…Promoting a collaborative partnership among
families, schools and communities to create positive
educational outcomes for Virginia’s school children
Supported by Research. . .
Research concludes “the evidence is
consistent, positive and convincing: families
have a major influence on their children’s
achievement in school and through
life. . . .”
U.S. DOE Parent Involvement Non-Regulatory Guidance
Document, April 2004
Supported by Law. . .
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act:
defines parental involvement as the participation of
parents in regular, two-way and meaningful
communication involving student academic learning
and other school activities including:



parents playing an integral role in assisting their child’s
learning
parents being actively involved in their child’s education at
school
parents acting as full partners in their child’s education
Supported by Law. . .
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:

Provides for parent involvement throughout the
special education process

Requires training for parents in the special
education process
VA Parent Resource Center Origins. . .

In May of 1988, the Virginia Board of Education
(VDOE) set a goal to expand the network of
Parent Resource Centers statewide and to
earmark funds to assist local school divisions with
start-up costs; this continues today.

The VDOE added, and maintains, personnel to
serve as Parent Specialist in working with PRCs
across the Commonwealth.
VA State Improvement Plan . . .
Indicator 8: Percent of parents with a child
receiving special education services who
report that schools facilitated parent
involvement as a means of improving services
and results for children with disabilities.
VA Parent Resource Center
Network . . .
Find a listing of VA PRCs
http://www.vaprcs.org/
Virginia Parent Resource Centers…
…provide services within the local school
system to promote meaningful family
involvement including:

Maintaining a lending library of resources

Offering training on such topics as parenting,
disability awareness, IEP development and the
special education process and special education
regulations.
Virginia Parent Resource Centers…
 Providing
information regarding conferences and
training opportunities
 Sharing
community resource information
 Supporting
individuals within the community with
one-on-one meetings, phone calls and/or emails
 Publishing
newsletters and maintaining websites of
resources for families and educators
Virginia Parent Resource Centers
What do parents and professionals say about
Parent Resource Centers?
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Gray_0001.wmv
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Purple.wmv
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/video/Tan.wmv
Virginia Parent Resource Centers

Submit data annually highlighting their activities

The following data was reported for school year
2010-2011

36 PRCs submitted data for 2010-2011 for a 68%
response rate
Virginia Parent Resource Centers . . .
On average in
2010-11, PRCs
reached out to
523 individuals;
with total local
PRC contacts of
17,375 parents,
school personnel,
and other
individuals.
Virginia’s PRCs Number and Percentage of
Contacts by Category, 2011-11
21%
N=14,880
N=26,027
36%
43%
N=30,422
Parents
School Personel
Other Individuals
Parent Resource Centers
Provided Support or Information . . .
Number and Percentage of How PRCs Provided
Support and Information, 2010-11
Virginia Parent Resource Centers
Served Diverse Groups . . .
Number and Percentage of Contacts by
Race/Ethnic Group, 2010-11
30,000
N=25,966
48%
25,000
N=17,829
33%
20,000
15,000
N=7,871,
14%
10,000
5,000
N=1,336 N=388
2%
1%
N=847
2%
N=108
0%
0
Not
Hispanic American
Hispanic or Latino Indian,
or Latino
Alaska
Native
Asian
Black/
Native
African Hawaiian
American
White
Parent Resource Centers were
contacted about . . .
Top Requests for Information
in 2010-11:
• IEP Process and Content
• Behavioral Issues
Parent Resource Centers were
contacted about . . .
Top Disability Reasons for Contacts,
2010-11
•Autism
•Specific Learning Disabilities & Other
Health Impairments
Virginia Parent Resource Centers
Keep People Informed . . .
Through electronic and print information delivered to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Parents
Educators
Administrators
School Board members
Community agencies
Other service providers
Special Education Advisory Committee members
Virginia Parent Resource Centers . . .
Provide information about:
•
Evidence-based practices
•
Current research
•
Advances in knowledge
•
Success stories
•
Local, state, and national news, events,
and conferences
VA Parent Resource Centers . . .
Do so much for families and
schools to build collaborative
connections to improve student
outcomes!