The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has many important parts. One is that of Parent Involvement. As a parent, you play an
important role in your child's education. The NCLB act seeks to provide every student with a high quality education. It states
that students are to be challenged to meet high standards, taught by highly qualified teachers using proven teaching methods
and be able to learn in a safe, drug-free environment.
Parents have the right to know about their individual school's performance by viewing the district and state report cards. The
schools must have an accountability system. We have set high standards of what students should know and be able to do.
The state has set specific standards for reading, math and science. There are standards-based assessments, the ASK, GEPA
and HSPA Tests, administered each spring to measure progress and achievement.
Parents receive letters about their right to know about each teacher's qualifications. In New Jersey a teacher receives a certificate
for teaching and also must obtain the status of Highly Qualified. Parents may review the curriculum by accessing the Toms River
Regional Schools web page, http://www.trschools.com and clicking on Curriculum.
The NCLB act also states that your child has a right to attend a safe school. As you visit our schools you will see that we have
security procedures in place.
Get involved in your child's education. Attend meetings and share your thoughts, concerns and ideas. Help your child complete
homework and make sure that he understands how important it is to do well in school. We suggest you become a member of the
PTO, join a Family Involvement Workshop, or contact us for specific activities at our school. Throughout the year the school will
have opportunities for you to be involved. There will be exhilarating activities in the arts and sport activities. Classrooms will
offer interesting activities to which you will be invited. There are also committees. Please contact your school.
If you have any questions about NCLB, you can visit this US Department of Education's web site: http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov,
or call your school.
Safety and the Internet
Links for Parents to Explore
- I-Safe
Founded in 1998, i-SAFE Inc. is the leader in Internet safety education. Available in all 50 states,
Washington, D.C., and Department of Defense schools located across the world, i-SAFE is a non-profit
foundation whose mission is to educate and empower youth to make their Internet experiences safe and
responsible. The goal is to educate students on how to avoid dangerous, inappropriate, or unlawful online
behavior. i-SAFE accomplishes this through dynamic K-12 curriculum and community outreach programs
to parents, law enforcement, and community leaders. It is the only Internet safety foundation to combine
these elements. I-Learn online is an Internet safety program for educators and parents which provides
videos that cover the rules of the road for navigating the information superhighway. Registration is
required but the videos are free.
- National PTA
This web site deals with the issues that parents deal with every day--talking with your children,
encouraging your children, being involved in the school, supporting and helping your child at home with
schoolwork.
- The Future of Children
The primary purpose of The Future of Children is to disseminate timely information on major
issues related to children's well-being, with special emphasis on providing objective analysis
and evaluation, translating existing knowledge into effective programs and policies, and
promoting constructive institutional change. Sponsored by the David and Lucile Packard
Foundation.
- Literacy Center
The National Research Council's study "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children"
states that children who are exposed to reading at an early age make the symbol/language
connection and are more likely to be reading at the appropriate age level by the end of third grade.
The Literacy Center aims to provide safe learning activities for parents and teachers to share with
young children. It follows a modified Montessori approach to teaching reading. As a pre and early
reading curriculum, it assumes that each online lesson will be supported by appropriate offline
instruction, either at home or in school.
