175 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 Web site: http://www.ristatepirc.org Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday and evenings and weekends by arrangement

Director: Ms. Marsha Schlesinger Phone: 401 724-0867 x156 Fax: 401-727-4040 Evaluator: Anne Marshall Christner, Ph.D. Evaluator affiliation: A&M Consulting

State PIRC Board:

Colleen Hedden, RIDE Title I Specialist
Jose Gonzalez, Ed.D., Providence PSD
Bryanna Boucher, High School Student
Amanda McMullen, High School Student
Manuela Raposo, Family Engagement Center, Central Falls PSD
Denise AuClaire, PTO President, Woonsocket, RI
Steven Furtado, State PTA Chair, RI

Special Advisory Committees:

Title I Advisory Committee

Early Childhood Advisory Committee

The goal of the Rhode Island State PIRC's Project School Connect (PSC) is to bring families and educators into partnership through education on the benefits received by students, parents and schools when families, schools and communities come together for student success.

Parental Engagement Model
RIPIRC seeks to address Rhode Island families’ growing need for understanding, partnership and parent decision making participation with schools by:
• Parent training and individual family assistance;
• Technical assistance and support to schools and districts;
• Support for early childhood development;
• Support and training for both schools and parents in collaborative practices;
• Creation of PIRC linked schools and school based PIRCs

In each of these goal and objective areas, particular emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of uninvolved, isolated and/or underserved populations to ensure that their opportunities for participation in their childrens’ education are addressed and family involvement is supported

Early Childhood Model
RIPIRC supports 28 PAT and HIPPY early childhood programs, in 26 communities, educating parents on how to support early development through literacy and play. The importance of continuing parental involvement throughout their child’s educational years is woven throughout the home visiting process.

Major Activities
School readiness and achievement, improved family involvement in schools and supporting parents and teachers
in partnership are accomplished through:
• Supports to schools and families in meeting Title I requirements
• NCLB and NCLB/IDEA Workshops
• Creation of school-based Family Resource Centers
• Technical Assistance to existing and new Parent Advisory Councils
• Working partnerships with SEA and LEA Title I staff

How the Work Plan Meets the Needs of Parents
RIPIRC involves parents, students and educators in planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs. Activities are delivered at parent and school requests. RIPIRC serves parents and schools statewide, targeting schools that are Title I Low-performing, non-improving, in “watch” status or in reconstruction. PIRC staff are recruited from and represent the diversity of the communities in which they work.. To meet the linguistic needs of diverse families all program materials and activities are offered in other languages as appropriate.

Alignment of Work to Statewide PIRC Efforts
Through technical assistance to schools, school personnel learn to partner and communicate effectively with families in ways that lead to improved student achievement, implement successful and effective parental involvement policies, programs and activities, and include families in school governance and decision making. Through PSC parents learn to participate effectively in their child’s education, to understand what NCLB means to them as individuals, and to work for successful outcomes for their children and schools. Parents obtain information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels – including NCLBA, school choice, supplemental services, and others – provided in their home language.

Unique Characteristics
Set in the smallest state, RIPIRC is uniquely positioned to provide support to families statewide, and set Title I and low performing schools as a priority. Programmatic reach extends to every Rhode Island community, the state’s major family-serving systems, schools, associations, and agencies.