Teaching to Change LA: An online journal of IDEA, UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education, & Access: Equal Terms in LA: The Struggle for Educational Justice, 1954: Vol.4, No. 1-3, 2003-2004
Ask PUT > Issue 3

Image: Ask Parent-U-TurnParents from different neighborhoods often approach Parent-U-Turn with questions about their schools. They want to know whether their children are receiving a quality education, how unfair policies can be changed, and what role parents can play in this process. "Ask Parent U-Turn" provides Parent-U-Turn with the opportunity to share their advice to other parents on-line. In this column parents answer questions from other parents and community members about parent and student rights in regards to the No Child Left Behind Act.

Click here for information about Parent-U-Turn.

Do you have a question for Parent-U-Turn?

If so, please click here!

About Parent-U-Turn

Parent-U-Turn is a parent advocacy group based in South Gate and Lynwood dedicated to improving the educational opportunities of urban students in Los Angeles schools and communities. Parent-U-Turn membership consists of single parents, married parents, and grand-parents of all races and nationalities. The primary goal of Parent-U-Turn is to address the ways that parents can best assist their schools in creating a successful learning environment for their children. Parent-U-Turn parents support, enrich and educate other parents through a professional development curriculum that stresses the value, content and style of quality teaching and learning.

Originally begun as a parent educational training program sponsored by UCLA’s Parent Curriculum Project and UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (IDEA), Parent-U-Turn has since grown into an autonomous organization that demands accountability at the local, city and state level. Over the past six years, Parent-U-Turn has developed new methods for distributing information about school conditions to state and federal agencies, and continues to collaborate with educational researchers, school administrators, community organizers and other parent advocates.

Dear Parent-U-Turn,

I am a concerned parent living in Inglewood, California. I would like to know how to get involved in my child’s school.

Ann Bess

Dear Ms. Bess,

You must visit the school your child goes to. Check out the parent center and meet with the parent liaison to see if you can volunteer. But know what area you would like to volunteer in, such as, the school site committee or classroom.

Parent-U-Turn

Dear Parent-U-Turn,

I am a parent in the Los Angeles School District. What are some of your objectives and goals?

Ms. Goldman

Dear Ms. Goldman,

P.U.T. is for parents whose children attend schools where bad education is recycled. We help parents to be able to identify barriers from the past that affect today’s schooling. Parents will have a chance to research why the education system was developed.

Parent-U-Turn

Dear Parent –U-Turn,

My son was suspended from school for a week for writing on a desk which he said he did not do. I questioned my son about what he had in his hand, a marker or a pencil and he said he had a pencil in his desk. I spoke to the teacher and the teacher said that there is nothing she can do about it. I live in the Los Angeles Area. What should I do about it?

May Washington

Dear Ms. Washington,

You should file a written complaint with the principal and you should get some response within five days. If not, then you can file a uniform complaint with the district.

Parent-U-Turn