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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	April 15, 2016 10:50 AM
From:	Representative Donna Bullock
To:	All House members
Subject:	Co-Sponsorship: Parental Involvement Leave Act

In the near future I will be introducing the Parental Involvement Leave Act. My proposal will give eligible parents 8 hours of unpaid leave to attend school-related activities. Also, if a parent has a child with an IEP, or a child with a disability, they will receive an additional 4 hours of unpaid leave. These school-related activities include but are not limited to: Parent-teacher conferences Individualized Education Program meetings Dropout prevention Attendance, truancy, and disciplinary issues Concerts Plays Rehearsals Sporting events A parent’s involvement in their student’s school life has an immeasurable positive benefit. Students whose parents are involved in their school life are more likely to graduate from high school and have better grades. By guaranteeing a form of leave under my proposal, we can increase parental involvement and strengthen families. America’s Promise Alliance recently surveyed high school dropouts and they cited lack of support and encouragement from parents as a primary factor for discontinuing their education. Students living under the poverty line are disproportionately affected by a lack of parental involvement in school activities. Only 27% percent of students living under the poverty line had a parent participate in a school-related activity. We need to create an environment where this troubling trend is reversed. Please join me in supporting this measure that will allow parents the flexibility needed to juggle their child’s education and their work. If you have any questions, please contact my Research Analyst -- Takesha Latham at (717) 705-1943 or via email at tlatham@pahouse.net.

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