Led and planned by parents, the groups may sponsor speakers, coordinate college tours and financial aid workshops, attend cultural outings or parent retreats, hold rap sessions. Most important, parents lend encouragement and support to one another, offering firsthand advice on parenting young people in today's world. Parents also receive the resources and the knowledge that will allow them to successfully continue their own education and to strengthen their job skills. Parents call one phone number which then guides them to their children's individual school and classroom teacher's mail box. Teachers can record daily activities, homework assignments, reminders, or other information they would like to share with the families of their students.
Parents can leave messages for teachers concerning their children.
Participating schools must have full teacher support and usage of the system is monitored to ensure use. Currently parents in Marion County have free access to Teleparent through the cooperation of Parent Power, Ameritech, and WRTV6, along with corporate and foundation sponsorship. When parents are involved in their children's education at home, their children do better in school. When parents are involved at school, their children go farther in school, and the schools they go to are better.