Houston ISD recognizes grandparents at Parent Involvement Day

During the 2012 Parent Involvement Day held Friday, Nov. 16, Houston ISD recognized the increasing role grandparents play in raising younger children.

According to a press release, a 2010 census revealed that 13 percent of Texas grandparents play a significant role in raising their grandchildren, with 58,000 Houston grandparents are living with children younger than 18, 23,000 of which are primary caregivers.

Parent Involvement Day included a performance by the Tom Bass Line Dancers, and a keynote speech by Marla Turner, AARP associate Texas community relations director. In her speech, Turner said the increase in grandparents as primary caregivers is due to the economy.

"In more and more instances, grandparents are being called upon to raise their children's children," Kelly Cline, HISD's senior manager of parent engagement, said in the release. "Most parents have to work, so grandparents are stepping up more and more."

This fall, HISD's Department of Parent Engagement began Grandparents Prep Academy, a series of informational seminars for parents and grandparents that explore how several local grandparents are taking the role of parent. The first session was held Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Mae White Educational Center. Additional sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4; Tuesday, Feb. 5; and Thursday, May 2 at the same location.