Helping children succeed in schools

IMPACT in the Schools works with parents, schools and communities to build successful multicultural schools and to lower the achievement gap for minority and immigrant students in public schools. The program has 3 components:

• Strengthening Families
  A 6 week course which teaches multi-cultural parents of elementary school children the skills needed to support their child’s education and to pursue change in the public school system specifically aimed at closing the achievement gap.
  
  
• Parent Leadership
  Parent graduates of the Parent Training Institute can spend a year on the Parent Leadership Team. The goal of the Team is to realize the potential leader in all parents, support their continued learning and provide them with a supportive peer group. The Team meets regularly for leadership training and to pursue specific action projects in neighborhoods and in schools.
  
  
• Transforming Our Schools
  Works closely with parents, administrators, teachers, school systems and other partners in the community to help them support families as they educate their children.

IMPACT in the Schools affects children, their learning and schools at many different levels - parent, child, teacher, PTA, parent group and school system. We are seeing early signs of improved educational performance in children whose parents have participated. And parents tell us that the program is spurring them to be more involved with their children’s education and their school and to create more economic security for themselves and their families.

IMPACT Silver Spring was honored by the Montgomery County Board of Education with a Distinguished Service Award this year.