Tennessee Parent Information and Resource Center

The purpose of the Tennessee Parent Information and Resource Center Program (TPIRC) is to provide collaboration, training, and consultation resources to parents and schools across the state of Tennessee serving families who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged. TPIRC will use the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) model to increase parental involvement and participation in school improvement plans within Title 1 schools and high priority systems. In collaboration with established early childhood programs including Tennessee Early Intervention Services and Parents as Teachers, TPIRC will use the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW), Home Instruction for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), and Parents as Teachers (PAT) models to increase child school readiness skills and prepare parents for increased school participation and involvement.

TPIRC is partnering with the State Department of Education to identify and prioritize those counties and school systems in which children from birth to grade 12 are at particular risk for decreased school readiness and academic performance. TPIRC staff will work with schools, parents, and community groups to identify and implement effective strategies to increase student academic achievement, parental awareness of rights and responsibilities, and meaningful parent involvement in school decision -making. It is especially important that parents and community members have a thorough understanding of expectations and requirements currently placed on school systems by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act .
TPIRC staff will work with schools, parents and communities to increase communication, collaboration, and mutual appreciation of what each can offer in educating the children of Tennessee. TPIRC staff are located across the state’s grand regions. Annual regional conferences will address unique needs within the regions regarding early childhood prevention and intervention, school readiness, state report cards, family engagement, and student transitions within the educational system.

 The Tennessee Parent Information and Resource Center Program will collaborate with state and community educational initiatives and programs throughout Tennessee. Currently established partners include the Tennessee Department of Education , Center for Literacy, Hamilton County Department of Human Services/Parents as First Teachers, Hamilton County Read 20 Initiative, Porter-Leath Child Center, Vanderbilt University Center for Health Services, and Tennessee Voices for Children Statewide Family Support Network.