Program motivates parents to get involved in children’s education ---

“Now I feel empowered to motivate my kids,” says Blanca Gonzalez. For teachers or parents like Blanca, there is no mystery why some children achieve in school and life while many others struggle. Regardless of ethnic or economic background, teachers will tell you that parent involvement is the key

factor in children’s educational success. Through parent training classes that parents like Blanca are taking at their children’s schools, parents will now tell you how great a difference their involvement makes.

Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) is a non-profit group that partners with schools to provide parent involvement training sessions in different languages. Despite a number of no-cost programs and ongoing outreach by schools to the Hispanic community, parents like Blanca still seem to be the exception.

Maria de la Cruz has three children in three different schools, one in Oakland. She works full time but does go to school meetings as often as she can. She says she is disappointed by the lack of involvement by most parents, who don’t attend school meetings. “Parent involvement is very important,” she says. “It makes a big difference.”

“We have to make time for our kids,” says Alberto Gomez, who like Blanca, was among a group of 26 Hispanic parents at a festive, PIQE graduation ceremony last Wednesday evening at Frick Middle School in Oakland. The parent of three teenagers says that when he goes to meetings at schools his other kids attend, he will see only four or five parents there. “Sometimes my wife attends the meetings at school or sometimes I go myself but it is very important to show support to our kids - the school is their future,” adds Alberto.

Though work and economic pressures are a reality for many Hispanic families, many parents at the PIQE event said that time is not an issue for them.
“In reality the parents don’t participate much because they feel the school is in charge of everything,” says Eloisa Ruiz, Associate Director of PIQE’s Bay Area office. “We have to explain to them how important their involvement is,” she adds.

PIQE 9-week parent involvement training teaches parents how to:

• Create a home learning environment
• Work with the school system
• Communicate with teachers, counselors and principals
• Support a child's emotional and social development

Since the program started in 1987, more than 375,000 parents have graduated from PIQE's program in elementary, middle and high schools throughout California.

“When they understand how the school system works, they get more involved with teachers and with their children’s school work,” says Eloisa.

“During the classes I learned how to support and motivate my kids, now I understand the notes and grades,” says Blanca Gonzalez. “I learned that I can come and ask about the achievement of my kids”.

Preparing students to attend college or university is one of the main goals of PIQE, which helps parents believe that their kids can make it to a higher education.

“I never thought that university could be possible for my daughter,” adds Blanca. “Now everything is different - my daughter will go to university”.
Silvia Magallón also sees the opportunity. “Before the classes I was not sure my kid could go to university,’ she says. “Now, I am really motivated and I know it is possible”.

PIQE’s Eloisa Ruiz talks about parents who are aware of how important their involvement is: “They know their children’s future can be different if they get involved,” she says. “It will only happen if parents work with the schools.”

Eloisa sees the parents’ moment of realization: “I can do that – I have to do that – it’s my responsibility.”

For more information, contact PIQE’s Bay Area office at 510-845-7210.