TPIRC Annual Report 2009-2010
TPIRC Executive Summary 2009-2010

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 uses 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 uses 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 works 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 works 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, operating from offices in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. Annual regional conferences 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.

Mission

Provide training designed to enable parents of preschool and school aged children, particularly those who are economically and/ or educationally disadvantaged, to effectively help their children achieve developmental goals and meet the educational standards that have been established for children and to enable schools, particularly Title I schools, to effectively involve parents in their programs and activities that lead to improvements in student academic achievement.

Statewide Component

• Sponsor regional conferences for parents, educators, and community members
• Provide and develop information for parents, parent advocates, community members, and educators on issues related to parenting, learning at home, communicating with schools, and identifying community resources
• Build networks between parents, parent advocates, community members, and educators
• Facilitate training and technical assistance on parenting and achievement related issues for parents
• Provide website and toll free hotline for informational purposes

Parent-Focused Component

• Create opportunities for families to connect with each other and to their schools
• Develop leadership skills
• Identify and prioritize concerns of family around educational issues
• Take action to increase, evaluate and sustain family engagement
• Collaborate with all members of the school to ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for children

School-Focused Component

TPIRC staff are trained in the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) model in collaboration with John Hopkins University to work directly with educators to:

• Develop and sustain partnerships that fulfill NCLB requirements for parental involvement
• Assist schools in using an action team approach, writing goal-oriented plans, selecting practices and involving families and communities to increase student success in school
• To assist schools in communicating to parents and the community on NCLB, state and district report cards, SES and school choice when appropriate

Early Childhood Component

• Increase effective parenting at home
• Increase parents' awareness and effectiveness in preparing their child for pre-school and school
• Build leadership skills of parents to work more effectively as their child’s advocate at home, in pre-school, and with school and community organizations
• Build networks of parents, educators, and community members around early childhood programs and initiatives throughout the state

Arkansas State PIRC - The Center for Effective Parenting serves as the Arkansas State Parent Information & Resource Center (PIRC)

Center for Parenting - The Center for Parenting (C4P) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Child and Family Studies and UT Extension Family & Consumer Sciences that link parent educators and parents to each other and to resources. The website provides tip sheets for parents and a calendar of parenting trainings throughout the state.

KPIRC - The official Parent Information Technical Assistance Center for the state of Kansas

National Coalition of ESEA Title I Parents, Inc.

The National Institute for Literacy

National Network of Partnership Schools- Provides NNPS members with updated information, research results, and ideas for action from the NNPS staff and members across the country. The site also informs prospective members about NNPS approaches, benefits, and services.

NCPIE- Advocates the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and fosters relationships between home, school, and community.

The PACER Center - Nonprofit organization for families of children and adults with disabilities. The site includes newsletters, articles and legislative information.

PAT (Parents as Teachers)- The PAT Born to Learn model provides information to families regarding age-appropriate child development, assists parents in learning to observe their child’s development, addresses parenting concerns, and engages the family in activities that provide meaningful parent/child interaction and support the child's development. The Minnesota Early Learning Design program (MELD), established in 1973 with a sustained emphasis on culturally competent services, merged with PAT in 2005.

Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee, Inc. (PCAT) is a non-profit agency dedicated to preventing the abuse and neglect of Tennessee's children by working with other organizations and individuals to develop programs, services, and resources.

Read 20 - It is now the mission of the people of Hamilton County to ensure that all children are able to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. To accomplish this goal, a team of more than 140 citizens and business leaders have created a strategic plan that addresses the challenges we face. The program is called Read 20.

The Strengthening Families National Network provides families, providers and communities with information on policies, programs and practices that transform the systems that help and serve families and children. Their website is currently in development.

Support and Training for Exceptional Parents

Tennessee Association for Child Care- TACC is an association of private & public agencies and advocates working for excellence in service delivery and promoting the development of professional competency by providing training. The TACC website provides a calendar of parent and professional trainings and conferences.

Tennessee Department of Education

The Tennessee Department of Education graduation requirements for students entering high school in the fall of 2009.

The Tennessee PTA

Tennessee 's Annual State Report Card on Schools