Family Partnership

The school welcomes families as a critical decision-making constituency in the life and growth of the school. As part of the enrollment contract, families affirm their commitment to full participation in the life of the school. Harlem Academy parents oversee homework, organize supplemental learning activities, and encourage their children to excel.

Each family volunteers at the school, organizing the school library, helping with mailings, participating in the admissions process, and supporting fundraising events. Though participation is optional, a majority of families takes a leadership role in admissions, hiring, development, and partnership through participation in a steering committee.

Harlem Academy’s teachers and school administrators take an active role in communicating with families. Teachers share regular reports on student progress, written notice of classroom volunteer opportunities, and information about evening workshops. Formal conferences occur twice annually, and informal communication is part of the daily routine.

Students with parents who are involved in their school tend to have fewer behavioral problems, better academic performance, and are more likely to complete high school than students whose parents are not involved in their school (U.S. Department of Education). Research shows “a positive and convincing relationship between family involvement and benefits for students, including improved academic achievement. This relationship holds across families of all economic, racial/ethnic, and educational backgrounds and for students at all ages” (SEDL).