Parent Power!
Helping You Make Sense
of Schooling Today
Kristen P. Lasker
Managing Editor
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Education Reform
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PP! What is the mission of CSF?
The Children’s Scholarship Fund
gives low income families, who
otherwise may have not had this chance,
a choice in education and an opportunity to
provide a quality education for their children.
PP! How would you describe the families
you serve?
Grateful, to say the least. Most of our families
are very low income, and a lot of them, just by
calling to get an application, just that little effort,
demonstrate their demand to put their children
in a better school, or a one that may have a
curriculum that fits their talents or needs. A lot
of these families that haven’t had the means in
the past are very determined to make sure their
children have a good education.
PP! What is the response of the community?
Very positive. For a lot of the schools, this
has been an opportunity to get a more
diverse culture within their school. For other
schools it has helped enrollment. In St.
Louis, a lot of families are going to the
suburbs for better homes and school districts.
Because we limit this scholarship to families
that live within the city, it is keeping them
within their own neighborhoods.
PP! How important is a parent’s involve-
ment in the scholarship schools?
We see it as key. A lot of the private schools
require a significant amount of parental
involvement within their schools. The fami-
lies do have to contribute some portion of the
tuition towards their child’s education, but
beyond the financial part there is a commit-
ment to get their children to school on time
in the morning, attend the PTO meetings,
and so forth.
PP! Could you give us examples of parent
involvement?
Some schools require that parents give a
certain number of hours volunteering, on a
field trip, in the classroom or extra-curricular
activities. Other schools ask for help
fundraising…they may have to join an orga-
nization. The schools try to help the parents
because they are busy…and they try to find
any opportunity that they can to get them
involved. For example, we have encouraged
families with access to a computer to do a
newsletter or flyer at home.
PP! What are some ways for these parents
to contribute to their child’s educational
experience?
We encourage the parents to do a lot of reading
with their kids at home and make library trips
where they can sit down with their kids and
make sure they are doing their homework. We
encourage parents to talk with their child’s
teachers on a regular basis and to get to know
not just one of the teachers in the school, but
more than one, and see what areas they can
help with at home. If they are better in math,
then that may be an area where they can help
with their child or tutor another child.
PP! What difficulties do parents have in
making the transition to a private school?
It varies. We offer parenting workshops and
also do a parent orientation to get them into the
scholarship program. In doing that, we talk
with the parents, especially those that are
making the transition from public to private,
about what you can expect going into this new
environment. We try to explain to parents that
it is a different culture. Some schools have a
guardian program where they ask a family that
has been there to be a guardian of a new
family. They encourage them to come to meet-
ings. When a family feels welcome or part of
their environment, the transition is a lot easier
for them.
PP! What would you recommend to parents
who have concerns or problems in their
schools?
Maintain contact with the school. It is very
important to establish a rapport with that
school, a relationship. In some of our reli-
giously affiliated schools, if there is a problem
with the principal, they should get to know the
pastor or other staff within the school. We
explain to them that this is a new process for
the schools as well as the families. So the first
semester may be a little rocky, but give it a little
bit of time and keep in mind that the children’s
interests are most important – to see that they
are in a stable and secure environment.
An interview with Christina Holmes
Program Director of the Elizabeth Lay Midlam – Children’s Scholarship Fund in St. Louis,Missouri.
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