CANYON, TEXAS -- Ask any teacher and they'll tell you the importance of having an open line of communication between student and parents. It's because of that importance, Canyon Independent School District is offering free English as a second language classes to parents. CISD prides it's self on teacher, student, and parent involvement. But for some parents, they struggle with speaking and understanding english. So, many have enrolled in the district's ESL Class. Pronews 7 is spotlighting the classes in this week's Region 16 Spotlight Education report.
"Our purpose is to make it to where the parents feel better about their English, they learn more English and they can be more involved in their child's school and their child's education," said Michelle Collier, ESL Teacher.
Twice a week for eight weeks, parents of CISD students meet for free ESL classes. With the help of a teacher and modern technology like a laptop and headsets, they go through a program called, "Rosetta Stone" that helps them learn English.
"The parents are very eager. They very much want to learn and we're giving them the opportunity to do that and they're seeking that opportunity and they want to learn," said Collier.
The school district is able to give the classes free to parents through Title 1 funding. Parents say they couldn't be more grateful.
"It's really important to have the communication with the teachers because if they have a problem they work with the kids a lot of time. Their perception is really important for us because they can help us, hey you know what the kids are doing this and doing that," said Marco Contreras, parent taking ESL class.
"It's important to me and to try to understand what my kids are learning everything in school and help him and speak with all the people in the United States," said Edgar Arriaga, parent taking ESL class.
CISD has been able to offer the free classes for three years at two different locations. Both at the school district's Parent Involvement Centers located behind Gene Howe Elementary and Canyon Intermediate School. CISD also mentions, to help make attending class easier for parents, they offer free childcare while parents are in class.
