Chicago Public Schools wants to keep parents involved.
After offering Walgreens gift cards to parents as an incentive to pick up their children's report cards last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced the opening of 12 parent engagement centers.
In collaboration with Microsoft and United Way the pilot program is meant to help parents develop digital skills to support their children’s learning.
“An engaged parent is critical to the success of a student and we will continue to provide opportunities, information and the encouragement for parents to get and stay involved in their children’s education,” Emanuel said in a statement.
The centers will be open before and after school to parents and their children for help with basic computer skills on Microsoft Windows and Office, the mayor's office said.
Nine centers opened Monday at Armstrong Elementary, Cameron Elementary, Chase Elementary, Kohn Elementary, Libby Elementary, Lloyd Elementary, Marsh Elementary, May-Horatio Elementary and Oglesby Elementary.
Three other centers will open next spring at Burroughs, Davis, and Shields, Byrd-Bennett said.
“Helping our students succeed cannot be done by teachers and principals alone – they need the support and involvement of parents,” Byrd-Bennett said. “We are making sure parents are welcome in our schools and breaking down barriers to collaboration."
