Video: New Parent Academy at Columbus School District

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – In this week’s Making the Grade, parents of the Columbus School District came together to improve student performance. An open-house was held Tuesday night at the Brandon Central district headquaters.

Michael Jackson of the Columbus School District says the Parent Academy was formed to get parents more involved in student improvement.

“When parents are more involved in education, research has shown that students are more likely to do better in school as far as academics and behavior-wise,” says Jackson.

The new Academy will allow parents to get vital information about student achievement, testing, and new teaching methods.

“Parents need to be made aware of new initiatives that are coming out as far as Common Core. Parents will hear about it but sometimes they will never really, fully understand it. So through our workshops that we’re having each month, we’re going to be letting parents know what Common Core is and how they can support the move to Common Core,” says Jackson.

Some Columbus parents are looking forward to joining the Parent Academy for the sake of the children.

“What I’m looking for is the role that I can play and the things that I can do more of outside of what we already do as parents. I’m looking for opportunities to help my child succeed, things that will help them do better in certain subject areas, classes and testing that’s going on. Things that I can get and work on with them at home,” says Parent Cassandra Bogan, who has children in elementary and middle school.

Parents who attended the open house received a t-shirt or mug. They were also asked to donate electronic devices like old cell phones and computers for a new recycling program. The funds raised will be used to help the school district.

The Parent Academy will meet at least once a month.