EL MONTE – Cleminson School’s parent, family and community involvement programs have helped boost state test scores in English language arts (ELA) by 26 percentage points over five years while strengthening ties with parents.

Cleminson connects with parents through an English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC), Reaching EMCSD Literacy Milestone (RELM) and Latino Family Literacy programs.

“These programs allow families to support the educational and social emotional development of our students,” Cleminson Principal Carlos Salcedo said. “Not only are we creating a stronger bond with our families, but we are also empowering them with tools to improve their children’s quality of life.”

Berenice Rodriguez, a community liaison at Cleminson School, said the programs teach parents about how the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” help students develop leadership skills.

“Getting our parents involved is crucial because they are the primary educators of our students,” Rodriguez said. “This is why we have so many opportunities at our school for our parents to get involved.”

Cleminson’s community involvement groups also inspire English learner parents to improve their own literacy skills by enrolling at El Monte-Rosemead Adult School, she said.

Elizabeth Sotelo, a Cleminson School parent, said the program has boosted her confidence in providing homework help to her children.

“Cleminson School’s parent involvement programs helped me to interact with other parents and lose my fear of reading in another language,” Sotelo said. “The RELM workshop gives us a lot of information about resources, tips on how to read with our children and how to make it fun.”

El Monte City School District Superintendent Dr. Maribel Garcia said the District’s mission encompasses efforts to engage parents as full partners in their children’s education.

“Education starts with children and their parents, and we try to intensify the power of that relationship by teaching skills to support parents,” Garcia said. “Our students know they are completely supported in the classroom as well as at home, and so we all succeed together.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

EMCSD_ELAC: Cleminson School students showcase their reading skills during an English language arts lesson. The school’s parent, family and community involvement programs have helped boost its state ELA test scores.