One of the key factors in the turnaround at Escuela Einstein has been parent participation. Bulletin boards like the one pictured here constantly remind students and visiting parents of upcoming meetings and events. The poster on the upper left, for example, announces a cabildo, or town meeting, at which parents and teachers will discuss the school’s educational policies and goals. Such meetings, which include refreshments, are usually scheduled after 6 p.m. to accommodate working parents. A typical turnout is 80 to 90 adults—not bad for a school with 400 students.

To encourage participation, Gladys Tejea, the school’s principal, has created a "Parents’ School" that offers evening workshops on topics ranging from income-generating crafts to substance abuse. The white poster at the bottom left of the bulletin board announces a "graduation" ceremony for parents or guardians who have attended these workshops.