Certainly it's in the school's best interest to put out positive and helpful information-as much and as often as possible. Good PR sets the stage for family and community involvement. When parents are adequately informed, they are in a better position to make good education choices, to support their children's learning, and to participate in school decision-making. Open lines of communication show students that their parents and teachers are working together to help them succeed in school. Effective communication encourages dialogue that questions, invites creative solutions, and incorporates multiple perspectives, which in turn contribute to a strong school community.
Effective communication is an interchange of information and ideas.
In addition, how information is provided affects how it is received. Different listening styles, languages, cultural aspects and knowledge levels require a variety of communication avenues to reach and to hear back from today's diverse families. Communication works only if the listener or the reader receives and understands the information. If a phone message goes unheeded, a newsletter goes unread, or an audience is addressed in an unfamiliar language, communication has not taken place. If you are not satisfied with the number of parents who know what's going on in your school, assess your school's communication methods, gather feedback from families, implement changes and explore some new alternatives.