August 9, 2005

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  For more information contact:

                                                                        Bev Raimondo, Center for Parent

                                                                        Leadership at the Prichard Committee for

                                                                        Academic Excellence

                                                                        859-233-9849 x227

 

                                                                        Steve Henderson, Appalachian

                                                                        Mathematics and Science Partnership

                                                                        859-255-3511 x231

 

 

Initiative to emphasize parental involvement in science, math education

 

            LEXINGTON, Ky. – Parents in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia will learn how to become better advocates for improved math and science education under a joint initiative of the Center for Parent Leadership and the Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership (AMSP).

 

            The AMSP is a five-year project designed to improve the math and science skills of students in the Appalachian region of the three states. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the partnership involves 51 school districts, nine higher-education institutions and the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp., based in Lexington. It is housed at the University of Kentucky with regional centers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Morehead State University and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.  One school from each of the 51 districts has been identified as a baseline improvement school to serve as a focal point for special programs and services.

 

            The Center for Parent Leadership (CPL) is a program of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence that provides information and training designed to help parents become more effective education advocates.

 

            Through this initiative CPL is developing and providing training for educators from the partnership’s “baseline improvement schools.” The first training is “A Powerful Alliance: Educators and Parents” workshop where up to 30 parents and educators learn how to link parental involvement to improved academic achievement and determine how well educators respond to that involvement.


 

            “This provides a good opportunity for us to help educators use what we know about working with parents, based on our years of experience, as they develop plans for involving parents in focused math and science efforts,” said Bev Raimondo, Director of the Center for Parent Leadership and the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership at the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.  “Building capacity at schools to reach out to, listen to, and include parents in meaningful activities related to achievement will help both students and educators.”

 

            The Center for Parent Leadership also will provide its “Parents and Teachers Talking Together” program to help schools identify their priorities and action plans in math and science education. “College Reality Stores”—offering a preview of what is required for and involved in student preparation for college—will be provided for families of middle and high school students.

 

            “There is extensive research to show that parent involvement is critical to student achievement and school improvement efforts,” said Stephen Henderson, vice president of KSTC and co-principal investigator for program implementation of the AMSP. “Schools, particularly rural schools, have often been reluctant to involve parents, and many parents, particularly those that did not have a successful school experience or are in remote rural areas, do not get involved.”

 

            “The AMSP is trying to provide training for both school and district personnel in how to improve their parent-school relationship and create more ‘parent-friendly’ school environments.”

 

            The programs included in the initiative will be conducted throughout the fall of this year.

 

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