State PIRC Board:

Bruce Holmes
Bill Price
Rev. W.B. Parker
Charles Puckett
Stan Rankin
Betty Franklin

Parents as Partners in Education (PAPE) is the Oklahoma Parent Information and Resource Center serving the state of Oklahoma with the primary goals of 1) Implementing successful and effective parental involvement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvement in student academic achievement, and 2) Strengthening partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the educational needs of children.

OK State PIRC is a project of Eagle Ridge Institute whereby parents, educators, administrators, businesses, childcare facilities and practitioners, houses of worship, as well as community organizations are able to access services relevant to family engagement and parent education free of charge.

Parental Engagement Model

OK State PIRC will engage parents by delivering parent education modules in a variety of settings, including the Resource Center with outreach to additional families across the state.

Early Childhood Model

OK State PIRC provides direct home visitation early childhood expansion services through Parents as Teachers of Oklahoma City Public Schools District I-89 assuring that families are informed and fully understand that they are their child’s first and best teacher. Through the Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma as well as the Center for Early Childhood and Professional Development PAPE provides technical assistance and education to early childhood practitioners and administrators.

Major Activities

OK State PIRC works closely with the Oklahoma State Department of Education as well as Local Education Agencies to assure that families are well versed on their parental options and choices and that staff and administrators are supported in their efforts to actively engage families. PAPE provides the following services:

• Organize and provide parent support groups.
• Refer parents and children for additional support and wrap-around services.
• Prepare age-appropriate parenting packets, distributed statewide by partner educational and medical agencies and individuals who work with parents and their children.
• Provide services and education to families using the following: Parent Resource Library; 24-hour Parents Information Line; Parent Education/Training on Wheels: A mobile unit to bring programs to neighborhoods and communities.
• Design and implement interactive satellite parent training workshops in which parents across the state may participate at key downlink sites.
• Technical assistance for school personnel and administrators on actively engaging families.

How the Work Plan Meets the Needs of Parents

OK State PIRC offers information, training and education, resources and referral as well as technical assistance to Oklahoma parents about the range and availability of options, programs, services and resources related to effective parenting techniques and discipline strategies; child development; academic and staff development/ home tutoring and other aspects of child rearing which are identified as areas of need by the parents themselves. No Child Left Behind focuses on parent education in an effort to get parents more actively involved in their children's education, thereby improving the child's literacy and numeracy level.