Determine whether parent volunteers should appear at appointed times or whether they are free to show up at random times throughout the school day. This issue balances the school's need for transparency with the teacher's need for an orderly class.
25-year veteran of Colorado public schools, teacher Douglas Wurst, remarks "Having a parent visit your classroom can sometimes be unsettling. This is true for seasoned teachers as well as for beginning teachers. A teacher would need tremendous self-confidence not to be affected by the unwavering gaze of a parent sitting at the back of his or her classroom." Wurst suggests that teachers decide whether they want an "open door" or "appointment only" policy.
Establish a clearly defined list of projects where parent help is needed. Possible tasks include straightening up art supplies; helping with big projects; setting up materials for art projects; running plastic toys through the dishwasher; binding student writing; watering the community garden during school vacations; giving work-related demonstrations, taking classroom animals home during school vacations; transporting children on class trips; maintaining the classroom web site and organizing classroom packets to go home.
Some policies govern screening of volunteers who work with children. For example, a commonsense policy involves keeping a record of driver's licenses and insurance for parents who drive on school trips. Some schools districts take this a step further. For example, many school districts in California require that all parent volunteers receive TB tests. School districts in Oakland, California, have even gone so far as to require fingerprinting of unsupervised volunteers. This has created problems because fingerprinting can be very expensive, but these policies protect parents, school, and students.
The wide difference in school policies has been noted nationwide. For example, policies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, vary by district. All but eight of the 67 school systems reviewed had some kind of policy. Policies differed wildly, ranging from having volunteers complete a simple questionnaire to having the state police conduct a background check.
Strive toward creating a healthy work environment for teachers and children. Take the time to develop policies that ensure that students, teachers, and parents feel respected and safe. This results in a happier school experience for everyone.