600 Blair Pk, Suite 301 Williston, VT 05495 Web site: http://www.pircvermont.org Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Director: Ms. Constance Curtin Phone: 802-876-5315 Fax: 802-876-6291 Evaluator: Cheryl Mitchell, Ph. D. , M. Ed.

State PIRC Board:

Connie Curtin, Executive Director, Vermont Parent Information Center
Kerry Garber, Director of Independent and Federal Programs, Vermont Department of Education
Karin Edwards, Director Student Support, Vermont Department of Education
Jeanne Collins, Superintendent, Burlington School District
Joe Patrisi, Deputy Commisioner, Agency of Human Services
Robert Stevens, Executive Director, Vermont Principal Association
Winton Goodrich, Associate Director, Vermont School Board Association
Angelo Dorta, President, Vermont NEA
Sue Harding, Director, Addison County Parent Child Center
Priscilla Beaulieu, President, Vermont PTA
Cindy LaWare, Secretary, Agency of Human Services
Helen Keith, Director, Family, Infant, Toddler Program
Jan Walker, Child Development Unit Director, Department. of Children and Families
Gail Taylor, Director of Standards and Assessment, Department of Education
Carlen Finn, Executive Director, Voices for Vermont's Children
David Baker, Grant Administrator, Agency of Human Services/Head Start
Jim McCobb, ESL/Bilingual Programs Coordinator, Department of Education
Blanche Podhajski, Director, Stern Center For Learning
Lucy Ely Pagan, Program Associate, Northeast Regional Resource Center
Herman Meyers, Associate Professor, University Of Vermont
Jane Nesbitt, Senior Program Associate, Northeast Regional Resource Center
Jeff Francis, Executive Director Vermont Superintendent of Schools

The Parental Information Resource Center project for Vermont, also known as PIRC-VT, is designed to help Vermont families assist their children with achieving success at school. As part of a national initiative, PIRC-VT will implement effective parental involvement programs, activities, and policies to enhance children’s social, emotional, and academic growth, taking into consideration Vermont’s unique characteristics.

Parental Engagement Model
PIRC-VT hopes to foster effective communication, cooperation and collaboration among families, educators, and communities so that children will succeed. The program uses a partnership approach to its parental engagement model. Leadership, technical assistance and support, and outreach efforts to Title I schools as well as other agencies will be top priorities. Strategies for accomplishing these goals include a yearly conference, direct involvement and support to Title I schools, and reaching out to parents and agencies at the state and local levels.

Early Childhood Model
In their communities, sixteen Parent Child Centers will provide support to families by engaging parents of young children in learning effective communication skills and developing interactive individual and small group activities. “Learning Together” and “Parents as Teachers” (PAT) are the frameworks that the Parent Child Centers will utilize for their early childhood model. Each Parent Child Center will facilitate meetings between parents and teachers to discuss ways in which to build positive working relationships. Parents will also receive assistance from the Parent Child Centers to improve their academic and literacy skills.

Alignment of Work to Statewide PIRC Efforts
At the state level, PIRC-VT will provide assistance through a variety of methods. Direct one to one assistance will be available through a telephone helpline, Monday through Friday. An annual conference on No Child Left Behind and parental involvement will be offered to parents, educators, and community members. The project will gather information and analyze various ways of involving parents in Title I and other schools and share this information through a website and published materials. Individual assistance, the annual conference and participation on advisory committees will promote and strengthen home/school partnerships.

Unique Characteristics
PIRC-VT is able to serve Vermont in a very unique and creative way based on the uniqueness of Vermont itself. Through a collaborative effort, PIRC-VT, the sixteen Parent Child Centers and Parent to Parent of Vermont, will utilize a comprehensive approach to improving learning through the coordination and integration of federal, state and local services and programs. With cooperation from the Vermont Department of Education, the state Parent Teachers Organizations, the state Title I Coordinator, the state Head Start Coordinator and others, PIRC-VT will work to ensure education programs for all children are integrated and coordinated and that parents understand their rights and responsibilities under No Child Left Behind.