By MICHAEL COBURN

The start of a new school year is a time when students see their friends and make new ones. It’s a time when students reestablish relationships with their teachers and administrators, their lunchroom workers and bus drivers, and their coaches and club leaders.

But one of the most important relationships students will need to have to help be happy and successful this school year is the one with their parent(s).

Parental involvement is the single most significant factor in determining a child’s success in and out of the classroom.

In fact, research shows that when parents are involved, students achieve more. They have higher grades, test scores and graduation rates. They enjoy better school attendance, have increased motivation and better self-esteem. They also experience lower rates of suspension, are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, and have fewer instances of violent behavior.

The research also shows that these results occur regardless of a child’s socioeconomic status, his or her ethic or racial background or the parents’ level of education.

That’s why our school district is aggressively promoting a parental involvement campaign for all our schools this coming year. The message of our campaign is to “Surround Our Children With Support.”

Too often, too many of our children do not have the support they need to believe in themselves or to strive to do better in the classroom. Their dreams for tomorrow are in danger unless we help them achieve them today!

The St. John the Baptist Parish School System will host a parent rally at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 at New Wine Christian Fellowship. The rally will explore how parents and teachers can become stronger team players in the educational development of our children.

We will discuss ways parents can be more involved. We will discuss new policies and mission statements, and acquaint parents with school guidelines and restrictions. Administrators, principals and teachers also will be on hand to answer questions and set up one-on-one meetings and teamwork opportunities.

We are making the effort to create “parent-friendly” campuses, and letting the public know that parental involvement is a priority in our schools. We’re sponsoring outdoor advertisements, newspaper promotions, community posters and direct-mail pieces and brochures that encourage parents to join their local parent-teacher organization.

Join us, and find out how serious we are about making a lasting difference in the lives of our children!

MICHAEL COBURN is Superintendent of St. John the Baptist Parish public schools.