The Cobb school board has rejected a proposal that would penalize students at one high school if their parents do not attend meetings with teachers and education officials.
Board member David Morgan proposed the new policy and believes it will help boost academic achievement at Pebblebrook High School, a lower-performing school. Parents and education scholars argue it is unfair to poor and working families and punishes students for their parents' inactions.
Following comments from parents and other audience members — who spoke both in favor of and against the proposal – the board voted down the measure 5-2 at Thursday’s meeting.
Under the Cobb proposal, parent/teacher conferences would be mandatory as well as Road to Graduation meetings, where students and parents meet with counselors to talk about their post-high school career plans.
The proposal was the first of its type among metro Atlanta schools to keep students from participating in extracurricular activities because of their parents’ lack of involvement. DeKalb County does have a policy at a small group of specialized “theme” schools that also requires parental engagement; students face possible dismissal from the schools if their parents don’t abide by the rule.
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