New technology has been a real boost to schools' efforts to be more supportive of parents. Many principals report great success with homework hotlines. Hillcrest School has a 24-hour hotline which enables parents to get homework information from teachers. This full-time connection with the school is paying great dividends. Setting up homework hotlines may be expensive but this is a vital area.
Schools sometimes succeed in getting funds from corporations and foundations to install hotlines.
Hebrew Academy has a similar hotline to help parents secure homework assignments. Principal Ross Danis reported in April of 1995 that 1,000 to 1,300 calls by parents are made each month. Obviously hotlines are popular and intensely used services. The Hillcrest PTO, teachers and the principal designed the Homework Notebook which is printed and distributed annually. It provides a forum for parents and teachers to communicate daily and to be aware of homework assignments and needs.