Lawrence Schools Get Help Teaching Parents About Education
Schoolgrant
The Eagle-Tribune
Bryan McGonigle
Boston University Washington News Service
Oct. 5, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Schools in Lawrence will receive help getting parents more involved in their children’s education through a federal grant issued to a Massachusetts parent advocacy program.
The Federation for Children with Special Needs in Boston has received a grant of $796,824 from the Department of Education to be used for its Parents’ PLACE (Parents Learning About Children’s Education) program, which educates families in urban communities about the No Child Left Behind Act. Lawrence schools will get some of that money.
“Lawrence is one of our targeted districts,” said Rich Robison, the federation’s executive director. “We’ve worked with Lawrence public schools in the past and will continue to do that.”
The organization will meet with Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy over the next few weeks to discuss how much money Lawrence will get and how it would best be spent, Robison said.
Laboy, who gave the organization a commitment letter regarding the grant earlier this year and has worked with the federation in the past, said he’s optimistic about going forward with the group’s services.
“We’ve had a very positive and good relationship with the federation,” Laboy said. “Much of the money is to educate parents on their rights and due process and to educate their children.”
The Parents’ PLACE program provides schools with workshops and educational materials, in both English and Spanish, regarding the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. That law ties federal education funds to academic achievement. Critics have said it poses a disadvantage for low-income communities where achievement is low because of economic and social factors.
Parents’ PLACE is aimed at overcoming those problems and getting urban parents more involved with their children’s education.
“If parents increase their involvement in their children’s education, then the children’s education will be significantly improved,” Robison said. “We want to help parents feel empowered to help their children.”
Laboy said the bilingual aspect of the program helps involve Lawrence parents who would otherwise be left out because of a communication problem.
With the government mandating higher grades and test scores, Laboy said, “Parent involvement is an issue in urban areas all across the country. Parent involvement is critical.”
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