October 1 , 2007
Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
This fall three Nebraska school districts will be recognized for their efforts to engage parents more fully in their child’s education. To highlight the importance of parental involvement in education, I recently announced the creation of a new award highlighting the successful efforts of school districts that actively involve parents in their child’s education.
I’m pleased to be collaborating with the Nebraska Association of School Boards on a new award recognizing school districts that are successful in boosting parental involvement in the day to day learning.
Parental involvement and parental responsibility in education are key to any successful education system. When you combine the good teachers we have in Nebraska with parents that are involved in their children’s education, the result is often students who care about learning, recognize that learning is a lifetime pursuit, and are committed to their own academic success.
As parents, we have a responsibility to ensure that our children are prepared for school at age five and every day thereafter. As much as our children need us when they’re just starting out, they need us even more as they move onto middle school, high school and college.
Regardless of their own educational achievements, one of the most important things children need to hear from their parents is the value and importance of a good education. Research shows that parents who set high expectations have an impact on student achievement.
That proved true in my family. While my parents both had high school educations, they recognized the importance of going to college and worked to make sure that each of their four children received a college education. We learned early on the value of a good education.
My parents instilled in me the idea that education was central to everything I do in life, and that is something Sally and I have tried pass onto our son Sam. It is why I am so passionate in saying that the first, best and most important teacher in any child’s life is mom and dad.
The bottom line is that we need to create an environment where learning takes place not just in a classroom, but becomes a central part of family life.
Too often we don’t do enough to reach out to parents and create opportunities to get them involved in our schools. I’ve challenged education leaders across the state to come up with better ways of getting parents more actively involved in their schools and in their child’s education. The school districts with the greatest success will be recognized as the first recipients of the Governor’s Award for Parental Involvement Programs.
This award is one way to recognize the efforts of school districts that put a priority on building stronger relationships with parents and engaging them more fully in their child’s education. It is an opportunity to recognize leaders in this field and help others develop strategies to get parents more involved in their local schools. I look forward to recognizing the work of these schools and sharing their stories of success this fall.
I want to express my thanks to all the parents and family members throughout Nebraska that recognize the important role they play in their child’s development. A passion for learning is one of the most important gifts we can give our children.
