There is no topic in education on
which there is greater agreement than the need for "parent involvement".
Everyone wants it, but most educators need help in how to
develop productive programs of family-school-community
partnerships.
In order for families and communities to become informed about
and involved in children's education at school and at home, partnerships
must be viewed as an essential component of school and classroom
organization. No longer an optional activity or a matter of public
relations, school, family, and community partnerships are essential
for student learning and success in school. It takes time, organization,
and effort to develop a good program.
Based on the research of Dr. Joyce Epstein at the National Network of Partnership
Schools of Johns Hopkins University, this model provides a school action team
framework using the six components of successful parent involvement in schools
that lead to increased student achievement (parenting, communication, learning
at home, volunteering, decision making, and community partnerships). The VISTA
volunteers sponsored through the DPI are integral to this project. In addition,
Parents Plus staff, in collaboration with the DPI, will help support, coordinate
and facilitate the annual statewide "Family/School/Community Partnership" conference
that promotes and educates parents and professionals about parent involvement
activities as specified under the No Child Left Behind Act.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) sponsors approximately
ten Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) housed at Parents Plus to provide
services to meet the Education Department's federal grant requirements. These
full time, predominantly college degreed volunteers undertake a variety of
functions including improving and participating in the Family/School/Community
Partnerships program, the Poverty Trainings, and the Parent Workshops. They
are committed to increasing parent involvement in children's education and
increasing student success with the broader goal of reducing poverty. Parents
Plus oversees and coordinates all the DPI sponsored VISTA volunteers in the
region.
Based on the research of Dr. Ruby Payne and her book, "A Framework for
Understanding Poverty", these are six hour trainings for school personnel
who serve low income students and families. This training teaches the "Hidden
Rules" of poverty and offers teachers effective tools to engage and teach
students from poverty. It also presents successful strategies for teachers
in how to relate to parents of low income students. Parents Plus staff has
also been trained in "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin' By World",
a similar training for families living in poverty
Parents Plus has developed a parent leadership workshop entitled "Parents
with Voices" that is based on experience as a Parental Information and
Resource Center (PIRC) since 1995. This program has been very successful in
empowering parents to be active participants on school teams and advocates
for their children. The program includes communication, problem solving, team
building, advocacy, and leadership skills training.
Parents Plus staff has developed three trainings for parents and families which
bring parents into the school and encourages learning at home. The first, "Math & Science
Family Nights" , is a nationally validated program that is aligned
with state standards and is extremely effective in increasing parent involvement.
This program creates opportunities for parents, educators and students to work
together on problem solving, improving communication skills and considering
future goals. "Project Play" which is a series of
family literacy workshops includes a variety of topics that incorporate hands-on
activities, family reading times, the value of play and many other topics. "Your
Child's Amazing Brain" workshops, conducted in family resource
centers and at schools, provide information to families on their child's brain
development and what they as parents can do to optimize learning from birth
and"Creating Successful Children " promotes
social emotional competence by building relationships and constructing supportive
environments for children.
Parents Plus, in collaboration with the services of Great Lakes Inter-Tribal
Council, provides workshops and information to 11 Wisconsin tribes
to families with special needs children. These workshops present information
on such topics as the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
Individualized Education Plans, and Child Advocacy along with other resources
and services available to eligible families.
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