Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott has announced that the Department of Education is planning to introduce a Parents Academy, beginning with the next school year. In a major policy speech on October 26, Walcott said, “We must work to develop strong partnerships with families in all of our schools.”

Department of Education Executive Director for Family and Community Engagement Jesse Mojica, appointed to the post by Walcott in July, spoke to Community District Education Council 30 about the Parents Academy and other initiatives to help parents at the CDEC 30 meeting at P.S. 150 November 10. Mojica oversees the Office of Family Information and Action and serves as a liaison to the Panel For Educational Policy. He previously spent five years as director of education policy and youth services in the office of the Bronx borough president and was Bronx representative to the PEP from August 2004 to March 2006. “As a parent of two young children, Jesse understands the hopes, the anxieties, and the determination of our families,” Walcott said on appointing Mojica.

Mojica said when one of his two sons lost the ability to speak 10 years ago it was difficult to “navigate the system to get help”. But help was provided and Mojica said he has never forgotten those who helped. “When the Chancellor asked me to assume this responsibility, I took it very, very personally,” he said.

An initiative to partner with parents begins with a pilot program at 10 to 15 schools from January to June. “The goal is to improve parent engagement at the school level,” Mojica said. “We will look at the progress and results with the idea of expanding in September 2012 to other schools.”

Through borough-based workshops, the Parent Academy is envisioned to help parents become involved and informed at all levels, that is, from those parents who just want tips on how to help their children with homework to those who aspire to school leadership. Mojica said a Request For Proposals (RFP) seeking ideas from various organizations on how to structure the Academy is due to be issued shortly by the city. The budget is $350,000.

“We need to continue to increase support and training [for parents],” Mojica said.

In his speech on Partnering with Parents, Walcott noted, “Family engagement means informing and involving parents to get students on track for college and careers…to ensure that parents have a role to play in their school communities. In study after study, we see that when families are involved, both at home and in school, the students benefit.”

Through increased training, Parent Coordinators will be strengthened and encouraged to further facilitate parent engagement. “Parent Coordinators are an extremely important and vital part of parent engagement at the school level,” Mojica said.

Walcott acknowledged difficulties with last year’s Community Education Council election. “We didn’t do the best job,” he said. “Some of the rules were misapplied and we heard you loud and clear: the process needs to change.”

Mojica concurred. “Things have not worked so well in the past. Where we need to improve, we will improve,” he told CDEC 30.