School District of Philadelphia Brings Back Parent and Family University

The School District of Philadelphia has reinstated its Parent and Family University program to bolster parent engagement, rebuild trust, and improve student outcomes. The free classes for families start this month.

This program aims to enhance communication and partnership between parents and schools by helping families adapt to technological and educational changes. To start, the program will offer both online and in-person classes at eight schools, beginning Oct. 14, with plans to expand and rotate locations, covering topics such as academics, financial literacy, and community resources.

To encourage participation, in-person sessions will include light dinners and child care services.

The program, initially launched in 2009 and discontinued in 2015, is being revived as part of a broader effort to expand services and strengthen community ties under Superintendent Tony Watlington's strategic plan.

Watlington told CBS News Philadelphia that the district-funded classes will continue "as long as there are resources available."

According to Chalkbeat Philadelphia, Watlington elaborated that an essential component of the program is to provide families with support and resources to increase student attendance and joy in school. He said he hopes more communication with parents and families helps build trust in the district.

The program will include components on ways that families can connect with community service opportunities and voting information. Watlington said that some organizations, like Scholastic and Philadelphia Financial Scholars, have partnered with the school district to deliver these services to parents and families.

In a parent and guardian survey conducted earlier this year, parents expressed interest in school-specific topics such as school selection, report cards, and college and career readiness. Some also said they were interested in topics that include mental health, nutrition, and digital literacy.

More information is available on the Parent and Family University website.