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Parent Institute for Quality Education

Background

Parental involvement is critical for children to succeed emotionally, socially and educationally. Research shows that children get higher grades and are more likely to graduate from high school and continue on to college when their families are involved in their education [1].

Statistics also indicate that economically disadvantaged and ethnically diverse students are more susceptible to educational inequity. About half of African American and Latino ninth graders graduate from high schools, compared with 72 percent of white students [2].

In areas with large immigrant populations, parents frequently have difficulties communicating with their children's school, and may lack the knowledge and experience to help their children succeed. Many parents may be confused by school district bureaucracy and feel disconnected from teachers and administrators.

Organization Mission

The Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) is a nonprofit dedicated to helping low-income, ethnically-diverse parents actively support their children in school. Through its free, nine-week training program, PIQE helps parents better navigate the school system, interact with teachers, counselors and administrators, encourage college attendance, and create a supportive environment for home learning.

Full Circle Fund Role

While PIQE has had nearly 20 years of success, its Oakland office opened in 2000 with a one-person staff and a very limited focus. PIQE began exploring the possibility of expanding its Oakland operation to serve the broader Bay Area community. In 2005, Full Circle Fund made a grant to PIQE Oakland to provide marketing support and strategic assistance to help PIQE's staff expand the program's geographic reach and become more effective in providing parent-involvement training.

Impact

Full Circle Fund's team:

  • Facilitated replication of PIQE Oakland's parent training program into eight San Francisco schools by attracting $80,000 in new funding to this initiative and providing valuable introductions to key decision makers within schools and community organizations.
  • Overhauled PIQE Oakland's marketing materials, core concepts of which were subsequently adopted by all other PIQE affiliates.
  • Conducted research, revised course materials and helped pilot a program to address needs specific to the African American community for the first time.
  • Increased PR and marketing by creating testimonials and success stories. Coverage included English- and Spanish-language television, radio and print media including Univision, Action 36 news, Bay Area Parent magazine and Childhood Matters on 98.1 KISS FM.
  • Introduced PIQE to a group of representatives working on parent involvement as part of the Oakland Unified School District redesign, another Full Circle Fund grantee.
  • Trained PIQE parent liaisons to lead the teacher training and programs for parents, providing a model that will enable PIQE's expansion.

Sources:
1 Family Involvement in Children's Education, U.S. Dept. of Education, 1998.
2 Shared Agenda, Pathways to College Network, 2003.

 

NAME: Parent Institute for Quality Education
LOCATION: Oakland
WEB: piqe.org
GRANT TERM: 2004-2005
TEAM LEAD: Janet Poses

Sylvia Regalado photo

"Full Circle Fund helped us build new partnerships, strengthen our services, and position us as one of the premier parental involvement/education organizations in the Bay Area."

Sylvia Regalado

Executive Director, PIQE Oakland

Copyright 2008 Full Circle Fund