…Promoting a collaborative partnership among families, schools and communities to create positive educational outcomes for Virginia’s school children

Supported by Research... Research concludes “the evidence is consistent, positive and convincing: families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life....” U.S. DOE Parent Involvement Non-Regulatory Guidance Document, April 2004

Supported by Law... The Elementary and Secondary Education Act: defines parental involvement as the participation of parents in regular, two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities including:  parents playing an integral role in assisting their child’s learning  parents being actively involved in their child’s education at school  parents acting as full partners in their child’s education

Supported by Law... Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:  Provides for parent involvement throughout the special education process  Requires training for parents in the special education process

VA Parent Resource Center Origins... In May of 1988, the Virginia Board of Education (VDOE) set a goal to expand the network of Parent Resource Centers statewide and to earmark funds to assist local school divisions with start-up costs; this continues today. The VDOE added, and maintains, personnel to serve as Parent Specialist in working with PRCs across the Commonwealth.

VA State Improvement Plan... Indicator 8: Percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.

VA Parent Resource Center Network... Find a listing of VA PRCs

Virginia Parent Resource Centers… …provide services within the local school system to promote meaningful family involvement including:  Maintaining a lending library of resources  Offering training on such topics as parenting, disability awareness, IEP development and the special education process and special education regulations.

Virginia Parent Resource Centers…  Providing information regarding conferences and training opportunities  Sharing community resource information  Supporting individuals within the community with one-on-one meetings, phone calls and/or s  Publishing newsletters and maintaining websites of resources for families and educators

Virginia Parent Resource Centers What do parents and professionals say about Parent Resource Centers?

Virginia Parent Resource Centers  Submit data annually highlighting their activities  The following data was reported for school year  36 PRCs submitted data for for a 68% response rate

Virginia Parent Resource Centers... On average in , PRCs reached out to 523 individuals; with total local PRC contacts of 17,375 parents, school personnel, and other individuals. Virginia’s PRCs Number and Percentage of Contacts by Category,

Parent Resource Centers Provided Support or Information... Number and Percentage of How PRCs Provided Support and Information,

Number and Percentage of Contacts by Race/Ethnic Group, Virginia Parent Resource Centers Served Diverse Groups...

Parent Resource Centers were contacted about... Top Requests for Information in : IEP Process and Content Behavioral Issues

Parent Resource Centers were contacted about... Top Disability Reasons for Contacts, Autism Specific Learning Disabilities & Other Health Impairments

Virginia Parent Resource Centers Keep People Informed... Parents Educators Administrators School Board members Community agencies Other service providers Special Education Advisory Committee members Through electronic and print information delivered to:

Virginia Parent Resource Centers... Evidence-based practices Current research Advances in knowledge Success stories Local, state, and national news, events, and conferences Provide information about:

VA Parent Resource Centers... Do so much for families and schools to build collaborative connections to improve student outcomes!