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Alaska State PIRC
Juneau, AK
AKPIRC
210 Ferry Way
Juneau, AK 99801

Web site: http://www.akpirc.org
Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
  Director:
Ms. Julie Staley

Phone: 907-586-6806
Fax: 907-463-3811

Evaluator: Charlie Adams
Evaluator affiliation: Leading Edge Consultants

Logo for Alaska State PIRC

State PIRC Board:

Brett Agenbroad, Annette Island Schools
Steve Bradshaw, Past Chair, Sitka School District
Vance Cortez-Rucker, Chatham School District
Bill Denkinger, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Michael Dickens, Skagway City Schools
Eric Gebhart, Kake City Schools
Charlie Jones, Haines Borough Schools
Larry Eckland, Ketchikan Gateway Borough Schools
Lauren Burch, Southeast Island Schools
Eugene Avey, Hoonah City Schools
Rich Carlson, Klawock City Schools
Peggy Cowan, Juneau School District
Howard Diamond, Yakutat City Schools
Ron Erickson, Chair, Craig City Schools
Gary Jacobsen, Petersburg City Schools
Don Johnson, Hydaburg City Schools
Connie Newman, Pelican City Schools
Woody Wilson, Wrangell School District

Special Advisory Committees:

The Advisory Committee is composed of six parent representatives, the State PTA president, a representative of the Alaska Department of Education, ECE programs, RurAL CAP, the Parent as Teachers programs, an LEA Title I director and a student.


AKPIRC will strengthen support systems for parents of children birth through K-12 by creating a network of relationships between parents and educational systems.

  • Assist parents to access and understand information about services and programs focusing on PAT and NCLB requirements.
  • Build partnerships of parents, educators and community agencies statewide to increase parent involvement.
  • Provide information and resources to increase parent involvement in child development and student learning.
  • Build capacity for PAT birth to five programs by providing PAT training statewide.
  • Evaluate and disseminate project results, methods and products at all levels.

Parental Engagement Model
National PTA Building Successful Partnerships

Early Childhood Model
Parent as Teachers

Major Activities
  • Establish PAT programs in Anchorage and Copper River for children age birth to five.
  • Certified Family Visitors make home visits bi-weekly to provide age-appropriate information and activities.
  • Train Language and Cultural liaisons to assist parents in understanding the educational system, how to access parent resources and how to help school staffs.
  • PAT Family Visitors and LCLs will collaborate to provide school staff information and training in successful parent involvement including Building Successful Partnerships.
  • PAT Family Visitors are supported by LCLs for language translation and connection to school.
  • Both will assist families to access resources and referral services to be fully involved in child development, student learning and personal growth.
How the Work Plan Meets the Needs of Parents
  • Employs Family Visitors and LCLs who understand and support the unique culture of the families served.
  • Provides parents opportunities to support and learn from each other in group meetings.
  • Connects parents with resources and school.
  • Solicits feedback to improve services.
Alignment of Work to Statewide PIRC Efforts
AKPIRC goals address the need to build access, partnerships and capacity of parents to understand parent information and become engaged in their children’s development and learning. AKPIRC with our partners will:
  • Hire and train a statewide PAT trainer, Family Visitors and LCLs.
  • Provide parent information and resources through newsletters, AKPIRC website, training and discussion groups.
  • Provide information and support to teachers on parent engagement.
  • Help parents to understand report cards, school choice and SES.
  • Help LEAs and schools to implement parent involvement policies.
Unique Characteristics
AKPIRC employs six language and culture liaisons to bridge early childhood programs with school programs to enhance parent participation in K-12 schooling. LCLs speak their native languages of Hmong, Samoan, Spanish and Yup’ik and work with identified families to increase their involvement in the education of their children.

AKPIRC has partnered with Content Center II, Innovation and Improvement, to pilot the SES Outreach Project. LCLs work with community partners to increase the level of participation in SES through direct outreach to parents whose children are eligible to receive free tutoring under NCLB.

United States Department of Education Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, contract number ED-04-CO-0039/0001. The content herein does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Education.
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