She said parent involvement is paramount to children's success in education. We can't do it alone and they can't do it alone. Ernest Joe, the new principal at Auburndale High School and a former middle school administrator, said agendas keep parents and teachers aware of students' progress and problems. Auburndale High used to provide agendas just to ninth graders to help their transition from middle school. They soon added 10th grade, and now agendas are distributed across the board.
Teachers can do a checks and balances.
Johnson said having parents check the agendas not only makes parents aware of what their children are doing in school, but it also encourages parents to help their children make their work the best it can be. Some of the kids are conscientious and will remember anyway, but sometimes they will write it on a tiny little paper and lose it in their backpacks. Blake Elementary Teacher Elaine Rinehart, who is moving from teaching second grade to fourth grade next year, said she tries to put encouraging comments in the agendas when she can and is discreet when there are disciplinary issues with students. Rinehart gives out stickers each day students come in with their agendas signed. At the end of the week, they may turn in their stickers for free time to read a book or do another educational activity.