possible.
Can I be an advocate for my student?
Yes. For most students, their daily advocate is a parent or family member who is actively involved in their education. Family involvement in education is very important. National research shows that when families and schools work together as partners, students succeed. This is true for families of all ethnicities, income levels, and education backgrounds, whether in rural or urban schools. But do not forget, other people can be advocates too --like relatives, guardians, family friends and community members. Remember - a little advocacy can go a long way for a student struggling in school.
Do I need special training to be an “educational advocate?”
No. While it helps to know about education law, you can do a lot for your student without legal training. Even when you do not have all the answers, you can work with the school district by asking questions, providing information, and urging those working with your student to provide the best possible education. If you cannot get what your student needs, seek help from others who have more experience. Consider contacting other parents, local parent groups that work on education issues or the Washington State Office of the Education Ombuds toll-free at: 1-866-297-2597.
Can I speak up?
Knowing when and how makes the difference.
There is an old saying that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” It means that if we are silent, our problems (or our students’ problems) will not be addressed.
This might be the most important thing to remember about advocacy - how to make sure our students get the education they need. Sometimes all that is needed is a conversation with a teacher. Other times what is needed is a change in a state law or a local school district policy. Either way, in a democracy it is up to us to speak up for our students, and to be the most effective advocates for them we can be. Their future depends on us.
Where you can have an impact
If your student is struggling in school, being active in your student’s education can be one of the longest-lasting gifts you can give to them. Think of your contact with school as building connections between the healthy adults in your child’s life. Those connections can become a web of support.