4300 Sisk Road, Suite D Modesto, CA 95356 Web site: http://www.calpirc.org

Director: Dr. Geni Boyer Phone: 209-545-9766 Fax: 209-545-2660 Evaluator: Dr. Jerry Hipps Evaluator affiliation: West Ed

State PIRC Board:

The State Family Area Network (FAN) Board will serve as the Board of Directors for both California PIRCs

Carol Dickson, Parent Involvement Coordinator California Department of Education
Judy Godess, California Association of Compensatory Education
Maria Elena Huizar, Parent Involvement Training Specialist
Jeana Preston, California Parent Center
Pat Sando, California Parent Teacher Association/President of Parent Involvement Commission
Gini Natali, California Parent Teacher Association
Deena Zacharin, San Francisco Unified SD
Kim Shipp, Oakland DAC
David Page, San Diego Unified DAC
Betty Glenn, Los Angeles USD DAC
Vacant (Hispanic Parent Representative)
Vacant (Hispanic Parent Representative)
Francesca Wright, Davis Consultant Network

Special Advisory Committees:

Area 1: Russian Community
Area 2: Hispanic/Hmong Communities

Project CAL-PIRC supports Parent Information Resource Center Hubs in three regions of the State characterized by the recent influx of new immigrants: Russian (Northern California), Hispanic and Hmong (Central Valley) and Hispanic (Inland Empire, Southern California) families. Each hub links to participating schools in the area to offer services and easy access to disadvantaged parents who have no transportation or who do not travel outside their neighborhoods. A Web-based Virtual PIRC (www.calpirc.org) facilitates resources and information to parents and schools across the State.

Goal 1: To establish and operate the Parents as Teachers (PAT) early childhood parent education program in three communities.
Goal 2: To increase the meaningful involvement of parents and families in their children’s daily learning experiences at target schools and districts.
Goal 3: To increase parents' awareness of the No Child Left Behind Act and empower them to become informed consumers and decision makers in their children's education.
Goal 4: Provide technical assistance in the implementation of LEA and school parental involvement policies under Section 1118 of the ESEA.

Parental Engagement Model
The parent engagement program consists of two main elements: Parent Leadership Development and Parent Education
Parent Leadership Development

Phase I: Parenting Partners training modules which help parents develop parenting skills to meet the basic obligations of family life and foster conditions at home which emphasize the importance of education and learning. These modules also equip parents with the tools and necessary support to reach out to other parents and foster their involvement in their children’s lives.
Phase II: No Parent Left Behind training modules which address topics such as understanding State content standards and effective classroom instructional practices; school plans; parent/school communication about school programs; and assessing students' progress.
Phase III: Leadership in school decision making, governance and advocacy modules.

Parent Education
Provide parent education courses and workshops in technology, ESL and job preparation skills.

Early Childhood Model
Cal-Pirc has adopted the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model for early childhood education and has set up three PAT programs to serve Russian, Hispanic and Hmong families.

Major Activities
Cal-PIRC has established three Parent Information and Resource Center hubs that directly support target communities in Northern, Central and Southern California. Parent engagement and training modules are deployed through the PIRC hubs. In addition, the Virtual PIRC deployed thought the www.calpirc.org website, provides resources to parents throughout the State. As resources are developed and/or translated into the target languages, they will be posted on the Website. Key project objectives are:

1. Offer at least one parent training and information workshop in each community every semester in the language and in ways that parents are able to understand on topics such as (a) State Accountability System; (b) Program Improvement schools: requirements, options, parental involvement; and (c) Local and State assessments.
2. Work with each target school to facilitate information and training sessions to assist parents in the development, review and implementation of school-parent compacts, parent involvement policies, and school improvement plans.
3. Facilitate parent information sessions every fall and winter addressing State and Local Report Cards, opportunities for public school choice and supplemental educational services.
4. Provide ongoing classes and opportunities for parents to develop literacy, technology and employment skills.

How the Work Plan Meets the Needs of Parents
Cal-PIRC facilitates resources in multiple languages to parents throughout the State through the Website and provides direct services to families in target communities, especially disadvantaged Russian, Hmong and Hispanic parents.

Alignment of Work to Statewide PIRC Efforts
Cal-PIRC provides training and technical assistance to parents, state, local, and school-based education personnel, designed to foster positive relationships, enhance mutual communication, and foster increased parental involvement in their child’s education.

Unique Characteristics
Cal-PIRC has been set up as a multilingual resource center that in addition to the Statewide efforts, supports families in disadvantaged communities with high concentration of new immigrants who have no knowledge or understanding of the public school system.