Welcome Letter to Parents from Superintendent
Dear Parents:
I am writing today to welcome you and your family back to school and to encourage you to remain involved in your child’s education, both inside and outside of the classroom. Your involvement will help your sons and daughters be more successful now and in the future.
Our children need all of our support to reach their potential as great thinkers, innovators and leaders. The commitment we make now will benefit our state and country as they become citizens of the world, competing and collaborating in an ever-changing global landscape.
Educators play a critical role of teaching knowledge and skills but children’s attitudes toward school and their habits of studying, reading and learning, are largely developed at home.
Studies have consistently linked parental involvement with higher student grades and test scores, more positive student attitudes and behaviors, and improved school environments. Family participation in education was found to be twice as predictive of academic learning as family socioeconomic status.
There are many ways to be involved with your child’s learning. This includes not only establishing routine homework habits but also making time to get to know your child’s teacher and other staff members at his or her school and asking how your child can find success this school year.
I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of the more than two million children in kindergarten through 12th grade across Illinois to ensure they are prepared for college and careers in the 21st century. Please join me in this pledge so that our children can be successful in the 2009-10 school year and beyond.
Sincerely,
Christopher A. Koch, Ed.D.
State Superintendent of Education
