There are times when a birth parent is not allowed to attend parent teacher meetings due to visitation being strictly supervised. There are still things that a foster parent can do to help the birth parent feel a part of their child's education. This is also great preparation for the birth parent once they are allowed to attend parent teacher meetings.
- Provide birth parents with regular updates regarding parent teacher meetings and how their child is doing at school.
- After any parent teacher meeting ask the teacher to write up a progress note for the birth parent.
- Provide the parent with their child's completed work, grade cards, and tests.
- If, at the parent teacher meeting, the teacher suggests that the child needs to work on some skills, like spelling or math facts, ask the birth parent if they would be interested in assisting their child during visits.
- If the birth parent is interested, be sure to provide the materials necessary for them to work on these skills.
- Ask the birth parents how studying with their child went. Be sure to thank them for any advice they offer, even if you don't agree.
