Minnesota Parent Center, MN PIRC

Upcoming Events

1. Free MN PIRC Workshops for parents
   • “A Parent’s Guide to No Child Left Behind (NCLB)” – Thursday, March 12
   • “A Parent’s Guide to School Testing” – Thursday, March 19
   • “Parents One-on-One” – Thursday, March 26
   • Save the Date – Thursday, May 7
2. MN PIRC Workshops for professionals
   • “Writing Effective Parent Involvement Plans” –Wednesday, April 1

Free Information for Parents

1. Enjoy “Family Read” Events at Twin Cities Libraries
2. Learn about Respectful Discipline March 5 in Fargo-Moorhead Area

Announcements and News

1. MN PIRC Web Site Has New Resource Page for Professionals
2. New “Families in Tough Times” Web Site Offers Resources

Free Parent Involvement Resources

1. Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers, and Parents
2. Booklet for Parents, “Choosing a School for Your Child”
3. MN PIRC Bookmarks

Upcoming Events

Registration is required for the following workshops. For more information or to register, visit PACER.org/mpc or call 952-838-9000.

Free MN PIRC Workshops for Parents

  “A Parent’s Guide to No Child Left Behind (NCLB)” – Thursday, March 12, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Bloomington

This workshop will show parents how to review and use school accountability information to make decisions about their children’s education. It’s at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN.

  “A Parent’s Guide to School Testing” – Thursday, March 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Anoka

Families will find new online resources to support their child’s academic success and prepare for testing. Parents may bring their child’s test score reports in order to find customized resources. It’s at the Anoka-Hennepin Staff Development Center, 2727 N. Ferry St., Anoka, MN.

  “Parents One-on-One” – Thursday, March 26, 5 to 7 p.m., Bloomington

Parents are invited support their child’s education by exploring online resources and information. MN PIRC staff will help participants access school report cards, academic resources, enrichment opportunities, and more. This free event is at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd. Bloomington, MN. 

MN PIRC Workshops for Professionals

  “Writing Effective Parent Involvement Plans” Wednesday, April 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Cloud

School or district teams of parents, teachers, and administrators are invited to learn the basic components of an effective, comprehensive parental involvement program and prepare a customized plan for a year of parental involvement. This event is at Resource Training & Solutions, 4150 Second St. S., Suite 550, St. Cloud. Register here.

Free Information for Parents

Enjoy “Family Read” Events at Twin Cities Libraries

Metro area public libraries are offering free family events, parent workshops, and materials to support family literacy. These events are designed to give parents tips for raising active readers. For more information visit a metro library or http://melsa.org/familyread/index.cfm.

Learn about Respectful Discipline

Parents with challenges managing their child’s behavior are invited to “Red, Yellow, Green: Framework for Respectful Discipline” on Thursday, March 5, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Ramada Plaza & Suites, 1635 42 St. SW, Fargo, ND. Registration is required for this free event. Call 701-241-5700 or e-mail diane.langer@ndsu.edu.

Announcements and News

MN PIRC Web Site Has New Resource Page for Professionals

Schools and districts can find new materials online to help them write parental involvement plans. Resources include templates and sample plans, as well as evaluation tools and helpful articles. You may view or print many of the materials that are used at MN PIRC trainings. To access this resource, visit PACER.org/mpc/titleipiplan.asp.

New “Families in Tough Times” Web Site Offers Resources

This site from the University of Minnesota Extension is for families that may be dealing with tough economic times. It addresses such issues as how hard times may affect children, what to do if you lose your job, and more. For more information, visit extension.umn.edu/ToughTimes.

Free Parent Involvement Resources

Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers, and Parents

Conferences are an important part of home-school communication and family involvement in children's education. The Harvard Family Research Project offers these three tip sheets—for principals, teachers, and parents—to help ensure that conferences are successful To see the tip sheets, click here.

Booklet for Parents, “Choosing a School for Your Child”

This free booklet from the U.S. Department of Education walks parents through important factors to consider before choosing a school for their child. Available in both English and Spanish, it is an easy-to-use resource. To order your copy, call 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237 toll free in Greater Minnesota) or visit PACER.org/mpc/handouts.asp.

MN PIRC Bookmarks

When parents read with their children, children achieve more in school. These bookmarks support that effort. To order these free bookmarks in packs of 100 for your organization, call 952-838-9000 (800-537-2237 toll free in Greater Minnesota) or visit PACER.org/mpc/handouts.asp.