School Success for Kids

KCHA works to support the success of all our residents, including children. In order for children to have bright futures, they must do well in school. As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your child succeed in the classroom.

First Steps

1. Help your child learn at home

• Read, sing, and tell stories
• Encourage them to look at books or read every day
• Talk to them about what they learned in school

2. Get involved in your child’s school and education

• Volunteer to help at school
• Attend parent-teacher conferences and school events

3. Make sure your child attends school every day, on time

• They should be in school unless they are sick
• It is important for your child to be on time to school every day
  
• Older children should not stay home from school to babysit their younger brothers or sisters

Early Learning

Children learn from the day they are born. Young children who take part in early learning programs do better later in elementary school, middle school, and high school.

To help prepare your child for school, enroll them in Play & Learn groups, preschools, Head Start, and other programs before they reach age 5. These programs help children make friends and gain learning skills they need to do well in school.

Call Childcare Resources at (206) 329-5544 to learn more about Play & Learn groups and other programs for children younger than age 5. Call your local school district for Head Start information.

After-school Learning Programs

Learning does not end when the school day is over. You can enroll your child in after-school learning programs that include math, reading, technology, science, music, and art. These activities help children learn and have fun, and are available from kindergarten through high school. Contact your local school to learn more about after-school programs in your area.

Moving with Children

You can help your child do well in school by keeping them at the same school until summer, when they are between grades. Research shows that children who change schools during the school year tend not to perform as well as those who do not, because they:

• Fall behind in their studies and take a long time to catch up
• Have to get used to new teachers and new rules
• Have to make new friends and may feel left out

To learn more about an area's schools, visit GreatSchools. The site lets you compare schools based on test scores, class sizes, parent reviews, and more.