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Education: Our Best Legacy

Education: Our Best Legacy (EOBL) is a school success program. It designed for parents or caregivers with one or more children in middle school. EOBL is part of the Partnering for School Success project (PSS).

Education: Our Best Legacy, like all PSS programs, aims to:

  • Strengthen the interaction and partnerships between parents and children, and parents and schools.

  • Increase parents’ knowledge and skills to navigate the school system.

  • Build parents’ self-efficacy to help their children succeed in school.

  • Increase the number of students of graduating from high school.

  • Increase the number of students continuing on to higher education.

Read below for more information. If you still have question, contact school success.

Program delivery

Facilitators deliver the EOBL program using one of the available educational packages. These packages can be purchased and are accessed through a facilitator website:

  • Education: Our Best Legacy Educational Package for Families.

  • Education: Our Best Legacy Educational Package for Latino Families.

A Hmong version of the package is in the works. Learn more about this adaptation: Hmong families and schools promoting students’ success.

Facilitators deliver EOBL through a series of seven school- or community-based classes. Each lesson is:

  • About two hours in length.

  • Intended to delivered in its entirety.

  • Intended to be taught in order. Each lesson builds upon the previous lessons.

Class content

The class series covers nine content areas.

  • Expectations — Children learn better when parents have clear and reasonable expectations.

  • Structure — Children learn better when parents provide a regular routine.

  • Learning — Children learn better when they have opportunities outside of school.

  • Support — Children learn better when parents regularly give them verbal support and praise.

  • Relationships — Children learn better when they feel safe and accepted at home and school.

  • Modeling — Children learn better when parents and other adults set a good example.

  • How to navigate the school system — Some parents do not know enough about the norms and structure of the educational system. This leaves them vulnerable. It also makes it difficult for them to help and advocate on behalf of their children's success in school.

  • How to help their children graduate from high school and seek higher education — Some parents want education for their children but don't know how to proceed. Parents often cite “better education for their children” as one of the reasons they immigrated to the United States. They want information on how these goals can be achieved.

  • How to achieve self-efficacy — Some parents feel they lack the right tools to help or support their children to succeed in the educational system and culture. They do not feel confident enough in themselves to be able to help their children.

Class activities

Class activities build upon and strengthen the parent-child and parent-school partnership. Here are some examples.

  • Parents receive topics and tasks to discuss, practice, or complete on their own or with their children.

  • A panel of school staff helps parents strengthen relationships with staff. The panel also helps parents learn how to navigate the school system. For example what classes to take and who to contact for specific questions about their children’s education.

  • Guest speakers from higher education institutions tell parents about their school. They also give practical tips for how to support a child while in middle and high school. This helps better motivate and prepare families for seeking higher education upon graduation.

  • Classes also incorporate other activities, like role playing, discussion, case studies, and checklists. Activities build parents’ confidence to better support their children’s school success.

Author: Silvia Alvarez de Davila, Extension educator

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