Office of Parent and Community Engagement

Parent and Community Engagement

DPS believes that having actively engaged parents is critical to improving student achievement.

Our Parent and Community Engagement initiatives, which are geared to helping us increase parent involvement, include training camps that focus on parenting, fun and engaging workshops and much more.

Detroit Public Schools, through a performance-driven partnership with Detroit Parent Network, also operates eight parent resource centers that are comfortable spaces for parents and guardians to meet. The centers, which are geographically placed across the city, provide training and resources to parents of DPS students, helping them be involved in their children’s education. This Title I initiative was developed with input from parents and guardians, community leaders and the Detroit Parent Network. It is funded, in part, with a three-year $1.2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

A message from the Michigan Child Protection Registry

Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, mobile phones (text messaging ads) and instant messenger IDs. The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a free do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and schools and can be located at www.protectmichild.com.

Michigan Protection Registry Frequently Asked Questions

Child Protection Memo from State Superintendent Michael Flanagan

Online portals to track student progress and attendance

Parents this year also have access to new online portals.

Through Parent Connect, parents and guardians can track up-to-date information about their children’s progress, including attendance and more. Through Learning Village, parents and students can access textbooks, workbooks and lessons.

Through the district’s new PULSE system, parents, counselors and other school officials will be alerted when students need intervention because of too many absences, missed assignments or other barriers to achievement.

What our parents are saying

“It was very comfortable and a lot of help. (They are) a big improvement to the school, neighborhood, and even the community.”
-Tamara Simpson, who uses the Parent Resource Center at Marcus Garvey

More about our Parent Resource Centers

Our eight parent resource centers are comfortable community gathering spaces equipped with multiple computers, phones, sofas, small libraries, play areas for children, check-out academic tool kits and more.

We offer expert-led workshops, child care, GED support, job training, support groups, MEAP assistance, book clubs, sessions on Title I programs, college information, coffee talks on parent engagement and other offerings.

The centers are designed to involve, connect and empower parents to help children reach academic success and serve as a hub for training and resources. Light refreshments are provided at each center.

 

Parent Resource Center hours

Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Fridays.
(*Bennett’s PRC hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

 

Workshops in the Parent Resource Centers

There are workshops galore!

May Workshops in the Parent Resource Centers

Home Depot Workshops in the Parent Resource Centers

 

And DPS kicks off new workshops to support parents of children ages 0-5 

New workshops for parents with children ages 0-5 have commenced for DPS parents through newly expanded parenting programming at the district’s 8 Parent Resource Centers!

DPS is supporting parents with children 0-5 years of age through activities to help parents discover new ways to nurture, teach and play.

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 April Workshops in the Parent Resource Centers

April Parent Workshops

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PARENTS: We want to talk to YOU!!!  Texting alerts are coming soon!

Detroit Public Schools is launching a new service that will enhance parent communication by allowing the district and schools to deliver important information via opt-in SMS text messaging, a service that will be particularly important during the winter months when school closures due to inclement weather are more likely.

“This new SMS text messaging service will enhance our extensive system of communicating and engaging with our parents and offer our schools and the district another important tool to notify our parents quickly in emergencies,” said Chief Operating Officer Mark Schrupp. “We also expect that the system will augment communications regarding our classroom and attendance initiatives.”

Communications and engagement with parents also include useful workshops in the district’s eight Parent Resource Centers, personal and automated calls, emails, social media and more. The district will only use the texting service to provide information that is timely and relevant.

In order to participate in the new service, parents must opt in and indicate a willingness to receive text messages to their phones. The process is simple and only takes a few seconds to complete.

The district will launch a 30-day information campaign to notify parents of this important opportunity to enhance communications with them.

Here are the steps to follow:

Parents can simply text any one of the following words to the number 68453:

• subscribe
• optin
• yes

The participant will know he or she is successful if he or she receives the following reply message:

You are registered to receive aprox 3 msgs/mo. Txt STOP to quit, HELP for help.

Participants will want to repeat the opt-in process for any wireless numbers to receive text messages.

In addition to performing the opt-in process above, parents should insure that the district has their wireless number(s) in the district’s student information database. To do so, parents can contact their school or update their contact information through Parent Connect.

The district will be officially launching the new service in approximately one month, so until then parents won’t receive any further text messages.

Please note, although the district does not charge for this service, it does not pay for text message charges that may be incurred by parents for sending or receiving text messages. Parents should check with their wireless carrier for possible charges.

In 30 days, parents will receive a message asking them to text the word, subscribe, to 68453.  Opting in does not mean parents will immediately start receiving text messages. It simply means they have indicated a willingness to receive messages from the district and schools. Parents can also opt out at any time.

English Flier

Spanish Flyer

Hmong Flyer

Bengali Flier

 

Parent Volunteer Process and Forms

Detroit Public Schools recognizes that the services of community volunteers can enrich the educational experience and assist the school community while also enhancing relationships between the school district and the community, ultimately improving student achievement and performance. Please read the following guidelines.

• Volunteer Process Guidelines for 2012-13
• Volunteer Application Form for 2012-2013

 

Parent Connect – Confidentiality Agreements

• Parent Connect Confidentiality Agreement
• Spanish – Parent Connect Confidentiality Agreement (Espagnol)
• Tsab Ntawv Pom Zoo Siv SIS Parent Connect Confidentiality Agreement-Hmong Version

“Thank you so much, I would not have found a job without your help.”
Mr. Abdulhakim Said, who had been out of work for over a year and got computer training so he could conduct online job searches. The staff set him up with an e-mail account and helped him land a job. He frequently visits the center to check his e-mail.

“I think the centers are beautiful! I have an e-mail address now and I’m learning the computer. It is just such a beautiful and relaxing place.”
Radford Mobley, who uses the Parent Resource Center at Brenda Scott

“It was very comfortable and a lot of help. (They are) a big improvement to the school, neighborhood, and even the community.”
Tamara Simpson, who uses the Parent Resource Center at Marcus Garvey

Essence Parish, who visits the Parent Resource Center at Taft daily. She says the staff is very welcoming and warm. They have helped with parenting workshops, getting social work services and assisting with getting boot camp information , and they served as advocates for her when dealing with school administration.

“The Parent Resource Center is a great place to come out and get resources and workshop training and especially Homework Help, to learn how to understand your child’s homework. What I enjoyed the best was the Blueprint Agency, which helped me prepare a resume, and the job search help and computer training.”
Kaili Berry-Burton, who visits the Parent Resource Center at Central High School

“The food box voucher came at a time when I found myself in need of some assistance. I lost my job and I appreciate the assistance. Thank you so much!”
Adama Cunningham, who uses the Parent Resource Center at Cody High School