About Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership
The Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership offers multiple opportunities for parents to develop their school leadership and advocacy skills. Generous corporate and foundation underwriting allows us to offer our six-day institutes in three, two-day sessions, free of charge.
It is patterned after the Commonwealth Insitute for Parent Leadership (CIPL) that was developed by the Prichard Committee in 1997 as a way to support informed, skilled, and parents as effective advocates who are passionate about improving Kentucky public schools.
Since its inception, CIPL has trained an army of more than 1,700 Kentucky parents on how to effectively advocate for high-quality schools. More than three dozen CIPL fellows have served on school boards, and hundreds more are involved daily in education advocacy.
The CIPL program was so successful that the Center for Parent Leadership program was then formed by the Prichard Committee to serve 10 other states and Washington, D.C. who have adopted it to help improve their schools too.
Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (GCIPL)
The Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership offers multiple opportunities for parents to develop their school leadership and advocacy skills. Generous corporate and foundation underwriting allows us to offer our six-day institutes in three, two-day sessions, free of charge. Click here to check out the slide show from the announcement and read the official press release from Gov. Steve Beshear announcing GCIPL. Click here to read the press release about the partnership between GCIPL and KY Protection & Advocacy. For more information including application and deadline details, contact Lou Ann Cavenee-Ramos at lramos@prichardcommittee.org.
Mission and Purpose
The purpose of GCIPL is to:
- Educate parents about how to assess the progress of their children’s schools;
- Inform parents how to become involved as partners in improving those schools;
- Motivate parents to help other parents become involved; and
- Support parents after they become involved.
Below is a video that explains the foundation of GCIPL based on the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership and the Center for Parent Leadership in greater detail. The clip includes testimonials from parents, educators, and administrators.