Parents discuss how to stop MMSD students from falling behind - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- Dozens of parents and school officials met in Madison on Thursday night to discuss the superintendent's plan to help prevent students from falling behind.

The meeting was part of a series of sessions the district organized to get feedback before finalizing the plan.

Parents and teachers broke into discussion groups at Madison Memorial High School at 6:30 p.m.

They went over the strengths and the weaknesses of the proposal the superintendent outlined.

His recommendations include having a longer school day for at-risk students, developing an early warning system to identify those students and establishing a program to get parents more involved.

To help with that, one woman suggested emailing parents a students' study or reading materials.

"You can't build a house without hammer," said Vera Crowell. "The child's instruction materials are the hammers, and if the parents don't have access to that tool how can they help them."

Another meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at East High School.

Click here for more information on Superintendent Dan Nerad's proposal for the district.

Register here to attend an input session on the plan.