Minnesota Parent Center, MN PIRC

Upcoming Events

1. Free Parent Workshop – "Open Computer Hours" – Thursday, Jan. 29
2. Free Parent Involvement Training – "Writing Effective Parent Involvement Plans" – Tuesday, Jan. 27

Free Information for Parents

1. "Parent Pages," a Quarterly Newsletter for Parents
2. "Tool Kit for Hispanic Families"
3. "Let's Talk" Activity Cards

Announcements and News

1. January is Open Enrollment Month
2. New Title I Regulations Published
3. Minnesota Grown Model Launched

Featured Resources for Parent Involvement

1. MN PIRC offers a free parent involvement poster for schools and professionals
2. Storybook Corner Bookcase – Promote family involvement with these great ideas

Upcoming Events - Free Parent Workshops

Free Parent Workshop – “Open Computer Hours” – Thursday, Jan. 29 at PACER Center

Have questions about online resources and information that can help support your child’s education? Drop by during these open hours and talk with a parent involvement specialist. You can even try out online tools to learn more about school report cards, academic resources, enrichment opportunities and more. It’s 5 to 7 p.m. in PACER’s Simon Technology Lab. For more information or to register, visit PACER.org/mpc/workshops.asp, or call 952-838-9000.

Free Parent Involvement Training – “Writing Effective Parent Involvement Plans” – Tuesday, Jan. 27, at PACER Center

School or district teams of parents, teachers, and administrators are invited to learn the basic components of an effective, comprehensive parental involvement program. Participants will prepare a customized plan and compact for their Title I parent involvement program. For more information or to register, visit PACER.org/mpc, or call 952-838-9000.

Free Information for Parents

“Parent Pages,” a Quarterly Newsletter for Parents

The current edition highlights academic standards and what they mean for your child. Look for “Parent Pages” in your mailbox or download a copy at PACER.org/mpc/handouts.asp.

Tool Kit for Hispanic Families

Developed with guidance from Hispanic families across the nation, this tool kit helps Hispanic families navigate the education system, create partnerships, and can help increase student achievement. Order this free and easy-to-read resource by calling 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237 toll free in Greater Minnesota) or visiting PACER.org/mpc/handouts.asp.

“Let’s Talk” Activity Cards available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali

“Let’s Talk” is an easy and fun way to interact and help your child be ready for reading. These cards will help build your child’s vocabulary and speaking skills, the first steps in learning to read. No special supplies are needed, just you and your child. Order this free resource by calling 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237 toll free in Greater Minnesota) or visiting PACER.org/mpc/handouts.asp.

Announcements and News

For more information visit PACER.org/mpc or call the MN PIRC at 952-838-9000 or 800-537-2237 (toll free in Greater Minnesota).

January is Open Enrollment Month

Minnesota's public school students all have the opportunity to apply to attend public schools outside the school district in which they live. Families must apply to the school district of their choice, usually in January, for the following school year, although some districts may have different deadlines. Families generally provide transportation. For more information on what this opportunity means to you or for an application, visit PACER.org/mpc/nclb.asp.

New Title 1 Regulations Published

The U.S. Department of Education has published new Title I regulations for the No Child Left Behind Act. Some changes include: Schools must do a better job of notifying parents of their options if their school is not meeting its goals, and states must begin using the same federal formula to calculate graduation rates. For more information about these changes, call MN PIRC at 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237, toll free in Greater Minnesota).

Minnesota Growth Model Launched

The Minnesota Department of Education has released a new tool designed to help parents and educators track overall student progress toward meeting academic goals in math and reading. The new Minnesota Growth Model follows the overall progress of students from year-to-year in order to better determine whether they are gaining and retaining skills. View Minnesota school report cards at PACER.org/mpc/nclb.asp. If you have questions about this update or Minnesota's school report cards, please call MN PIRC at 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237, toll free in Greater Minnesota).

Featured Resources for Parent Involvement

The MN Parent Center Offers a Free Parent Involvement Poster for Schools and Professionals

These large, colorful posters for classrooms, schools, and offices have the message that Parent Involvement Matters! To order yours, call the Minnesota Parent Center at 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237, toll free in Greater Minnesota) or email mnpirc@PACER.org.

Storybook Corner Bookcase

This section of the Harvard Family Research Project Web site is a unique new source for information on using children's storybooks with family involvement themes to engage families in their children's education and encourage family-school-community partnerships, all while supporting literacy. The Storybook Corner offers resources to help educators, families, and those who work with families promote the awareness, discussion, and practice of family involvement in children's education in a wide range of settings. Check it out!