Parent's Rights As Equal partners in Our Schools

All public schools in California belong to the public. As such, a mutually supportive and respectful partnership that encourages and welcomes parents to become involved with school will ultimately benefit the student's intellectual and academic performance as well as their physical, emotional and social development. Not only are parents encouraged to share in the responsibility for student success, there are clear local School Board policies, supported by State Education Code, defining Parents' Rights in public schools.

Classroom Observing- Parents have the right to visit their students' classroom to observe activities. This includes observations for the purpose of selecting a school pursuant to interdistrict or intradistrict transfer consideration. The time and date of visitations should be arranged in advance through the school principal's office.

Teacher Conferencing- Parents have the right to request a conference with their students' teacher(s) or the school principal. Parents should contact the school to schedule a date and time convenient to all participants.

Volunteering- Parents have the right to volunteer their time and resources for the improvement of school facilities and programs. Parents should contact the school to determine the terms and conditions of their services.

State law requires that all people having close contact with students in schools must have verification of having passed a TB test. Please register the results of your TB test in the school office. Without this, you will not be allowed to provide parent volunteer service in the classroom.

Student Attendance- Parents have the right to be notified, in a timely manner, if their student is absent from school without permission.
Student Testing-Parents have the right to be notified of their students' performance on standardized and statewide tests and the school's ranking on these tests. (Under state law, parents may request in writing that their student not participate in statewide tests.)

School Selection- Parents have the right to request that their student be enrolled in any school in the district. The school district, however, is not compelled to grant the request due, in part, to individual student needs and/or site enrollment capacity.

Safe School Environment- Parents have the right, and are entitled to, the assurance of a safe and supportive learning environment for their student.

Curriculum Materials- Parents have the right to examine the curriculum of the class or classes in which their student is enrolled.

Student Academic Progress- Parents have the right to be informed of their student's academic progress in school and of the person(s) to contact if they wish more information or assistance with their student's performance.

Student Records- Parents have the right to access their student's permanent school records and to question anything they feel is inaccurate, misleading, or an invasion of privacy. Parents have the right to a timely response from the school principal or district regarding their questions.

Standards- Parents have the right to receive information regarding the academic standards (grade-level and/or core academic subjects) their student is expected to meet. Parents also have the right to receive results of their student's standardized tests.

School Rules- Parents have the right to receive written notification of school rules on expected student behaviors, attendance policies, dress codes, and procedures for school visitations.

Psychological Testing- Parents have the right to receive information on all psychological testing recommended for their student and to refuse such testing if they so choose.

Site Councils and Advisory Committees- Parents have the right to participate as a member of a parent advisory committee, school site council, PTA-PTSA, or site-based management leadership team, in accordance with the school's established rules and regulations for membership.

I strongly encourage all parents and guardians to take time out of your busy schedules to explore opportunities for increasing involvement with your student's school. The above listed activities are only a few examples of your valuable partnership contributions. Working together, we share the responsibility for continued success of all K-12 students in the Petaluma community.