Fall, 1996 No. 1 National Network of Partnership Schoolst
Parent-Teacher-Student
Conferences in UtahStudent Education Plans (SEPs) enable schools in Utah to conduct positive parent-teacher-student conferences at least twice a year to focus on students' goals. First, the positive characteristics of each youngster are celebrated by the teacher, parent, and child. Observations about student performance and expectations for the future are discussed, and each student sets goals for the school term. Parents write the actions they will take to assist the student. All parties sign a statement summarizing the students' goals and strategies for reaching them. At the middle and high school levels, the SEOPs — Student Education and Occupational Plans — include a focus on goals for the future.
Features of SEPs
•Conferences are held after school or in the evening to meet parents' schedules.
• Teachers are paid for their time. Sometimes substitute teachers are needed for teacher prep time or flexibility of conference scheduling.
• Good information is sent home to explain SEP goals and schedules to families.
• Teachers work with students before the conferences to help them learn how to frame their goals and strategies.
• The district provides inservice training to teachers to help them conduct successful SEPs.
• Goal-review sessions with students (families invited) are conducted to help students monitor their progress toward their goals.
This article summarizes a report by Karl Bowman, Principal (Northridge Elementary School, Orem, UT) presented at the August 1996 Training Workshop for Partnership Schools at the Johns Hopkins University.
