How to get ‘Parent Power'

Parent Power Web site offered by the Rock Hill school district is good resource.

The Internet has revolutionized how school districts can communicate with families. “Parent Power,” the Rock Hill district's online resource for parents, is a good example.

The site p2.rock-hill.k12.sc.us serves as something of a community bulletin board featuring a variety of workshops and places to find information that can help parents become full partners in their children's education. Workshops cover topics ranging from how to help students prepare for end-of-course algebra tests to safe Internet use and how to avoid cyber-bullying.

So far, Parent power has been slow to catch on. Some workshops attracted so few people that they were cancelled.

That might be just a matter of spreading the word — including through actual word-of-mouth and by sending out flyers. School district officials, however, are confident that parents will use the service more once they learn what it has to offer.

The Web site really seems to have something to interest just about everyone. It not only lists a variety of parent workshops, it also features links to information parents might find useful, such as the district's academic assistance guide and explanations of the state's teaching standards.

We hope parents will take a look at the site, bookmark it on their computers, check out future workshops and spread the word to their friends. This is a valuable resource for parents trying to navigate the often complicated world of childhood education, and they would be smart to take advantage of it.