Madison k-12’s new Family University
A new Madison School District program will incorporate things like parenting strategy classes, mental health sessions and visits to the district’s planetarium to get families involved in their children’s schools and to connect them to community resources.
Family University, which will start this fall, will offer a mix of parent-oriented classes and family events, said Tyson Jackson, the district’s director of family, youth and community engagement.
The program aims to increase parent involvement in their children’s schools while providing parents with resources on topics such as parenting and job skills to support their participation in the local workforce.
“We’ve had in the past parent educational opportunities through different sorts of programs that might have had some similarities, but not to the full-blown context of what we’re looking to do here,” Jackson said.
The district’s new Family Advisory Council, made up of family representatives from district schools, identified workforce development and family wellness as the first two focus areas for Family University. Once the program starts this fall, sessions will explore financial literacy, career opportunities in the local economy, social media’s effect on children and healthy technology habits.
“We also want to meet families where they’re at: ‘Do you need support with employability skills?’” Jackson said. “That was one of the things that came up. Parents wanted to have an opportunity to increase their skills for employability.”
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