One set of obstacles stems from the sheer size and layout of many secondary schools which make them less than visitor friendly. Instruct guards or other monitors to welcome parents who enter the building and assist them in finding their way. Expect office staff to assist parents in a prompt and friendly fashion. Create a welcome sign for parents in the entryway, and repeat it in all the languages spoken by families of the students. Another obstacle to family involvement is that students typically have many teachers.
Parents can find it difficult to know which teacher to contact.
Rarely does any one staff member have a complete picture of each student, except perhaps the guidance counselor. But they often have a heavy caseload of students, making it difficult to know each well. Some secondary schools are reorganizing in ways that increase teachers' ability to form relationships with parents and students. Keep the same counselors throughout the high school years so that students have an ongoing relationship with at least one individual at the school. Create teams of teachers who stay with students for more than one year.