SELMA — Parents must work together with school officials to ensure the success of students.

Teachers, administrators and staff want to collaborate with parents to change the behavior of adolescents, hoping the effort, known as The Parent Project, will positively influence students.

“Parents have to help us reinforce what teachers are teaching the students,” said Dr. Austin Obasohan, superintendent of the city school system. “We are partners in this.”

The Parent Project is a 10-week seminar for parents. It will begin March 30. Sixty spots in free classes remain open. The cost of the project is paid through a parental involvement grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grants are designed to improve 5,000 low-performing schools during the next five years. The proposed budget for the 2011 fiscal year includes $900 million for the program nationwide.

Here in Selma, classes are scheduled for CHAT Academy, Payne Elementary and the School of Discovery. CHAT and Payne Elementary each have 15 slots available. Payne has 30 open spots for parents.

The program will help parents learn to improve student attendance and performance, learn ways to reduce arguments and to combat alcohol or drug abuse.