- Make graduation a priority.
- Be aware of your children’s attendance and encourage them to be on time and in school every day.
- Know who they are hanging out with as they are most likely to mimic the behaviors of their friends.
- Keep an eye on grades and make sure they are staying on track for graduation.
- Attend parent-teacher meetings and talk about goals and expectations for your child.
- Help your child explore careers and understand the necessary education and/or training.
- Teach your children to speak for themselves and allow them to make choices and decisions.
- Attend and volunteer at school activities as a way to know what is happening at the school.
- Encourage your children to join clubs and/or play sports and they will be more likely to want to stay in school.
- Seek tutoring and extra academic assistance to help them through difficult classes.
- Look for signs of bullying, learning difficulties, or health concerns that may be reasons for your child’s poor performance or unhappiness at school.
- Seek out resources and supports outside of the school when needed.
- Look for online resources to address specific concerns and questions.
- If your child has an IEP, make sure he or she is part of the IEP team and involved in the transition plan.
- Make sure your child’s IEP goals align with the requirements for a High School diploma. Goals should focus on academics and include the supports and any accommodations needed in order to participate and pass the required coursework.
- Check that your child has access to and is using the necessary accommodations to be successful.
- Remember, students with IEPs can stay longer in high school and receive extra supports in order to help them complete the necessary coursework to graduate with a regular high school diploma.
Credits: National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET), PACER Center, US Department of Education (Ed.gov), Parent to Parent of Georgia
