YUHSD to Host Spring Parent Academy Starting Feb. 24 for Families

The Yuma Union High School District will launch its spring Parent Academy beginning Feb. 24, offering multi-session workshops across district schools designed to help families feel confident and informed as their child navigates high school. Sessions will be held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the district lists a consolidated all-sessions meeting on Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

District materials describe Parent Academy as covering topics ranging from how students can earn college credit while in high school to support services available to students and families and how to get involved in a child’s education. After supporting more than 75 families in the fall, Yuma Union High School District is continuing the series this spring with what Somerton High School Director of Counseling Maria Dillard calls a “refreshed and expanded curriculum.” Dillard said, “Parent Academy is designed to empower families with the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to help their students thrive in high school and beyond,” and added, “With a refreshed and expanded curriculum this year, we're inviting parents to learn alongside their students and take an active role in shaping their future success in college, career, and community life.”

The district’s published schedule explicitly lists Week 2 as March 3-5 and Week 3 as March 10-12 and frames the program as a four-week run beginning Feb. 24. YUHSD social outreach echoes the start date: “Parent Academy is coming to YUHSD schools for the spring semester. Sessions start on Feb. 24 and continue for four weeks. MORE INFO:” An Instagram post fragment lists themed days and a slightly different date block for a first-week theme, “Save the Dates: Week February 25-27 Academics Week March 4-6 Student Supports”, a discrepancy the district may clarify; press materials and district communications prioritize Feb. 24 as the official start.

Two sessions are described in detail in district materials. Session 2, labeled Student Supports, will allow families to “discover the wide range of resources available to support your student’s success at YUHSD,” covering teachers, counselors, para-professionals, social workers, nurse, administration, school safety, IEP and 504 plans. Session 4 will focus on senior preparations and future planning, addressing components of the senior packet crucial for graduation preparations, transcript reviews, the college admissions process including standardized tests, post-graduate pathways from higher education to vocational training, and an overview of financial aid opportunities to support students' educational endeavors. Mike Sharp, YUHSD Director of Strategic Projects, encouraged participation: “Let Parent Academy be your guide to supporting your student's success,” and added, “Now, and in the future.”

For families and community stakeholders, the Parent Academy represents a district-led effort to strengthen family engagement, clarify support systems and prepare students for postsecondary choices. Operational details remain incomplete in public materials: the district has not listed which specific campus will host each session, whether virtual attendance will be available, how to register, or whether interpretation or accommodations will be provided. The district’s Facebook and Instagram posts invite families to save the dates and note themes and weeks, but readers seeking registration or campus-specific information should contact YUHSD directly.

As Parent Academy begins, accountability will hinge on follow-through: clear registration pathways, campus-specific schedules, language access and outreach to families who may face barriers to participation. For parents of seniors and families navigating IEPs or 504 plans, the March sessions and the March 22 all-sessions event offer concentrated opportunities to get practical information and to engage with school personnel.