How’s the school year going? Here’s my report:

• Kate, as a fourth grader, is now mostly on her own (with only a little nagging) when it comes to getting homework done. But somehow she always magically finds a way to milk a 20-minute “Report About Me” into a three-hour trip to the salt mines. Last night, she decided the 50-word assignment needed to be done in cursive. She doesn’t know cursive. I think next time she feels the need to jazz up assignments, I will suggest she use only her feet to write the report.

• Jack, a fresh-faced kindergartener, does not understand the concept of homework just yet. He never – ever, ever, ever – remembers to turn in his “yellow things glued to paper” assignment. Isn’t the teacher asking for it?, I plead. [insert blank stare here]

• Jack’s first day of school was actually a “mixer” of sorts. Parents hung around, chatted with the teacher, met Fred the bearded dragon and got to know each other. Before I set foot in his classroom, I had no knowledge that it was not a regular school day. How was it that I was the only one who didn’t get the memo? I sweated profusely throughout the morning until the 11 a.m. dismissal time (nope, didn’t know about that either).

Why am I regaling you with these tales? Because I am often the victim, like so many other parents of school-age kids, of information UNDER-load. This year, in an attempt to be “green,” the school is not bothering to send out notices, which I wouldn’t be getting anyway, apparently.

But I’m sure thousands of you have similar stories about lack of communication, school policy issues, funding questions and just straight-up confusion, which is often my problem. But parent involvement is often what transforms a “D” school into an “A” and keeps parents, like me, just a little more sane and kids a little more engaged. And those “A” schools need parents to continue to ask questions, get involved and be present in the classroom (or playground or library).

California State Senator Gloria Romero (District 24), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, is hoping to empower parents a bit when it comes to speaking up for our children’s education in these tough times, when programs are getting tossed out like Jack’s homework. To that end she’s also hosting a Power to the Parents town hall tonight from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Rosemont Elementary School 421 N. Rosemont Ave., Los Angeles.

She also offers these tips on ways parents can get involved this school year (and good luck with the homework!):

1. Go to Back to School night. Get to know your child’s teacher and keep in contact. Learning doesn’t stop when your child walks out of the classroom – reading at home and monitoring homework is especially important.
2. Join parent groups. There are numerous parent groups at both the school and the district level. The school site council and parent-teacher organization advise the school administration, step up when changes need to made and sponsor various events and fundraisers throughout the year. Many districts also get input from parents through one or more parent advisory councils.
3. Meet your school board. As parents, it’s not easy to get to evening meetings, but it can be worthwhile to go and meet the superintendent and elected officials who set policy for your district. You’ll need them on your side when they face tough budget decisions and your favorite program is on the line. Take your children along and the trip becomes a lesson in civic engagement.
4. Volunteer in the classroom. It’s not only fun to dive in on finger-painting or drive kids on a field trip, it’s also important for your child. A number of studies have shown that students do better academically when their parents are involved in the school.
5. Go to school events – it’s your right! By state law, parents and guardians working at companies with 25+ employees on-site are entitled to take up to 40 hours each school year to participate in the school activities of their child, not exceeding eight hours in any calendar month of the school year. When you look ahead at the school calendar, let your boss know about important assemblies and other events in advance.
6. Get the facts. How is your school doing compared to other schools? The easiest way to find out is to request a copy of your school’s School Accountability Report Card (SARC) from the school or the district office or to view it online at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/. The SARC has information on everything from school safety to demographics to teacher training and test scores.
7. Run for your local school board. The idea might never have crossed your mind, but I urge you to think on it. School board members have diverse backgrounds, often drawing on experiences as parents, educators or former students in the district. A passion for education reform is truly the only requirement for the job – like most jobs, you can only learn by doing it.