The Parent Training Institute works with multicultural parents to bridge the growing achievement gap between White and immigrant and minority children in public schools in the Silver Spring area. The program was developed in 2002 and has grown to 5 schools in the Silver Spring area. IMPACT engages over 200 immigrant and minority parents affecting more than 400 children annually through the Institute.

How the institute works

The Institute is held 6 times a year. Each session, parents attend 6 workshops from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Taking place in schools in the parents’ neighborhoods, workshops are led by a team of IMPACT’s expert facilitators and are conducted in English, Spanish and Amharic. Children accompany parents to the evening sessions, so in order to ensure full participation, the program includes dinner and a children’s program.

IMPACT’s facilitators work closely with parents to develop three key skill sets:

• Parenting to support their child’s education;
• Developing and maintaining a sustainable parent organization to participate within and influence schools; and
• Working collaboratively with diverse individuals and groups and with school staff.

Parents act as co-facilitators with IMPACT’s facilitators during training sessions. The workshops include lots of activities that provide ample opportunity for parents to work together, get to know one another and build new skills. Training topics include:

• Positive communication and discipline,
• How to support your child’s education,
• Developing a plan for home support,
• Improving communication with the school using a model called Ask the Right Question,
• Understanding your school and resources available to parents,
• English for Speakers of Other Languages, special education, math and reading, and
• The school calendar and time management.

Parents develop basic leadership competencies including shared leadership, group dynamics, active listening, personal and collective goal setting and action planning.

Participating schools

Burtonsville Elementary School
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/burtonsvillees/

East Silver Spring Elementary School
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/eastsilverspringes/

Piney Branch Elementary School http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/pineybranches/Welcome.html

Rolling Terrace Elementary School
http://web.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rollinges/

Sligo Creek Elementary School
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/sligocreekes/