Each time Marta Franco sees cars pulling in and out of the newly painted green 15-minute zone at San Fernando Elementary School, she thinks of the parents who made it happen. Through Proyecto Seguridad (Project Security), parents developed a PowerPoint presentation on school traffic problems, presented it to the school, the city council, and district officials, and proposed solutions, which were adopted. Now parent volunteers patrol the area and give citations to those breaking the rules.

Proyecto Seguridad was group "homework" in Franco's parent leadership course, sponsored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund's (MALDEF) Parent/ School Partnership Program (PSP). In the 16-week course, given in schools throughout California and the U.S., trainers like Franco teach parents how to advocate for and win changes in the whole school, as well as improve their child's performance.

Learning to navigate the school system is a key element of the program-although "the first and number-one person parents should talk to is the teacher," says Claudia Monterrosa, national director of PSP. In class, students do role-playing to prepare for meetings with school staff.

"The course made us more structured, more aware of who to go to at the school and district level," says Maria Rodriguez, a mother of four who graduated from the course in May 2001. Before the course, she says, many parents weren't aware of how to get information, like their child's progress reports. She's now president of the Title One Advisory Council, which makes decisions on how to spend federal grant money at Belmont High School in L.A.

Juanita Campos, a trainer like Franco, says that after taking the course, parents "don't get the run-around. It's knowing how to get things done." Campos used that knowledge when she learned that one of her daughter's teachers continually discouraged and put down the students. Campos contacted the district superintendent-the next day, a meeting between the principal, vice principal, and teacher was set up. "I've gained so much knowledge. The MALDEF training has made me a bigger person," says Campos.

Curriculum

"Parents learn of their rights, and with rights come responsibilities," says Monterrosa. The parents study the structure and function of schools and learn how to communicate with school staff, how to contact district and city officials, and how to prepare kids for college. They learn principles of leadership and group process. And they meet with guest speakers, such as the principal, superintendent, and community leaders.

Through projects like Proyecto Seguridad, PSP students take responsibility for working as a group to make positive changes in the school. Rodriguez' class worked on getting fluorescent crossing signs installed in front of Union Elementary School. Though it turned out the signs were already in the works, Rodriguez says it was a valuable learning experience for the women in the group: "It taught us the process of making phone calls, writing letters, setting up meetings, and going to the city council."

Students also learn media skills. Often a local Spanish-language channel will come to the classroom and teach students how to write press releases and speak in front of the camera. One of Franco's recent classes wrote press releases for a student-author conference at San Fernando and Sharp elementary schools. "Attendance was great!" says Franco. "Many people came to view books written and published by students. Also, a local author was a keynote speaker."

Format

Classes of 20 to 25 parents meet at the school in a roundtable discussion that encourages a "holistic environment and eye-opening discussion," says Monterrosa. This informal structure also allows room for personal issues, such as health, domestic violence, and immigration, to emerge in the discussion. "It's a safe haven for them to open up. Parents feel comfortable and start analyzing how the school system works. They learn their voice does matter," says Monterrosa.

Administrative buy-in

Many principals and teachers contact MALDEF; sometimes MALDEF initiates the contact. But before teaching the course at a school, says Monterrosa, they ask the administration to "partner" with them, providing meeting space, child care, and refreshments and arranging for the principal and teachers to speak in the classes. The principal also helps parents with their group project "homework;" some principals have hired "graduates" as parent coordinators.

Countering stereotypes

Monterrosa explains that many educators have a "huge misconception of the Latino community," thinking many parents don't value education because they don't attend traditional parent events. Monterrosa says that's partly because of language and cultural barriers: in Latino culture, parents aren't supposed to interfere with the teacher's authority. Through the parent leadership course, teachers see that parents want to be involved and parents become aware of the importance of participation.

Group projects

Part of the course is learning by doing. For example, parents at one elementary school organized, publicized, and hosted a series of workshops with the University of Southern California on preparing kids for college. Parents at another school developed a homework club, getting the school to give space and recruiting volunteer tutors.

Follow-up

After the course, parents continue to meet every three months as "alumni." They can enlist MALDEF's help with their efforts; MALDEF also encourages them to join advisory councils and take on other leadership roles. 

Keys to success

Discussion format:

"We don't talk to them; we talk with them, and we bring the world into the classroom," Monterrosa says. Many parents "throw fear away."

Group projects:

Group projects give parents confidence that they can change a situation.

Partnership with schools:

The working partnership with principals and teachers creates a climate of success. But not all principals welcome the course, "because it means more people will be asking questions," Monterrosa says.

MALDEF training:

School districts pay $250 for MALDEF to train the instructors.

Free refreshments and child care:

Schools provide these as part of their contribution.

Seeking leaders in San Jose

MALDEF will conduct an intensive one-week (32 to 38 hours) workshop to train instructors for the parent leadership course in San Jose in May, June, and July. Qualified people could be teachers, administrators, parent leaders or other community residents.

For information call MALDEF at 213-629-2512.