Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Telling Half the Story on Parent Opportunities

January 31, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

The Jan. 4, 2006, Commentary “Leave No Parent Behind” in effect leaves your readers behind, telling only half the story of parental opportunities under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. In fact, one of the most critical learning windows for parents, the first five years of a child’s life, was completely overlooked.

Through its work with parents and young children, my organization has learned that if parent involvement in education starts early, parents are more likely to stay engaged. The No Child Left Behind law includes provisions for this early stage— a period when parents are gathering the very knowledge the Commentary authors endorse—through Parent Information and Resource Centers, or PIRCs.

The U.S. Department of Education created the first PIRCs in 1995. These centers were established to provide parents, schools, and organizations working with families with training, information, and technical assistance to help parents understand how children develop and what they need to succeed in school. Today, there are more than 80 PIRCs, in almost every state.

The PIRC program is the only one under the Education Department with the purpose of supporting all parents, regardless of need, risk, or other demographic characteristic. PIRCs are mandated to provide parents with information and facilitate their involvement in their children’s education. These free early-childhood programs undergird the education system, making parents “school ready” along with their children.

It’s true that parental involvement is a key component of the No Child Left Behind Act, and PIRCs are the means by which parents can become involved at the earliest point. They also lay a foundation for parents and schools to become effective partners. Through the efforts of PIRCs, collaborations among parents, teachers, administrators, and other school personnel are strengthened, leading to enhanced learning and improved academic outcomes.

Engaging parents in the educational process is important at all levels. PIRCs give parents the avenues through which to get started, even if school is years away.

Susan S. Stepleton

President and CEO

Parents as Teachers National Center

St. Louis, Mo.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Spark Minds, Reignite Students & Teachers: STEM’s Role in Supporting Presence and Engagement
Is your district struggling with chronic absenteeism? Discover how STEM can reignite students' and teachers' passion for learning.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2025 Survey Results: The Outlook for Recruitment and Retention
See exclusive findings from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of K-12 job seekers and district HR professionals on recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction. 
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: January 15, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 10, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977.
President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977.
Suzanne Vlamis/AP
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Dec. 19, 2024
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
TIghtly cropped photograph showing a cafeteria worker helping elementary students select food in lunch line. Food shown include pizza, apples, and broccoli.
iStock/Getty
Education The Education Word of 2024 Is ...
Educators, policymakers, and parents all zeroed in on students' tech use in 2024, which prompted this year's winner.
5 min read
Image of a cellphone ban, disruption, and symbol of AI.
Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva