Virginia Parent Resource Centers …

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. VA Parent Resource Center Network . . . Find a listing of VA PRCs http://www.vaprcs.org/

8. 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.

9. 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 emails • Publishing newsletters and maintaining websites of resources for families and educators

10. Virginia Parent Resource Centers http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Gray_0001.wmv http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Purple.wmv http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Tan.wmv What do parents and professionals say about Parent Resource Centers?

11. Virginia Parent Resource Centers • Submit data annually highlighting their activities • The following data was reported for school year 2010-2011 • 36 PRCs submitted data for 2010-2011 for a 68% response rate

12. Virginia Parent Resource Centers . . . On average in 2010-11, 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, 2011-11

13. Parent Resource Centers Provided Support or Information . . . Number and Percentage of How PRCs Provided Support and Information, 2010-11

14. Virginia Parent Resource Centers Served Diverse Groups. . . Number and Percentage of Contacts by Race/Ethnic Group, 2010-11

15. Parent Resource Centers were contacted about . . . • Top Requests for Information • in 2010-11: • IEP Process and Content • Behavioral Issues

16. Parent Resource Centers were contacted about . . . • Top Disability Reasons for Contacts, 2010-11 • Autism • Specific Learning Disabilities & Other • Health Impairments

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

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

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