“Parent Involvement: Keeping it Real, Making it Meaningful”
5th Annual Conference for Building Strong School,
Family and Community Partnerships
June 8, 2005 at Northeastern University – Curry Center Ballroom
Agenda 8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Coffee
9:00 Guest Speaker, Ray Johnson
10:15 Break
10:30 AM Workshops
12:00 Lunch
12:45 PM Workshops
2:00 Break
2:15 Video & Student Panel
3:15 Conference Closing
REGISTRATION FEE: $40.00 Registration includes morning coffee, a boxed lunch and materials.
Opening Guest Speaker: Ray Johnson, founder and former principal of the Paul Robeson Academy in Detroit.
AM Session Workshops: Parent and Community Leadership Beyond Boston (10:30 – 12:00)
#1. Parent and Community Partnerships with Ray Johnson – Our guest speaker will discuss in detail his vision and current work to creates effective schools that are responsive to the needs of students, parents, and the community
#2. Parents on the Move in Manchester, NH – Less than five years ago a group of parents, teachers and community people got together to discuss ways to improve everything from school facilities to parent involvement. They have many successes to share!
#3. Rhode Island Parent Information and Resource Center – Everyone wins when schools and families partner for children. Presenters will discuss their “5 Questions Project” that supports and promotes parent-teacher relationships that focuses on students.
#4. Parent Leadership in Brockton – The Brockton Parent Liaison project is a model program that coordinates parent liaisons in schools through central parent center coordination, trainings, and resources to support family involvement initiatives. Hear their story!
#5. After School Programs – IRE conducted a nationwide study of after school programs with successful parent involvement components. Find out what’s happening across the country, and learn about some best practices for your site.
PM Session Workshops: Parent and Community Leadership in Boston (12:45 – 2:00)
#1. Panel Discussion with Parent Leaders – Parent leaders discuss their evolution from being “just a parent” to leaders at their children’s schools and their roles as advocates for all children in public schools.
#2. Organizing Parents for School Reform – Boston Parents Organizing Network (BPON) - BPON has been instrumental in securing more MCAS tutoring funding, in the hiring of a Deputy Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement, in training parents to become Special Education advocates, and more. They are a nationally recognized organizing model.
#3. No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) – What are parents rights? What are schools expected to do to inform parents of the academic accomplishments or failures of schools? Where do parents turn for assistance?
#4. After School Partnerships in Boston – Northeastern University School of Education faculty and students have formed partnerships with after school programs. The after school programs share their insights about partnerships and connecting children with university students in order to support learning.
#5. Best practices for parent leadership: Lessons from efforts by community partners to improve schools - Harvard Family Research Project. This workshop will introduce some promising practices related to working as a community partner in school improvement efforts. We will explore ways in which these promising practices apply to parent leadership development.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION– In the ballroom – everyone encouraged to attend! (2:15-3:15)
Boston Public Schools – Brighton High School Students: See a nationally recognized video on inequalities between Boston’s urban and suburban schools produced by these wonderful high school students. The students will discuss the video and answer questions after the viewing. Don’t miss this!
Click here for a printable registration form
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Sponsored by the Institute for Responsive Education, Parents’ Place – the MA PIRC and a project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and,
Face to Face Program at the Home for Little Wanderers, and Northeastern University School of Education