Created: 11/6/2009 3:21:34 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A campaign is under way on the First Coast to remind parents they are an important link in their child's education.
"Be There," an initiative that promotes child/parent communication, has the backing of Duval, Clay and St. Johns county schools.
"As I often say, if there is nobody home to sort of put the report card on the refrigerator, why bother? You got to have someone involved to make that connection...," said Joseph Joyner, St. Johns County school superintendent.
Joyner joined Ed Pratt-Dannals, who leads Duval County Schools, and Ben Wortham, Clay County school superintendent, in a news conference Friday to promote the campaign.
Posters already appear in schools to catch the attention of students and parents. Billboards soon will be going up to put parental involvement in the public eye.
Bettea Thompson, the mother of sixth-grader who attends Kirby Smith Middle School, said communication is key.
"If they know that you care and are involved, they are more adept to care for their education as well," said Thompson, who said she quizzes her son on the car ride home from school about his day.
The "Be There" campaign comes at no expense to taxpayers. It's part of a nationwide push to encourage meaningful parental participation in students' classroom life.
For more information on "Be There," CLICK HERE.
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