Parent & Family Supports

Learning Extension Centers | Columbus City Schools is partnering with several community organizations on Learning Extension Centers - safe, adult-supervised, welcoming spaces where students are supported while learning virtually during the day.

Business Advisory Council Parent & Community Awareness Workgroup | Education for today’s high school students looks different and work experiences are important to be ready for careers and college. Families and students can explore options to understand: 1) There are multiple pathways that students can take to employment in high-demand jobs. 2) Real-world experiences in high school are vital for exploring further career and education opportunities. 3) Students can have a variety of experiences that will prepare them for the next steps after high school.

Amazing Futures | This video series explores the 4 E's (Employment, Education, Entrepreneur, & Enlistment) through interviews with recent high school graduates. They each found success through different experiences. Which "E" will you choose?

• Central Ohio Broadband Access Pilot Program | The Central Ohio Broadband Access Pilot Program is providing low-income, K-12 students and their families with low-cost internet access.
• Parent & Family Digital Learning Guide, U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology | This guide aims to help all parents and caregivers, including those who have limited experience with digital tools, those who are expert with these tools, and anywhere in between.

• Accessibility Features & Accommodations, Improving Instruction | Students who are learning English may need extra support during instruction and assessments to help them succeed. Teachers may use supports called accessibility features and accommodations to help students understand classroom instruction and tests.
• Building Successful Communication Between Parent or Guardian and Teacher, Improving Instruction | Two-way communication between parents or guardians and teachers helps to build trust. Trust between school and parents or guardians is important in supporting the learning of culturally and linguistically diverse students, including English learners.
• English Learner Family Toolkit, U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition | This tool kit provides information on questions families may have about public schools in the United States. The following topics are covered in the tool kit: 1. Enrolling Your Child in School; 2. Attending School in the United States; 3. Obtaining Services for English Learners; 4. Finding Additional Services for Your Child; 5. Keeping Your Child Safe and Healthy in School; 6. Helping Your Child With Schoolwork at Home.

• Parent Roadmaps to Understanding the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, Ohio Department of Education | At the beginning of each school year, schools will check every child in Kindergarten – Grade 3 to see if they are reading as well as they should be for their grade. If your child’s reading is not on track for the grade, he or she will receive extra reading help in school.

• Top Parenting Site for Parenting with Social and Emotional Learning | This is the first and only site that offers free evidence-based strategies, tools, and guidance for parents on how to understand, support and build social and emotional skills through their everyday parenting. And check out the book on parenting with social and emotional learning, Confident Parents, Confident Kids; Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids from Toddlers to Teenagers.
• The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)'s Guide to Schoolwide Social and Emotional Learning; Family Partnerships | Check out the CASEL School Resource Center's list of family partnership resources
• Social and Emotional Learning Alliance for Ohio (SEL4OH) | This organization brings together Ohio educators and other youth-serving professionals to network, share best practices, and learn from one another on deepening their social and emotional learning practices in Ohio schools and districts
• SEL Resources to Use at Home, Aperture Education | A downloadable social and emotional learning activity to get started building SEL skills with your child.
• The Power of Listening: A Guide for Parents, Crisis Prevention Institute | Countless educators and human service
  professionals have benefited from CPI’s highly effective approach to empathic listening. This guide explains how parents can use these same skills and techniques when dealing with their children.

Ohio Parent Mentors Project | Parent Mentors support families through the special education process. A Parent Mentor works to educate parents in the necessary supports so that the family will feel empowered as a member of the student's educational team.

• CAP4Kids Children's Advocacy Project | Resources for Central Ohio
• Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities | For Parents
• Ohio Department of Education | Resource Guide for Families and Caregivers
• Ohio Department of Education | Parents
• Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University
• State Support Team 11 | Family Resources

If you need assistance, please contact us at communications@escco.org or call 614-445-3750.